Obituary of Barbara Gamache

Barbara Gamache, a woman who devoted her life to her family, faith, and community, passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024, after an extended illness.  She was 87 years old.  Barbara was born in Cambridge, MA, on July 5, 1936, to John and Simone Rigazio. She was the middle of five children and the only daughter. She adored her four brothers. She enjoyed growing up in North Cambridge where she made lifelong friends and had close relationships with extended family. Barbara was an excellent student and an accomplished pianist. She especially loved accompanying her father as he played the accordion in vaudeville acts and musical performances.

Barbara was blessed to have a wonderful marriage to her husband, Roger.  They married in 1965 and lived in Cambridge for five years. They settled in Burlington in 1970 where they raised their four daughters who filled them with love and pride. As a family, they enjoyed camping trips to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and summer trips to Gloucester, Cape Code, and Ogunquit, Maine. Barbara also had two stepdaughters who were raised in Florida and spent summers with them. Altogether, their six daughters blessed them with 15 grandchildren and many great grandchildren who touched their lives in very special ways.

Barbara worked for 9 years at New England Telephone as a service representative and later as an executive secretary in the M.I.T Instrumentation Lab.  She loved the excitement of being part of the team that worked on the Apollo 7 program and meeting some of the astronauts. She stopped working after the birth of her first child and remained home to raise her family. When her daughters were older, Barbara returned to the work force as an administrative assistant at various medical companies.

Barbara loved caring for people and sharing her talents and time with others.  She was an active member of St. Margaret Church and St. Malachy Church where she taught CCD and was a Eucharistic Minister. She enjoyed volunteering at Lahey Hospital, Heartbeat Pregnancy Help Center, and Middlesex Shelter in Lowell. She also volunteered at People Helping People and was proud to help start the first Christmas Wish Tree at the Burlington Mall, a program that continues to this day. Barbara was a longtime volunteer at Minuteman Senior Services where she drove seniors to their medical appointments and was recognized with the “Points of Light Award” for her years of service.  She found fulfillment in her volunteer work and believed it was her way to show gratitude for the many blessings in her life. 

Barbara’s greatest joy was her family.  She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a strong role model who was always there to support, encourage, comfort, and guide her family with her wisdom and faith. She will be sadly missed but forever remembered.

Barbara was the beloved wife of the late Roger Gamache. She was the loving mother of Donna Arbo and her husband Ronald of Boston, Karen Cox and her husband David of Ft. Worth, TX, Susan Curtin of Danvers, and Lynne McLeod of Chelmsford. She was the loving stepmother of Diane Bender of Taylors, SC & her late husband Phil and the late Linda Kane and her late husband Howard. She was the sister of Donald Rigazio of Louisville, KY, and the late Richard, John and Raymond Rigazio. Barbara is also survived by 15 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.  She will be remembered for her kindness, compassion, and devotion to others.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Friday, Jan. 12 from 4-7pm. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn St, Burlington at 10am. The burial will be private. 

Memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to People Helping People, www.peoplehelpingpeopleinc.org, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803 or Minuteman Senior Services, www.minutemansenior.org, One Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 101, Burlington, MA 01803. 

For online guestbook and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net