Obituary of Barbara Marcinkiewicz

Barbara Marcinkiewicz

(Shirley) Barbara Marcinkiewicz, 89, of Thorndike, passed away December 4, 2023, after a brief illness with her family by her side.

She is predeceased by her husband, Alexander (Maxie) Marcinkiewicz in 1980, and sisters Emily Jones in 2005 and Alice Piechota in 2014.

She will be missed by her children, Jonathan Marcinkiewicz and his wife, Randi of Hubbardston and Paul Marcinkiewicz and his wife, Shannon Bischoff of Acton. She also leaves several grandchildren, step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Barbara was born in Palmer, MA to Mary (Kowal) and Stanley Salamon on October 15, 1934. She was a graduate of Palmer High School where she concentrated in the accounting field. Barbara lived her entire life in Thorndike and worked at Tambrands in Three Rivers as an accountant in the payroll department until her retirement in 1998. She also had a love for singing and was an accomplished vocalist having taken private voice lessons in Springfield during high school and studied voice at a three month workshop at the New York City Opera.

She was a member of the Divine Mercy Parish in Three Rivers and sang in the choir for many years and at numerous weddings.

Barbara loved to cook and Polish food was her specialty. She delighted in entertaining her family and friends and never came to a party empty handed. The pride she had for her Polish ethnicity and traditions was unmatched, and on Christmas Eve the Wigilia was a cherished time with family. She loved to tell stories of her ancestors and keeping the Polish traditions alive was imperative to her.

Barbara was a kind and thoughtful soul, always supportive without judgment and willing to lend a helping hand. Her faith was strong and her daily prayers and novenas often included her family and at times people she didn’t even know. Her faithfulness was infinite and she was generous and a blessing to all who knew her. Barbara was a self-proclaimed “shopaholic” and accomplished seamstress. She also took pleasure in traveling on bus tours and attending theater productions, and one may have seen her in town at the Palmer Senior Center or working the voting polls.

Most of all, Barbara loved spending time with her family. She fondly recalled family gatherings of years past with her sisters and their families and multiple households of cousins. Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye and she proudly told stories about their accomplishments to anyone who would listen. She was a treasured and loving grandmother, and will be abundantly missed.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 10 am at the Divine Mercy Parish (originally St Peter & Paul), please meet directly at the church at 2267 Main Street, Three Rivers, MA. Burial will follow in the St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Bondsville, MA. Calling Hours will be on Friday, December 8, 2023 from 4 - 6:30 pm at the Beers and Story Funeral Home, 1475 Main Street, Palmer, MA. In Lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions can be made in Barbara’s name to the Palmer Senior Center.