Barbara Harold, 68, of Derry, NH, died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday December 12, 2006 after a short stay at the Hackett Hill Nursing Home in Manchester, NH. She had been waging a very courageous battle against severe lung disease for years, and her health had been steadily declining in recent weeks. She was born on May 5, 1938 in Boston, MA, to William R. and Mary Louise (Lowd) Hatch, and spent her childhood and teens growing up in the West End. She attended Brighton High School where she excelled at art, winning many contests and awards. Despite a lack of formal education, she was a very diverse and gifted artist, and was proficient at many forms of art, including poetry, short story writing with original illustrations, painting, sculpting (mostly of miniature creatures and items), free hand drawing, costume creating, crocheting, needle work, sewing, and various forms of wood working. She had an especial love for the ocean, and this was reflected in many of her works.
In her younger years, she was very active in children’s ministries at several local churches, creating her own Sunday school and vacation Bible school programs and hand crafts, and designing and performing many closing programs. She was a self taught Bible scholar, and had a passion for learning any subject that caught her interest.
Her two granddaughters were the apple of her eye, and she greatly enjoyed making costumes for them for Halloween, school productions, and musicals that her younger granddaughter has performed in.
Survivors include her children, James F. and Lisa A. Harold, and Dawn M. LaPorte, all of Derry, and Matthew J. Harold and his wife Brenda of Sandown, NH; her granddaughters, Maranda L. Harold of Newmarket, NH, and Madison L. Harold of Derry; her brothers, William R. Hatch and his wife Elvia of Florida, and Robert E. Hatch and his wife Pamela of Londonderry, NH; her longtime friend, Ron St. Gelais of Derry; and her best friend and constant companion, her beloved cat Minou. She was predeceased earlier this year by her former husband, F. James Harold.
Calling hours were held on Monday, December 18th from 6 – 8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. Funeral services were held on Tuesday at 10:00am in the funeral home. The burial followed in the Forest Hill Cemetery in E. Derry.