Barbara Helen Rafferty

Barbara Helen (Crook) Rafferty lived 91 years full of rich experiences and activity. She was a loving mother and devoted grandmother and great grandmother. She made people feel good about themselves; she could make instant friends and loved to meet new people. She was an avid member of the Marblehead community for many years.

Barbara often joked that she had had nine lives. She was a city girl from Milton, Mass, who went to Vermont to raise her family, and then returned to the ocean and thrived in Marblehead where she often was seen in coffee shops with friends or at the Marblehead lighthouse watching boats and birds. She was a recognized watercolor artist and painted in Spain, Italy, France, New Mexico, St. John, Florida, and New England. She was an avid candlepin bowler and a devoted Red Sox fan. She loved birdwatching.

Barbara was born in West Roxbury, the daughter of the late Richard and Gertrude (Grimm) Crook. She resided for nearly 5 decades in Marblehead; spent her young life in Milton, and later years raising her family of 9 children in Abington and Rockland, MA, and then Fairlee and Bradford, VT.

She was happily married for 49 years to the late Francis X. Rafferty.

Barbara received many recognitions for her artwork and accomplishments. She was an active and beloved member of the Daughters of the American Revolution: she presented and performed for the local chapter as Helen Harding and Julia Childs.

Barbara above all enjoyed sharing time with her children and grandchildren; her great grandchildren were her pride and joy, two weeks ago, she was swimming in the Corinthian Yacht Club pool with her great granddaughter.

Barbara was the dear sister of Carol Crook of Marblehead and the late Elizabeth Russo; the devoted and loving mother of: Ann Rafferty (Santa Fe, NM), Frances Rafferty and husband Thomas Millett (Marblehead); Teresa White and partner Jon Davis (Santa Fe, NM); Regina Rafferty (Newport, RI); Maura Hession (Salem, MA); Susan Rafferty Lehn and husband David Lehn (Clinton, CT), Kathleen Ell (Bradenton, FL), Brigid Rafferty and husband Jon Jeffreys (Portsmouth, RI), and Matthew and wife Jackie Rafferty (St. Petersburg, FL). She had 21 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, August 24th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm Street (781) 631-0076.

Barbara's Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 25th at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. Burial will follow in Milton Cemetery, 211 Centre St., Milton.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com for the Rafferty family.