Barbara J. Marchant

Barbara Joan (Swallow) Marchant, 79, of West Newfield, died at the Mountain View Nursing Home in Ossipee, New Hampshire on October 23, 2011.Barbara was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts on May 27, 1932 to Harold and Marie (Schwartz) Swallow and attended local schools, graduating from Wakefield High School in 1949. Following high school she attended the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Nursing School, graduating in 1953. Barbara had a thirst for knowledge and continued taking classes for many years at Salem State College for her own enjoyment. After graduating from nursing school Barbara devoted her life to her nursing career. When she retired as a home health care nurse, she and her husband, Bunkey, moved to West Newfield, Maine to reside in their newly built dream home. Barbara was an active woman during her life and this continued into her retirement. She was involved with Habitat for Humanity, the Newfield Historical Society, Meals on Wheels, the Newfield Recycling Center, the Parsonsfield Extension and she attended and helped instruct exercise classes for seniors at the Newfield Methodist Church. She enjoyed camping with friends and family at Sunset Park, thoroughly enjoyed food of all kinds and loved to travel. Barbara was an avid knitter and liked to crochet; she took pride in her flower gardens and enjoyed feeding the local birds and wildlife that would graze under her apple trees. Not long after the loss of her husband Bunkey in 2003, Barbara was diagnosed with non-tremors Parkinsonism and was later admitted to the Mountain View Nursing Home in Ossipee, New Hampshire where she spent the last five years before passing into her journey of eternal life. Barbara will be remembered for her laughter, kindness, selflessness, strength and sense of humor. Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her brother, John Swallow of New York City, the love of her life, her husband Evard (Bunkey) William Marchant.She is survived by her brother Phillip Swallow of Lebanon, her sons Peter E. Marchant and his wife, Maria of West Newfield, Paul Marchant and his wife, Cheryl of Melrose, MA, and Douglas J. Marchant and his wife, Linda of Sanford. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.Visiting hours for Barbara will be held on Friday, October 28th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale, Maine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 29th at St. Matthew's Parish, located at 19 Dora Lane in Limerick.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Maine Parkinson Society, P.O. Box 2382, South Portland, Maine 04106To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.