Barbara A. King

Barbara A. (Moquin) King, age 89, of Millbury, formerly of Worcester, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on March 8th, International Women’s Day, after a short illness. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Edward M. King, her son Timothy P. King, and her two brothers, Joseph J. Moquin and Raymond P. Moquin, Jr.

Barbara leaves her seven loving children, Dr. Brenda J. King, Edward M, Jr, Judith M, Thomas G (Mauriann), Christine M, Elizabeth A Boisvere and Maureen A Army (Brian); her 12 beloved grandchildren, Matthew Grybowski (Alyssa), Bryan King (Andrea), Amelia, Thaddeus, Maria and Joseph Borowy, Tara King, Edward Arndt IV (Erika), Sarah Boisvere, Adam, Anna and Asa Army (Zoe), and her seven beloved great-grandchildren, Tyler, Madelyn and Finley Grybowski, Jaydonn and Jacob King, and Nina and Percy Army, and her loving brother-in-law, John King of Virginia, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Barbara enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, baking, caring for her plants and her home, music, and reading. For many years, she enjoyed ballroom dancing with her beloved husband. She especially loved having her family around her, and made holidays and her kids’ birthdays special.

Barbara spent her life in service; to her family, to her Church and to her community. She was born in Worcester to the late Anna E. (Murphy) and Raymond P. Moquin. She graduated from St Peter’s Catholic High School, and St Vincent Hospital School of Nursing. Barbara worked as a floor nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital before spending many years in the Outpatient Department of Doctors Hospital before it transitioned to AdCare Hospital, when she continued her nursing career on the Substance Abuse Unit until she retired in 2000.

Before she retired, and while raising her children, Barbara volunteered at Belmont Community School, she was a CCD teacher, eucharistic minister, thrift store volunteer and member of the Women’s Guild at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Worcester. She volunteered as a counselor for the Worcester Crisis Center hotline, at local food pantries, and at Friendly House food co-op. She was proud of being a participant in the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Nurses’ Health Study for the duration of the program, 1976 - 2006.

Once Barbara retired, she joined the YWCA’s Nereids in swim classes, and added Preservation Worcester, Fallon Clinic’s Blood Pressure Clinics, Medical Transportation Driver and News Reader for the Mass Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Barbara spent many years volunteering at the Worcester Senior Center in various roles, including as a member of the Fraud Squad. She worked part time as switchboard operator at the Odd Fellows Home in Worcester, before taking a paid role at Worcester Area Intergroup in the main office, and becoming increasingly involved in AA. She was integral in establishing a new meeting group, and at age 87, she challenged herself by taking on the role of chairing a weekly meeting, and at 89, she added volunteer shifts on the AA hotline to her resume. She continues to teach and give back to others as she has donated her body for medical education.

Barbara gave of herself in all that she did, and she continued to grow and challenge herself until she left this life. She touched many others in many ways, and remained optimistic and full of gratitude and love for others until the very last moment. She is deeply loved, and will be profoundly missed.

In lieu of flowers, Barbara has requested that donations may be made to:

Worcester Area Intergroup: Gifts can be mailed to Worcester Area Intergroup, 100 Grove St., Suite 314, Worcester, MA 01605, in memory of Barbara King, for Big Books.

Heart of the Nation Catholic Mass, online at: https://www.heartofthenation.org/donate/donate-online or Heart of the Nation, PO Box 14428, Milwaukee, WI 53214

Wounded Warrior Project at: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=10043&ovr_acv_id=5246 

American Cancer Society at: https://donate.cancer.org/ or 1-800-227-2345

VNA Care Hospice: Gifts may be made to VNA Hospice & Palliative Care, VNA Care Network, in memory of Barbara A. King to support patient care at VNA Care, Fund Development, 67 Millbrook St., 500 North, Worcester, MA 01606 or via www.vnacare.org 

Family and friends are invited to remember Barbara’s life by gathering for a time of visitation on Saturday, March 15th from 4 to 7 p.m. in Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 N. Main Street, Millbury. 

A Celebration of Life will follow the visitation at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.