Barbara E. Masser

Barbara Ellen Masser age 80, of East Greenwich RI, passed away peacefully at home Sunday August 28, 2016. Barbara was born in Dongola, Illinois to parents William Milan and Audrey (Kirkham) Milan. She had two siblings, the late Wayne Milan of Prescott, Arizona, and her sister, Florence Penrod of San Antonio, Texas. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Anna Masser, and two granddaughters, Meghan (age 12) and Gretchen (age 11) Kerfoot.

“Bobbie,” as she was known, was a strong, intelligent and independent woman. She left her family farm in Southern Illinois at age 16 to attend University of Pennsylvania nursing school. She supported her education by working nights as a private nurse and obtained her Master’s degree in nursing from Boston College where she also later taught. In her fifties she became a clinical psychiatric nurse specialist and finished her nursing career working in the cardiothoracic step down unit at Miriam Hospital.

An avid fan of a good bargain and a TJ Maxx loyalist, she was always impeccably attired and carried herself with grace and elegance. She loved a good Patriots game, and had an infectious and irreverent sense of humor.

In her later years she was known by another name, “Bubba.” This was the name given to her by her grandchildren, to whom she was a loving and attentive grandmother. She was an active participant in their lives, often helping care for them as infants to tweens (along with her daughter’s menagerie of animals). They love her and will miss her deeply.

Bobbie has one daughter, Barbara Anna, to whom she was a loving and supportive mother. She was very proud that her daughter became a doctor, and the two shared many laughs and stories around the craziness that is the medical profession. With her strength, self-reliance and resilience, she was a wonderful role model for her daughter and granddaughters.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA and Hope Hospice of RI for their loving, attentive care during her last days.

A celebration of her life will be held Thursday September 1 at the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich, RI at 4:00 PM. All are welcome to attend.