CHENEY Barbara Ann was born on September 30, 1936 in Witt, Illinois to Alois and Gladys Hanisko. She passed away September 30, 2013.
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pines
Barbara devoted her life to taking care of others. She was intensely dedicated to and adored her family and those she called friends. She married Elwin (Pete) Johnson in 1957 and they had three children. She was a beautiful, caring and loving person whom many called their second mom. She loved to entertain, cook, camp and travel. She enjoyed most sports, especially the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Cowboys. Her sense of humor kept even the most stressful of situations lightweight and playful and carried her through to her last days. She will be forever missed by her close family and legion of friends.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jerry Cheney and her sister-in-law, Jean Hanisko. She is survived by her brother, Alois Hanisko, Jr. of Allen, TX, her children Bret Johnson (Paul) of Saratoga, CA, Stacey Lucchino (Larry) of Brookline, MA and Stephanie Wilkinson (Rodney) of Dallas, TX and her grandchildren Davis Ballard of Brooklyn, NY, Blair Ballard of Brookline, MA, Cale Wilkinson and Ali Wilkinson of Grapevine, TX and many special friends and loved ones. Barbara’s family would like to extend a very special thanks to the A-team of doctors and nurses at Massachusetts General Hospital led by Dr. Larry Ronan, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and Epoch Senior Living. Because of the care from these extraordinary people, her last months in Boston were comfortable and peaceful.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Barbara Cheney to the Massachusetts General Hospital supporting the Barbara Cheney Fund at MGH benefitting the hospital’s Canine Companions and Red Sox Foundation Home Base Programs. Checks should be made out to MGH (in the memo section: “Barbara Cheney Fund”) and mailed to: Massachusetts General Hospital, c/o Development Office, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114-2548.