Mrs. Cecilia Maria (Murphy) Barrett of N. Chelmsford, MA

Mrs. Cecilia Maria (Murphy) Barrett of N. Chelmsford died Monday, October 31, 2022 at Royal Nursing Rehabilitation in Braintree, her home since January 2022. She lived an extraordinary life in a mere 97 years.

She was married to the late Mr. Andrew W. Barrett who died July 4, 1992.

Born in Lowell, MA on June 19, 1925, the daughter of the late Cornelius D. and Cecilia (Tenney) Murphy.  She was a 1943 graduate of Lowell High School.

She was employed as a secretary with General Electric in Lowell until her marriage in 1953. Thereafter, she worked outside the home whenever the family needed a new appliance. She dedicated her energies to service.  She was a devoted mother, wife, friend and pious woman.  You could count on her to: type a newsletter, or term paper at amazing speeds; decorate cakes and create posters for fundraisers, birthdays etc; transport everyone, everywhere; sing, play the piano, paint, write poetry and remind you that kindness is its own reward.

She was a past communicant of St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Lowell, and an active communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church of N. Chelmsford where she was a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Nocturnal Prayer Group, the Secular Order of St. Francis, and Captain of membership of Poor Charities.

She was a member of Chelmsford Senior Citizen Club where she was part of its chorus and the Wine Women and Song Group.

She lived independently, notwithstanding a bout with cancer at age 75 and a hip replacement at the age of 92.  At 95 years old, it was the isolation of the pandemic that convinced her it was time to move in with her youngest daughter and her family. As her body declined, her spirit prevailed and she continued to be a major presence in the lives of her family and faith community until the day she was called home to her eternal rest.

Cecilia served and was served.  In her later years, she was the delighted recipient of monthly visits from the St John the Evangelist Traveling Troubadours who provided themed songs and skits for her entertainment and those lucky enough to be within earshot.  This group also made sure she received communion.

She is survived by three daughters, Anne M. Barrett and her husband, Philip Robertson of Dorchester, MA, Mary  C. Barrett of Lacey, WA, Margaret  M. Barrett-Hall and her husband, Thomas of Quincy, MA, a son, Martin  F. Barrett of Glendale, CA, nine grandchildren, Martha and her husband, Tyler McMillan and Harry Robertson, Andrew and Ian Turner, Grace, Catherine, and John Hall, Marisol and Harrison Barrett, as well as a sister in law, Rose  (Barrett) Walsh and her husband Jim Walsh, many nieces, nephews, and close family friends.

She was the mother of the late John A. Barrett of Merrimack, NH who died September 6, 2006 and the late Andrew W. Barrett Jr. of Lowell, who died October 20, 2021, and the mother-in-law to the late Garnest H. Turner who died November 1, 2018.  She was the sister of the late Cornelius and John Murphy, the late Helen Cotter, the late Catherine Bagley, and the late Dorothy Leavitt.

The family would like to thank the staff of Royal Nursing Rehabilitation for the loving care they provided Cecilia and the family. In addition, we are thankful for the P.A.C.E. element care program which enabled Cecilia to have coordinated health care as she transitioned from independent living.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Cecilia’s visiting hours will be Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 from 3 to 7 PM. Funeral Friday at 8am from the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, with a funeral Mass at 9am at St. John the Evangelist Church, N. Chelmsford.  Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery, Lowell.  Memorials may be made in her name to the Poor Claire’s, 445 River Rd, Andover, MA 01810 or St. John the Evangelist Church, 115 Middlesex St., N. Chelmsford, MA 01863.  ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041.  Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com