Barbara Marie (Arsenault) Currier

January 14, 1932 - February 25, 2020

Barbara Marie (Arsenault) Currier, 88, a proud resident of Lawrence, Mass., formerly of North Andover, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. Barbara had the unique experience of being raised by dedicated nurses, social workers and doctors at the Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton, where she developed life-long friendships, many of whom she affectionately considered her adopted siblings. Her early childhood experiences in the group home, coupled with her devotion to Roman Catholicism, instilled in her a responsibility for dedicated civic engagement, spanning more than 5 decades of service in an eclectic range of organizations including the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, the Merrimack Valley Legal Services in Lowell, the Stadium Courts Housing Project in South Lawrence, the Northeast Independent Living Program in Lawrence, a founding member of the North Andover Commission on Disability Issues, a dedicated volunteer at the North Andover Senior Center and for the American Red Cross. Barbara was a proud and faithful parishioner of Saint Patrick's Church in Lawrence, where she served for many decades as a choral member. Barbara was fiercely justice-oriented, quick to laugh, passionately empathetic to those who suffer, materially poor yet relationally rich, and childishly playful. Those who love her will never forget her. Barbara leaves behind dozens of loving family members. Daughter Barbara and son-in-law Jeffrey Locke of Merrimac, MA; daughter Colleen Currier and son-in-law Ronald Marchand of Danville, NH; son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Sandy Currier of Sedona, AZ. And her beloved adopted daughter, Joann Bennett of Fresno, CA. Grand children: Benjamin Locke II and his wife Juliet, Tara Hamel and her companion Riki, Joel (Boutin) Emerson and his husband Charlie, Laurie Runions and her husband Jeff, Michele Boutin, Jennifer Bennett Edwards, Pam Collins and her husband Bill. Great Grandchildren: Benjamin, Katrina and Christopher Locke; Alexis and Zachary Hamel; Gael Flores; Ella, Joseph, Emily and Tyler Runions; Nikki, CJ and Ian Murphy; Sarah and Jesse Collins. She was predeceased by her former husband, Roland G. Currier, of Haverhill, Mass. And she leaves behind many friends, best among them the Boutin clan of Georgetown MA, Sandy Nutter, Pat Boutin-Skene and Barbara’s daily card playing buddy, John. Her family is forever grateful to the attentive care she received from friends at the Mary Immaculate Assisted Living Home in Lawrence. Family and friends may call on Sunday, March 1st from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. A celebration of life mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 2nd, 2020 at 11:00 am in Saint Patrick's Church in South Lawrence, MA. Burial will follow in the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in North Andover, MA. For online condolences and other information please visit us at www.breenfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation in Barbara’s memory to the Northeast Independent Living Program, 20 Ballard Road Lawrence, MA 01843 and Marguerite’s House Recreation Fund or the charity of one’s choice.