North Kingstown, RI--Muriel J. (Lavergne) Barry died Friday, March 17, 2022, at Roberts Health Centre, after a period of declining health. She was 85 years old. Mrs. Barry leaves two sons: Thomas A. Barry and his wife Patricia, of Oxford, MA, and John F. Barry, Jr. and his wife Beth, of Newton, MA; a daughter Erin M. Rooney and her husband Matthew, of Narragansett, RI; three sisters: Jean Vallee, of Northbridge, MA, Janet O'Neill, of Jamestown, RI, and Karen Forleo, of Lyndeborough, NH; eight grandchildren; Kristin and Joseph Barry; John Peter, Rachael, and Katie Rooney; and Elizabeth, Caroline, and Jack Barry; and seven great-grandchildren. Mrs. Barry was predeceased by her husband, John F. "Jack" Barry, in 2010.
Born in Northbridge, MA, on March 8, 1938, she was the eldest daughter of Arthur and Doris (Roy) Lavergne and was a lifelong resident of Northbridge, MA, and Bonnet Shores, RI. After graduating from Northbridge High School in 1956, Muriel earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Worcester State College in 1971. She worked in the Sutton, MA, school system for ten years before being elected Town Clerk for the Town of Northbridge in 1982, serving five terms until her retirement in 2004. Muriel was elected to the Northbridge School Committee in 1975 and served until 1982. She was also appointed to the Massachusetts State Retirement Board in 1997, serving until 2009.
Gramma Kate loved Bonnet Shores and Narragansett, RI, especially spending time with her grandchildren and friends. She traveled extensively and made friends with people from many different places. She and her devoted husband, Jack, also established a seasonal residence in Wilmington, VT, where they vacationed for many years together, celebrating family and friends, enjoying the Green Mountains, and skiing Mount Snow.
Mrs. Barry's Funeral Mass at Saint Patrick's Church will be Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 11 AM. The Funeral Mass will live streamed. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Roberts Health Centre, 25 Roberts Way, North Kingstown, RI, 02852, in gratitude for their many years of dedicated care and service, especially during the Covid pandemic.
THE LIVE STREAM LINK IS BELOW THE FUNERAL SERVICE INFORMATION.
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