Barbara L. Harris, R.N.
Critical Care Nurse at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital
TEWKSBURY: Barbara L. (Brooks) Harris, R.N., age 61, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, surrounded by her loving family, after a two year battle with cancer.
She was the beloved wife of Thomas E. Harris, with whom she would have celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.
Barbara was born in Lynn, MA on May 9, 1950, a daughter of Barbara (Shirran) Brooks of Malden, and the late Lawrence Brooks.
She was raised in Malden, and graduated from Malden High School with the Class of 1968. Barbara attended Northern Essex Community College and received her Associates Degree in Nursing and continued on to Atlantic Union College to receive her Bachelors Degree in Nursing.
She was employed in the Critical Care Department at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, where she had worked for the past 20 years.
Barbara was a member of the Marsh Corner Community Church in Methuen, where she enjoyed meeting and sharing with the Ladies Bible Study Group.
While she devoted her life to raising her family, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, especially shipboard cruising in the Caribbean and Alaska. Barbara was an avid motorcycle rider and enjoyed touring New England, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, Canada.
Besides her husband and mother, she is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl and Proctor Hayes of Haverhill, Kimberly and Donald Chamberlain of Woburn, Stephanie and John Amari, Jr. of Methuen, and Heather and Raymond Nicolosi of Haverhill; nine beloved grandchildren, Joshua, Jonathan, and Samuel Hayes, Cody Chamberlain, Dominique and Nicholas Amari, Ryan, Reese, and Drew Nicolosi; a brother, William Brooks and his wife Karen of Houston, TX; a sister, Pamela DiMente and her husband John of Billerica; and many nieces and nephews. She was also anticipating the birth of her tenth grandchild in July.
Barbara was also pre-deceased by two brothers, David and Philip Brooks.
Calling hours will be Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Friday, Feb. 10, at 12 Noon, at the Marsh Corner Community Church, (www.marshcorner.org) 317 Pelham St., Methuen. Please meet the family at church. There will not be a procession from the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Ave., Haverhill, MA 01830.