Barbara Ann Boyle died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Friday, January 14th at the age of 89. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on January 8th, 1933, the daughter of Milton and Lexie Turner (Alford).
Barbara graduated from Louisiana State University in the spring of 1954 and moved to Bound Brook, NJ to take a teaching position at Lafayette Elementary School. Soon after, she met Richard Boyle and within months decided to marry in 1955 and start the large family that she always wanted. They went on to have seven children.
Barbara had a beautiful voice and was also an avid guitar player. She shared her musical gifts with many people–singing, playing and teaching in churches, schools, nursing homes, and wherever friends were gathered. She was also a member of Immaculate Conception Church where she was a cantor and sang in the choir for many years.
In addition to her family, she had more friends and admirers than we can count! She was considered an honorary grandmother to many. She loved sitting on her porch on the corner of Altamont Place connecting with everyone from the mail carrier to all the neighbors.
She loved sports, animals (especially cows and dogs) and her home on Lake Seymour in Morgan, Vermont where she spent every summer since 1971.
She is survived by 6 of her children; Becky Peterson, her husband Tom and grandson Jesse of Burlington, VT; Sue Boyle and her wife Gwen Hilyard of Bend, Oregon; Steve Boyle, his wife Huy and grandchildren Samantha and Daniel of Vancouver, BC; Mary Beth LeBlond, her husband Neil and grandsons Logan and Griffin of Branchburg; Carolyn Boyle and her husband Toby Caven of Seattle, WA; and Kevin Boyle and grandson Turner of Somerville. She is also survived by her beloved companion and loyal dog, Scotty.
She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Richard J. Boyle, her sister Ellon Thompson, and her daughter Kathryn. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and remembered always by those whose lives she touched.
The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Barbara’s caregiver Beth Mwangi, and the Atlantic Home Care and Hospice team.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am on Saturday, May 14th, at Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Ave, Somerville, NJ, immediately followed by a repast at the Somerville Elks Club. Interment will be at a family plot at St. Philip Neri Church cemetery in Westport, New York.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia give2.chop.edu, or Atlantic Home Care and Hospice https://www.atlantichealth.org/patients-visitors/donate-volunteer/donate-visiting-nurse.html.
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