Ann Barry, 56, a former longtime resident of Sheffield, Mass., and Great Barrington, Mass., passed away peacefully Thursday, March 26, 2015 at her home in Southwick, Mass., with her family at her side.
Born in Great Barrington on October 5, 1958 she was the daughter of Louis and Mary Whalen Rodrigues. Ann attended the former Bryant School in Great Barrington before moving onto and graduating from Doane Stuart Preparatory School in Albany, N.Y. She was a 1978 graduate of Lasell College, located in Newton, Mass.
After college Ann worked as manager of the former Yellow Balloon children’s store on Main Street in Great Barrington. She later became the Food & Beverage Manager at the Red Lion Inn located in Stockbridge where she worked the last 19 years.
For five years Ann worked tirelessly chairing the board of “Summerfest,” a local street fair held in Great Barrington to benefit Hospice Care in the Berkshires.
Ann was an avid golfer, enjoyed playing cards and belonged to a local Pitch league. She also enjoyed cooking and celebrated life by entertaining friends and family.
She was a member of St. Peter’s Church in Great Barrington.
Along with her parents Louis and Mary Rodrigues of Springfield, Mass., Ann is survived by her children Joshua Barry and companion Julia Pitts of New York, N.Y.; Daniel Barry of Southwick; Kaitlyn Barry of South Egremont, Mass.; and Megan Barry, her companion Ryan Healey and their daughter Amara Grace, all of Incline Village, Nev. She also leaves her siblings James Rodrigues and wife Kim of Merrimack, N.H., Michael Shaughnessy and wife Cynthia of Springfield, Mass., and Thomas Shaughnessy of Pittsfield, Mass., as well as her companion Paul H. Drake Sr. and his son Paul H. Drake Jr. both of Southwick, along with several nieces and nephews.
A Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated on Thursday, April 2 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Great Barrington, conducted by Rev. William P. Murphy, pastor. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Great Barrington.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 1 from 4-7 p.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ann may be made to either Dana Farber Cancer Institute or Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.
