Mrs. Barbara "Bobbe" Clary

Barbara (Bobbe) Louise Clary (1922-2016) died peacefully in the comfort of her beloved home and family on July 8th. Daughter of Pittsfield police officer Albert Haskins and Molly Murray Haskins, she spent her childhood on Seymour St. and Pontoosuc Lake. Although widely traveled, she was most at home in and loved Pittsfield. A 1940 graduate of Pittsfield High, she married James R. Clary in 1943 just prior to his Air Corps deployment and subsequent POW internment in Germany. Their first child was born while he was in solitary confinement. In 1949 they together built a home on Barker Rd. where they raised 15 children, opened their doors to countless more and participated in varied community organizations. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Marks Church, deeply devout in faith and committed to the well-being of all people, the poor everywhere and especially ex-POWs and Veterans. While family and children were her primary interests, she enjoyed a range of hobbies. She was an avid bird watcher, a collector of miniatures, porcelain dolls, willow ware, music boxes and antiques. She painted, sketched, wrote verse, was a handy bridge player, skier and golfer, explored the world at every chance, invented myriad games, stories and entertainments for kids, and, once her family had grown, Bobbe co-founded and taught at the St. Mark’s pre-school program. She also took up travel, camping, college courses, road tripping, bicycling, river tubing and community volunteering, especially at food pantries in Pittsfield. She lived every hour to its fullest and looked upon each as a blessing. She read Thomas Merton, Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, Elvis, Abraham Lincoln, Gore Vidal, histories of the American Revolution, and was particularly fond of Teddy Roosevelt. She traveled extensively to Mexico, through Europe and the United States, and took several cross-country trips by train and car to Alameda, CA, where she wintered for several years, made more friends and enjoyed exploring the Bay Area. She spent her final years in her beloved home, continuing to entertain all ages with lively stories, games, daily adventures and the curiosities of science and nature. She most recently liked bingeing Downton Abbey. She lived long, heartily, wisely, and leaves a legacy of dignity, grace and enduring faith in the unknown. Her companionship and love will be greatly missed. Bobbe was widowed in 1989 and predeceased by three children: Nancy, John and Sheila; grandson Clary Edwards; sisters Norma Formel, Helen Wade, Alberta and Vera Haskins and two brothers, Albert and Murray Haskins. She is survived by Mollie Clary Allen and Bruce Allen of Exeter, NH; Kathleen Clary Edwards of Plano, TX; James Clary and Theresa Szymanski of West Hartford, CT; Michael Clary and Elizabeth Wedge of NY, NY; Peggy Clary of Pittsfield; Marynancy Clary of NY, NY; Theresa Clary of Pittsfield; Eileen Clary and Paul Szontagh of Raleigh, NC.; Joseph Clary and Clare LaPlante of Evanston, IL.; PM Clary of Alameda, CA; Thomas and Leanne Clary of Richardson, TX; and Frank and Jean Clary of Kensington, MD, as well as seventeen grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 48, and eight great-grandchildren. She especially loved the kindness and affections she received throughout her life from her many nieces and nephews in the Haskins, Magner and Formel families and her good friends: the Higgins family. Funeral Notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Barbara (Bobbe) Louise Clary will be Thursday, July14, 2016 at 10 a.m. at St. Mark’s Church celebrated by the Rev. John C. Salatino, pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Calling hours at the Dwyer Funeral Home will be Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Mark's Food Pantry, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA 01201.

Mrs. Barbara "Bobbe" Clary

September 10, 1922 - July 8, 2016