Marcia Barrows Wood

marciaMarcia Barrows Wood, 91, died peacefully with her family by her side, November 23rd at Mass General Hospital.

Marcia was the daughter of Walter A. Barrows and Irma (Smith) Barrows. The oldest of four children, she was born on March 13, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. Marcia earned a B.A. from Smith College in 1944 and a M.S.S. from the Smith School of Social Work in 1945. Marcia worked as a social worker in New York City for a time before moving back to Massachusetts and starting a family. In later years, Marcia worked as a volunteer for numerous committees in the Town of Winchester. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the Smith Club, the Winchester Historical Society, Minuteman Senior Services and she was president of the Council on Aging for 12 years. In addition to her community service work, she was an avid painter and collector of antique lace and clothing. She gave talks on the history of lace and lacemaking across the state of Massachusetts and once ran an antique shop in Needham. Marcia often referred to her family as her “life work.”

Her time spent at the family home on Chebeague Island, Maine, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her happiest times. Through her strong spirit, her sense of humor and her sharp intellect, she created a tight-knit family unit that stands as the testament to her role as mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son Clifton W. Emery, III, and his wife Vicki of Westford, Mass., their daughter Jaedra Rideout and her husband Brandon, their daughter Kate McCarthy and her husband Gavin and their son John and his wife Elyse; her son Peter B. Emery of Kennebunk, Maine, his companion Karen White, his daughter Jocelyn Miller and her husband Jonny, and his son Benjamin; her daughter Laurie Wood and her husband Scott McCollom of North Yarmouth, Maine, their sons Matthew and Brian McDonough and their daughter Shoshanna McCollom. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren and three stepsons. Marcia was predeceased by her daughter Nancy Emery of Fall River, Mass., her first husband Clifton W. Emery, Jr and her second husband Theodore Wood, Jr

A Celebration of Life will be held January 10, 2015 at 1:00p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 478 Main Street, Winchester. Her ashes will be interred this summer on Chebeague Island, Maine. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Winchester Public Library, 80 Washington Street, Winchester.

Marcia loved Chebeague Island and always felt that it was the glue that helped bind our family together. We will hold a memorial at our house on the point this coming summer.

 

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