Obituary of Barbara Lee Wood

“Together Again”

On May 22, 2024, Barbara Lee Wood was forever reunited with her husband, George, as she passed away at the age of 91, surrounded by family at her home in Yuma, Arizona.

Born on October 3, 1932, Barbara was the third child of Ethel (Miller) and Alfred Hansen, and lived first in Braintree, before moving to Weymouth with her sister Alice, and brothers Donald, Paul and Richard. Barbara graduated from Weymouth High School in 1950, and, presented with both a modeling contract and a proposal from a “certain someone,” we are all grateful she chose the latter.

Barbara and George met as teenagers, and George declared only two weeks later that he would marry her. She laughed, but George was proved right, as they married in 1951 and raised their family of 5 children in Pembroke, Massachusetts. Theirs was a love story like no other, and surrounded by extended family in Pembroke, Halifax and Weymouth, they created a childhood their 3 daughters and 2 sons will always cherish. They gave their love equally and without condition, and blessed us all in so many ways that could never possibly be shared here.

After working as a phone operator for Bell Telephone Company, Barbara managed George’s commercial art studio until he retired in 1986. They then made their long-anticipated move to Leesburg, Florida, where Barbara worked at Crystal Arts, the glassware shop on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, riding to work with George, who worked at the monorail there. They loved their time working at Walt Disney World, greeting and talking with people from all over the country and beyond.

Although they loved the Florida sunshine and lifestyle, they missed their family more, so the couple returned to Massachusetts and settled into a house on Cape Cod. It was there that they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001.

George passed away shortly after, and Barbara remained living in Falmouth, where she was an active and busy grandmother, cheering at sporting events, clapping at concerts, and beaming with pride at award ceremonies and graduations. She was also the center of countless family birthday parties, holiday celebrations and summer barbecues, and was never happier than when she was surrounded by her family.

Barbara loved a good murder mystery, singing along with Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland, dancing to Big Band music, taking long walks, watching birds in her backyard and old movies on television. She had a sharp wit, loved discussing politics, citing pop culture references, and telling funny stories about her life. She had the rare gift of knowing when to just listen, and had an abundance of hugs and kisses always at the ready.

Barbara loved to travel, and spent many years camping in New Hampshire and Vermont, and visiting the family cabin in Maine. She later traveled throughout the United States, including all over the South, California, and Utah, before settling in Arizona with her daughter, Dorey, and son-in-law, Ken.

Barbara is survived by her brother, Richard Hansen, and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hansen, of Carver, Massachusetts, and her five children and their spouses: Dorey and Kenneth Conway, Brian and Susan Wood, Leeanne and (the late) Nicholas Cafardo, Meredith and Brian Axon, and Marshall and Donna Wood. Barbara was Grandma/Gumma/Gubba to her 11 grandchildren: Andrew, Jenna, Daniel, Lane, Benjamin, Emilee, Tyler, Lexie, Justin, Kyle and Ashlynn. She was also blessed with 5 great-grandchildren: Keana, Kaden, Kaylee, Fiona, Silas,  Annabella and Noah.

Donations can be made to Special Olympics, an organization Barbara supported for many years in honor of her brother, Paul, and his love of all things sports.Special Olympics Tribute Giving

Barbara’s family will receive visitors at Shepherd Funeral Home in Kingston, MA on Monday, June 3rd, from 4-6:30 with a service to begin at 6:30. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 4th at 11:00 AM at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Pembroke.