Barbara Jean Bridges Mawdsley, 74, of Danbury died May 21, due to complications following a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born on November 8, 1942, in Los Angeles to Elsa Rothschild Bridges and Alvah Quinton Bridges.

Her husband, David Walton Mawdsley; her son, Christopher Ryder Mawdsley, and his daughters, Sarah Ann and Elizabeth Avery Mawdsley, all of Newtown; her daughter, Anne Elizabeth Mawdsley, son-in-law, Adam James, and their daughter, Phoebe Alexandra James, all of Oakland, Calif., survive her.

Ms Mawdsley graduated from the University of Southern California with a BS in business and from Teacher's College of Columbia University with an MS in business education.

She married David Walton Mawdsley in 1965 and moved to Danbury where she taught high school business subjects at Southbury High School and later worked as a staff accountant for the CPAs John Chuvala and E.R. McRedmond. She then went on to work as a staff accountant for Davis and Geck of Danbury until her retirement.

Her work at The First Church of Christ, Congregational in Redding, spanned many activities there, volunteering as church treasurer, deacon, member of the business and finance committee, and treasurer of the annual church fair, and she regularly sang with the church choir for more than 30 years.

Ms Mawdsley volunteered to work for the Danbury Junior Service League, as a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, and for the Mill Ridge Elementary School PTO. She was a Red Cross donor and volunteer at bloodmobiles for more than 20 years.

She was an avid traveler in her early retirement, traveling regularly to Europe and Alaska. She planned a yearly Mawdsley family reunion in a different location each summer.

Calling hours for those wishing to show their respects will be from 5 to 8 pm, on Friday, June 9, at Danbury Memorial Funeral Home, 117 South Street, Danbury.

A joyful memorial service to celebrate her life will take place on Sunday, June 11, at 3 pm, at The First Church of Christ, Congregational, Redding. A reception will follow the service in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ms Mawdsley's life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First Church of Christ at 25 Cross Highway, Redding CT 06896 with the memo: Music Committee.

To light a candle or leave a condolence, visit danburymemorial.com.