Barbara Ann Houlihan (McEnaney) of Northampton, MA

Barbara Ann Houlihan (McEnaney), 82, of Northampton, MA died Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, MA.

Born in Lowell, MA, she was the daughter of the late Roland McEnaney and Estelle (Miron) McEnaney.

Barbara graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1958. She received her BS in biology from Emmanuel College and her MS in biology from Marquette University. She taught biology at Marquette and the University of Wisconsin as well as in Action for Boston Community Development’s Dropout Prevention Program. She later earned an MA in social work from Boston College and became a clinical social worker at Beth Israel Hospital (later Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) in Boston, where she worked for more than 30 years.

In the mid-1960s, Barbara volunteered with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and spent the summer in Alabama registering Black people to vote. Later, she nourished her adventurous spirit and desire to learn by travelling with family and friends in Europe, Africa, and throughout the U.S. and Canada, but may have been happiest sitting on the beach in Maine. She loved holidays and festive occasions, and frequently hosted celebratory gatherings at her home.

She is survived by her daughter Christina Maxwell and her husband Matthew of Northampton, MA; her son Timothy Houlihan and his wife Bethlyn of Maynard, MA; two grandchildren Chloe Houlihan and Calvin Houlihan; her brothers Raymond McEnaney and his wife Terry of Tyngsboro, MA, James McEnaney and his wife Laramie of Chagrin Falls, OH, Robert McEnaney and his wife Susan of N. Chelmsford, MA, Paul McEnaney and his wife Lily of Bernardston, MA; her brother-in-law Lester Chisholm of Woburn, MA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Maureen Chisholm.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Visiting hours Thursday, March 9 from 4-7pm at DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX STREET, N. CHELMSFORD, MA followed by a funeral service at 7pm. Memorials may be made in her name to Loomis Village in South Hadley, MA loomiscommunities.org/giving-to-loomis, where Barbara received excellent care. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com