Barbara Jean Dunham

She was born in Holyoke, MA on September 27, 1929, the daughter of Christine (Carter) and Curtis Chaffee. She grew up and attended schools in Hartford, CT where she graduated from Weaver High School. Barbara pursued her education at the West Virginia Wesleyan College where she received her Bachelors degree, majoring in chemistry with a minor in music in the spring of 1951.

Shortly thereafter, in the fall of 1951, Barbara married the love of her life, Edward Dunham. They moved to Swanzey and raised a family of six children.

Barbara worked as a clinical pathologist after college before beginning her career and following her passion of care taking for others as a homemaker home health aide. She was employed by Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services from 1975 to 2006 when she retired. Barbara had also spent time on the Swanzey Police Department, along side her husband, as a Special Officer.

Music played an important role in Barbara’s life. She was an extremely involved parishioner of the First Congregational Church of Swanzey where she was a member of their choir and played the organ. She also played the bells for the Westmoreland Town Band. Annually, Barbara participated in The Old Homestead play. When she wasn’t on set acting, she was on the sidelines playing the melodeon for her fellow cast member’s numbers.

She will be remembered by her patient and quiet nature, her terrific talent at piano until her last days, and how caring she was towards her grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Barbara will be dearly missed by her children: Deborah Dunham of Swanzey, Carolyn Kirouac and her husband Ernie of Swanzey, Gary Dunham and his wife Pam of Keene, Bruce Dunham and his wife Melanie of Swanzey, and Richard Dunham and his wife Diane of Swanzey; her grandchildren: Alicia Gillooly and her husband Corey, Amber Dunham, and Candiss Fletcher and her husband Dominic; great-granddaughter: Teagan Gillooly; sister: Cynthia Chaffee and her husband Richard Kopp of Arizona; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is predeceased by her devoted husband of 47 years, Edward Dunham, daughter Martha Jean Dunham, and brother Carter Chaffee.

Service for Barbara will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the First Congregational Church of Swanzey, 679 Old Homestead Highway, Swanzey, NH. A graveside service will be held in the spring at Mountain View Cemetery in Swanzey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara J. Dunham’s name to the Music Fund at the First Congregational Church of Swanzey, PO Box 10041, Swanzey, NH 03446 or to the Westmoreland Town Band, 60 Pierce Lane, Westmoreland, NH 03467.