HAVERHILL: Barbara Mae (Upson) Dondero, 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in her home of 63 years. She was the wife of the late Thomas L. Dondero.
Born in Haverhill on April 8, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Wallace and Carrie Bertha (Colby) Upson.
Barbara was educated in Haverhill and graduated from Haverhill High School, Class of 1944. Following her marriage in 1947, she remained home to raise her eight children. Barbara then joined AT&T where she worked twenty years as a long distance operator until retiring in 1994.
Barbara and her husband provided a strong platform and work ethic for their children. All the children worked at the family Pondside Farm picking fruit, vegetables, and raising livestock to be sold locally and in the Boston marketplace. Raising eight children had its challenges, but she found great enjoyment in raising a loving and close knit family.
Barbara enjoyed North Shore Music Theater, traveling to Foxwoods, playing bridge, board games, and completing hundreds of jig saw puzzles. In earlier years she and her husband enjoyed dancing at Canobie Lake.
Barbara is survived by her loving family, Thomas A. Dondero, Richard M. Dondero, David C. Dondero, Paul A. Dondero and wife Margaret, Linda Perkins and her husband Jay, all of Bradford, Joyce Donovan and husband Neil of Londonderry, NH, Christine (Tina) Cianfrocca of Beverly; fourteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren. Barbara was the mother of the late Leslie J. Dondero, and sister to the late Wallace Upson.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, Nov. 6th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, at Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main St., Haverhill. The funeral service, at the funeral home, on Thursday at 11:00am will conclude with interment at Elmwood Cemetery in Bradford. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com