Hanover, N.H. —
Barbara was born in West Roxbury, Mass. to Paul Andrew Mayr and Mary Magee Mayr. Barbara was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, Roxbury, Mass. ‘52 and Boston College School of Nursing Class ‘56.
She was married to Jack Stinson for 60 years; they raised six children and lived in many places throughout New England, including Saugus, Ipswich, and Pittsfield, Mass. The family moved to Hanover in 1975 where Jack became the Town Manager of Hanover and Barbara worked at Dartmouth Mental Health Center as a psychiatric counsellor. Barbara was active in the town and became the first woman President of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce.
Their next adventure was to become owners of the Stinson’s Village and Country Stores. Barbara’s creativity and energy led to the start of a specialty cake and catering business. Her enthusiasm for life was contagious, and everyone had no choice but to join in the process; with Jack making the cakes, Barbara decorating and all of the family working it to a success.
Barbara was also an incredibly talented creative artist. Throughout her life, she always made the time to paint, to take classes, and to learn new processes and media. Her inspiration came from her love of gardening, nature and her passion for expressing color and form.
Barbara was a person who saw the joy in life and worked hard to bring that to those around her. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to try new things, to work hard and to believe in themselves. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a true friend to many people. She will be missed.
Barb is survived by her husband, Jack; brother-in-law, Ted O’Rourke; her son, Jack Stinson (Jr.) and wife, Donna, Paul Stinson and wife, Michelle, Raymond Stinson and wife, Gillian, Gretchen Rice and husband, Melvin, Heidi Li and husband, Yin Ching, Lisa Stinson and husband, Ken Carder; grandsons, Ryerson Stinson, Michael Stinson, Carson Stinson, Aidan Stinson; and granddaughters, Amanda Rice, Anna Stinson, Brittany Li, Bethany Li, Brianna Li, and Emma Carder; and great-granddaughter, Aliyah Ann Dansereau.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Joanne Mayr O’Rourke, sister and brother-in-law, Pauline Mayr White and Armand White, her father and mother, Paul Andrew Mayr and Mary Magee Mayr, and her stepmother, Katherine Mayr.
To view an online memorial and or send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.rand-wilson.com.
A family gathering to celebrate her life is being planned. It was Barbara’s wish that donations be used to spend time with your family.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover.