Joan D. Barber

Joan D Barber 88, died at home on Tuesday September 4, 2018. She was born in Columbus, Ohio to Dennis and Alex Coughlin. Joan was married to the late Arthur W Barber and to the late Lawrence M OConnor. She is survived by her four children; Susan, Michael, Patrick, John and her three stepchildren; Glenn, Jeffrey and Nancy. She was grandmother to 14 and great grandmother to18. Joan also leaves her cherished younger sister Sandra Yensen and her two daughters of Durham,NC.

Joan wanted nothing more in life than to know her family was safe and happy. She loved them all fiercely. Reading a good book, doing crosswords and watching Jeopardy every night were favorite pastimes. Her guilty pleasure, once retired, was watching her “soaps”. We all knew not to call her between 12 noon and 2pm. A strong and courageous woman, Joan battled cancer three times in thirty years. Through it all she never lost her sense of humor and enjoyment of life.

This obituary would not be complete without a heartfelt thank you to her dearest friend and companion, Walter “Butch” Sroka. Her family is deeply grateful for his devoted love, humor and caring for their mother for several years. Those left behind, including her very spoiled cat Buttercup, will miss her every day. Our thanks go out to friend Tammy who was on call 24 hours a day to help care for Joan in her last weeks allowing her to remain at home. Hope Hospice of RI ensured that she left this world as comfortably as possible.

Services will be private.

Please visit www.gortonmenardfuneralhome.com for online condolences.