WORCESTER-Ethel M. (Sawa) Barton, 90, of Worcester, died Sunday, August 23rd in the Wachusett Extended Care Facility, Holden. Her husband, Howard C. Barton, died in 1961. She leaves four sons, Richard A. and his wife Mary Sheila (Wright) Barton, Kenneth C. and his wife Margaret Mary (Shea) Barton, Robert W. Barton and Anthony H. and his wife Denise (Tetreault) Barton; her daughter, Arlene A. (Barton) Wood and her companion, Russell Wood; eighteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; a great great grandson; her sister, Genevieve wife of Joseph Cutroni of Worcester; her brother-in law, Michael Kotel of Worcester; her stepdaughter, Shirley (Barton) Masson; her daughter-in-law, Ramona (Roder) Barton; and several nephews and nieces. Her brother, Edward Sawa and his wife Frances (Duszak); two sisters, Barbara (Sawa) Leone and her husband Henry and Helen (Sawa) Kotel; her stepson, Howard Barton; her son-in-law, Ernest Masson; and her great grandson, Seth, predeceased her.
Mrs. Barton was born in Worcester, the daughter of Anthoni and Marya K. (Perykaza) Sawa. She was a graduate of local Worcester schools. Mrs. Barton was a founding member and communicant of St. Andrew the Apostle Church and was always delighted with her assignment of handing out the church bulletin before Sunday Mass. She was a warm and loving grandmother, but her true delight was her great grandchildren. “Little Gramma” loved to spend hours reading, making crafts with beads, coloring, putting together puzzle after puzzle with her “Little Ones” over the past 13 years and especially enjoyed lunch dates with them at local Chinese restaurants. Mrs. Barton’s family would especially like to thank the staff at Wachusett Extended Care Facility for their wonderful care, love and kindness during her lengthy stay there as well as the UMass Memorial Hospice Program.
The funeral is Thursday, August 27th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue with a Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 5 Spaulding Street. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday, August 26th from 4:00 until 7:00 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress Street, Boston MA, 02210.