Barbara V. Furnari

Barbara V. (Bent) Furnari, 91, of North Andover passed away Friday, September 21, 2018 at Ashland Farm assisted-living community. She was the widow of Anthony S. Furnari, who died in 2015.

Born in Lawrence, Barbara was a daughter and youngest child of Robert and Isabelle (Schofield) Bent. She was raised and educated in Methuen and was a 1946 graduate of Searles High School. She was married to Anthony Furnari in 1947 and they eventually made their home in North Andover.

She worked at Western Electric for a short time, raised four children, and joined her husband, a hairdresser, serving for many years as a receptionist and wig specialist at their business, Jackson Beauty Salon in Lawrence.

Barbara was proud of her English ancestry and adapted to cooking for her Italian in-laws. Embracing the culture in which her husband was raised, she hosted years of family dinners on Sunday. She was proud of her home and enjoyed entertaining and feeding friends. Barbara was a talented seamstress, creating drapes for her home, Easter outfits, prom gowns, and high school cheerleading uniforms. She also taught adult education classes in sewing and pine cone wreath making. A sharp card-player, Barbara enjoyed playing bridge and acey-duecy with friends and family and was a big fan of betting the pot! Barbara was a regular on the sidelines of her children's sporting events and was a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

In addition to her husband, Barbara was predeceased by her son, Anthony “Tee” Furnari, and her siblings, Norman Bent, Christine Witts, and Ruth McAvoy.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Deborah Gesing and her husband, Robert of North Andover, Nina Jones and her husband, Philip of Andover, and Amy Furnari of Methuen; daughter-in-law, Susan (Rand) Boutwell of Hartland, VT; grandchildren, Erica Roeck and her husband, Jason of Windsor, CT, Matthew Jones and his wife, Lauren Moye of Arlington, MA, Ellen Furnari and her husband, J.R. Gunerman of Cazenovia, NY, and  William Furnari and his wife, Shannon of Fairfax, VT; her great-grandchildren, Nathan and Corey Roeck, Olivia Jones, and Francesca Furnari; sister-in-law, Theresa (Beauchesne) Furnari; her cousin, Josephine DiPaolo; and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara’s family would like to thank friend and care-giver Rosemary Lamontagne, as well as the staff at Ashland Farm, Humble Home Care Services, and Tori, Tess, Susan and Marciel from All Care Hospice for their kindness and care.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 2:00-5:00 PM at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. Private committal will be held at the convenience of the family.