Obituary of Laurence Edgar Barrell

Laurence Edgar Barrell, a beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on September 26, 2023 after a period of failing health.  He was 79 years old.  Laurence "Larry" was born in Boston to his parents Joseph and Louise Barrell and grew up in North Cambridge. 

Larry's life would change forever when he stopped into a bar in Falmouth one summer afternoon where he met his future wife Diana who was enjoying a drink with her friend after a long day at the beach. They had an instant connection and were married a little over 2 years later on a snowy December afternoon at St Peter’s Parish in North Cambridge.  Shortly after they welcomed their only daughter, Amy, and settled in Arlington where they lived for over 45 years.  .  

Larry was a hard working father and husband and provided for his family by running his own contracting business while also managing and maintaining an apartment building he owned.      

In his leisure, Larry loved to watch This Old House. He also enjoyed turning someone else's ‘trash into treasure’ by finding old lawn mowers and snow blowers and fixing them up to sell as well as collecting scrap metal.  Larry loved being in the country and spending time outdoors.  He spent  many happy times, looking for moose in the backwoods of Maine as well as enjoying time with his family in Greensboro Vermont.  Larry also enjoyed visiting Lake Winnipesaukee, where he would always visit his favorite Ice Cream Stands Liliuokalani’s.  He enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter playing outside or enjoying an occasional game of go fish.  Larry loved music.  He enjoyed  a wide variety of genres from Rogers and Hammerstein musicals to classic country by Hank Williams and Marty Robbins to Irish music.  He often enjoyed singing ‘who threw the overalls in Mrs Murphy's chowder’.  

Larry had a wonderful sense of humor and always enjoyed a good corny joke or pun.  Larry was one of a kind and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.  

Laurence was the beloved husband of Diana Barrell of Arlington. He was the loving father to Amy Zaganjori and her late husband Frank of Burlington. Laurence was the proud grandfather of Grace Zaganjori of Burlington. He was the dear brother of Joseph Barrell and his late wife Martha of Belmont, MA, Anne Grant and her late husband Jack of Braintree, Richard Barrell of Florence MA, and the late Virginia Yearsley.  Laurence is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. 

A visitation will be held on Monday, October 2, from 4 to 6pm, at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 3, at 10am at St. Peter’s Parish, 100 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138. Burial to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 70 Medford Street, Arlington, MA 02476 . 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the, Mike Rowe Scholarship fund, mikeroweworks.org/scholarship

For online guestbook, tribute video, and service information, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.