BRADFORD: Barbara Ann (Zarbolias) Bretton, 68, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2013 after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. Barbara was the wife of Dennis G. Bretton with whom she had been happily married to for thirty-nine years.
Born in Haverhill on November 12, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Aristides and Dorothy (Brown) Zarbolias. She was a lifelong resident of Haverhill and a graduate of Haverhill High School class of 1962. Barbara worked as an account executive at Pentucket Bank in Haverhill for many years. For enjoyment, Barbara loved visiting the ocean, taking walks on the beach and vacationing with her family. She also enjoyed tending to the flowers in her yard. Most of all, Barbara loved her family, and greatly cherished spending time with her six grandchildren. Barbara graced the lives of her neighbors, friends, and family, and will be greatly missed by all those whose lives that she touched.
In addition to her husband, Barbara is survived by her daughter, Debra (Tilden) Gorham and her husband, David of Bradford; two sons, Michael Tilden and his wife, Susan of Groveland and Dennis Bretton and his wife, Vanessa of Chester, NH; six grandchildren, Jacqueline and Matthew Gorham, Mikayla and Cole Tilden and Arianna and Jonathan Bretton; two brothers, Robert and William Zarbolias.
At Barbara’s request, all services will be privately held on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Barbara’s name to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2151, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38101-2151.