Barbara A. Maratea

Montague, Massachusetts
Barbara A. (Brittain) Maratea, 71, a resident of the Farren Care Center, 340 Montague City Road, passed peacefully on Wednesday morning, October 17, 2018 at the nursing facility following a period of declining health.

She was born in Howard, South Dakota on March 13, 1947, the only child to Vivian (Johnson) and Richard Brittain. They moved to Springfield, MA when Barbara was very young. She attended elementary and secondary schools and graduated from high school in 1965.

Barbara married Thomas J. Maratea, Jr. in November of 1980 in Greenfield, MA, and they resided at the Weldon House until his untimely passing in October of 2009. Barbara worked for a period of time, as a sorter for a local recycling company in Greenfield. She was known for her eclectic and exuberant personality, favoring western themed ensemble and regalia that included pink themed vests, white and pink boots and her trademark pink Stetson hat. She enjoyed music, in particular Country Western, dancing, vacations to Hampton Beach, NH, where she loved to engage in people watching and shopping the boulevard.

As an only child, Barbara never knew the benefits of a large loving family, until she married her husband Tommie. It was Tommy’s Italian family that showered her with their unconditional love and affection. Barbara leaves several nieces and nephews, including Cherie W. Dennard and her husband Kenwood, of Belmont, NH who were her caregivers. Additionally, she leaves several grandnieces and grandnephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Vivian and Richard Brittain, her husband Thomas J. “Tommie” Maratea, Jr., as well as by her sister-in-law, Antoinette J. “Toni” (Maratea) Willoughby in May of this year.

Funeral services celebrating Barbara’s life, will be observed on MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 from the McCarthy Funeral Homes, 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA at 11:00AM, with Rev. Mr. Joseph Bucci, Deacon, of Our Lady of Peace Church, Turners Falls, MA to officiate the Catholic Rite of Burial service. Rites of committal and interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Greenfield, MA, where Barbara will be laid to rest with her husband. A visiting hour will be observed on Monday morning from 10:00AM until the time of the services at the funeral home.

Expressions of affection are requested in Barbara’s memory, in lieu of flowers to the Farren Care Center, c/o the Resident’s Activity Fund, 340 Montague City Road, Turners Falls, MA 01376.

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