(1928-2024)

Barbara Jean Burgess was born in September 1928 in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were Grace Madeline and James Riley Burgess, and she had an older brother, James “Bob” Riley Burgess, Jr.

She went to college at Michigan State University (MSU) and graduated in 1950 with a journalism & advertising degree. At MSU she met her first husband, Francis L. Boyle, Jr, a WWII veteran who served in the US Army Air Force, lucky to survive 35 B-17 missions over enemy territory.

After MSU, Barbara worked at a newspaper as a senior editor and at American Airlines.

Barbara and her husband, Frank, had three children, Michelle, Judith, and James, who, after moving in 1961 to the New York suburbs, were raised in Armonk.

In the late 1960s after a divorce, Barbara met and married Thomas E. French. Subsequently, they moved to Cape Cod in 1978, where they enjoyed golfing, antiquing, and a wide social circle.

Eventually, Barbara was blessed with five granddaughters, Nicole, Amanda, Rachel, Jillian, and Kathryn. Unfortunately, cancer in 1989 claimed Tom and she moved to Newtown to be closer to her family and became a diehard UConn women’s basketball fan. Even well into her 70s and 80s she was still a Girl Scout leader. She also volunteered at local Newtown schools.

In 2016, she moved to Annapolis, Md., to be near her eldest child and youngest granddaughter.

On January 2, 2024, at the age of 95, Barbara passed quietly in her bed succumbing to Alzheimer’s. All of her children and her granddaughters survive Barbara and Frank (1925-2022).

Barbara Jean, fondly known as Mame to her family, will be greatly missed. She will be remembered lovingly for her consistent gaiety and her gracious, wonderful spirit.