Barbara A. Putnam

Barbara A. (Spaulding) Putnam, 83, entered into eternal life on Saturday, February 9, 2013, after a brief illness.
Barbara was born in Cambridge, MA on June 26, 1929, to the late Anne (McAndrews) and Harold Spaulding; sister of the late Elizabeth Smemo and Leonard Spaulding. Loving wife of 41 years to the late Deacon Donald G. Putnam, devoted mother of eight children: Barbara Dolan (predeceased) and her husband Edward of Mashpee, MA; Donald Putnam, Jr., and his wife Cathy of Grand Rapids, OH; Mary Putnam-Lydon and her husband William of Riverside, CA; Brian Putnam and his wife Miriam of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Christine Putnam Anderson and her husband Jon of Henniker, NH; Michael Putnam and his wife Cleir of Venice, FL; Stephen Chevalier Putnam and his wife Caren, of Weymouth, MA; and Gregory Putnam and his wife Allison of Stoneham, MA; dear aunt to Nancy Lemon of AZ, and seven Spaulding nephews of MA; loving grandmother of 28, and proud great-grandmother of 13.
Barbara dedicated her life to serving others. She was a very active member of the Catholic Churches in the area and served in many capacities, including deacon's wife, Eucharistic minister, lector, and prayer group leader. In earlier years, along with her husband, Don, she also served as a leader of pre-Cana classes, Cursillo groups, and the Christian Family Movement. Over the years, Barbara and Donald did missionary work in North Carolina, Illinois, and in Haiti, Peru, and Guatemala. Throughout the years she was a generous donor to the poor worldwide. In the 1970s, Barbara and friends started the Weymouth Food Coop. Then in the 1980s, in order to meet the growing needs of the hungry in Weymouth, Barbara co-founded the Weymouth Food Pantry, an organization that she cared deeply for. Another life-long passion was her support of and work for the Right to Life movement and the Friends of the Unborn. She often looked forward to traveling to Washington, D.C. each January to participate in the Right to Life March. Late in life, Barbara proudly earned a Manning certificate of Gerontology from UMASS Boston.
Barbara loved the outdoors: she enjoyed sitting in the sunshine, working in her garden, going to Nantasket Beach, and walking at Webb Park. In earlier years she was an avid camper with family and friends, particularly enjoying the trips she would take to Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Barbara was a woman of tremendous faith, action, and love for her Lord. She helped those who needed it, friends and strangers alike. She loved to visit with her family all over the country and was a good and caring friend to many. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was a thoughtful listener. She was deeply loved and will be dearly missed.
Visiting hours will be held at the C.C. Shepherd Funeral Home, 134 Pleasant St., (Columbian Sq.) So. Weymouth, on Sunday, February 17th from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. Her funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 234 Pleasant St., So. Weymouth on Monday, February 18th at 10 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara's memory will be gratefully accepted at the Weymouth Food Pantry, PO Box 890009, Weymouth, MA 02189. If you would like to leave a message for Barbara’s family please visit www.ccshepherd.com.