Libby Barnshaw

SPRINGFIELD-Libby Barnshaw of Springfield, MA, daughter of Alice and Charles Wright of Merchantville, NJ, was born May 13, 1937 and died from dementia on June 21, 2012. She is survived by her husband, H. Douglas Barnshaw, MD; children: Robert C. Barnshaw of Westford, MA and Susan Paluzzi and her husband, Mark of New Haven, Ct; four grandchildren and her brother, Charles Wright of Wiscasset, ME.Libby was a graduate of Merchantville High School in 1955 and University of Penn. with a BS in nursing in June 1959. She married H. Douglas Barnshaw on June 12, 1959. Libby worked at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia and Porter Hospital in Denver, CO as an RN. She went on to do problem pregnancy counseling, Director of Voluntary Action Center in Billings, Mt and served on the Youth Home Board in Billings, MT and in Colorado Springs, CO. After moving to the Springfield, MA area in 1976 Libby obtained her certificate to teach mathematics and later her MS. After teaching in East Longmeadow High School mathematics for fifteen years she retired and helped her husband in his private practice. Libby enjoyed golf, travel, and doing and teaching knitting, felt pocketbooks and quilts. She loved her family and friends. Libby was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield and contributed significantly to the four quilts hanging in Friendship Hall. In 1985 Libby bought a cabin in Woodford, VT in which she put two door jams, built two beds, supervised putting in new windows, a new roof, sunroom and bathroom. She was very proud of her cabin and enjoyed many days there in the summer time where it was beautiful and "cool." In 2000 Libby and Doug bought a home built in 1908 in Springfield, Forest Park area. Again Libby supervised the painting of the whole house, re-papering, sanding, and completely renovating the kitchen. She was very proud of her home and enjoyed the neighborhood for ten years. The home was on the Historic House Tour and received many "kudos." Libby was always a very active, upbeat and outgoing person who knew what she wanted. Her MO remained the same till the end. Libby was loved by many including the staff at the Atrium and the Heritage Hall both in Agawam. While Libby accomplished a lot, she was essentially a home maker and was the most proud of her children. Libby Barnshaw lives on in Bob, Susan and her four grandchildren-Sabra Stratton, Coleman and Sam Barnshaw and Anthony Paluzzi - whom she was with shortly after their births and will be the rest of their lives in spirit.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer's Association, 264 Cottage Street, Springfield. MA 01104 in honor of Elizabeth Barnshaw. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 2:00PM at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, 245 Porter Lake Drive, Springfield, MA 01106. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. For full details visit www.nefcc.net