LOWELL - Barbara A. Carter, 67, passed away in the early morning hours on Friday, July 11, 2014 at the Heritage Nursing Care Center in Lowell, following a brief illness.
Born in Gloucester on May 27, 1947, she was the daughter of the late George B. and Arline M. (Santos) Carter. She had resided with her family on Cape Ann for most of her life. Following a brief illness at an early age, Barbara faced a lifetime of mental and physical challenges, which in those years limited her opportunities for formal education and employment. So in her youth and young adult years, she became a most valuable at home helper; not only for her parents, but for her grandparents and many other relatives over the years.
Despite her personal issues, she never used them as an excuse, and never knew that there could ever be anything more rewarding in her life than to just help her family members and to spend time with them. She was especially fond of Christmas, and making absolute sure that she didn’t miss one person on her gift list. Giving to those she loved was always Barbie’s top priority.
In her later adult years Barbara was blessed with opportunities to grow her independence from wonderful adult special needs programs like North Shore Arc and spent several happy years in group homes like Harmony House in Beverly MA. There she was able to share responsibilities with roommates and even commute to jobs on occasion. These years were very happy for Barbara until she became less physically able and needed more individual care in her later years. But even then, she never asked for anything more than her loved ones to be close to her.
Barbara is survived by one sister, Joanne M, Carter of Gloucester, her youngest brother Michael R. Carter of Franklin MA, one special uncle LeRoy Ross of Gloucester, many close cousins, including Charlene (Ross) Acker of Gloucester, Robert Melanson of Beverly, and Tony Santos of Westford, and also one nephew Christopher Carter of Shandaken, NY, one niece Jennifer Sheehan of Beverly; several grandnieces and grandnephews. In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by four siblings: George L. Carter, William I. Carter, Jeanette I. Carter, and Donna J. Carter-Sheehan, as well as her aunt and godmother Elaine G. (Santos) Melanson.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 4th at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 11 a.m. All family and friends are welcome. Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to a Hospice charity of one’s choice, or directly to the family to help defray the funeral expenses, c/o Michael Carter, PO Box 211, Franklin, MA 02038