Barbara Cortis

Barbara Frances (Weeden) Cortis, age 88 of 74 Dudley Road, Oxford, MA died at Holy Trinity Ichabod Washburn Hospice Residence in Worcester, Mass on Thursday, November 03, 2011. Born March 12, 1923 in Lynn, MA, she was the daughter of the late Charles F. Weeden and Alice L. Morris Weeden. Barbara graduated in 1941 from Major Beal High School in Shrewsbury, MA and was an active organizer and participant in all her class reunions. She was of Protestant faith and attended First Congregational Church in Shrewsbury and Oxford, MA for many years. She lived in Worcester and Shrewsbury before moving to Oxford in 1954. Barbara wintered in Clearwater, FL with her late husband Norman starting in 1982. Together they enjoyed many car trips all over the US and Canada, several cruises, and tours to Hawaii and Scandinavia. In her teen years, Barbara joined the Grange in Shrewsbury, MA where she a very active member and held all of the offices and committees over the years. She was also a member of the Grange in Auburn, MA: the Massachusetts State Grange; the Order of the National Grange; the Worcester Central Pomona Grange; and the Eastern Star Stella Chapter in Auburn, MA. She was an avid reader and crocheted many beautiful afghans. At her Florida home ?Regency Heights?, she was active in the homeowner?s association as treasurer, led the weekly Bunco games, and collected tabs for the Springfield Shriners Hospital. Barbara was employed over the years as a bookkeeper and in later years as a retail sales manager. A daughter, Audrey Elaine Cooper & husband Howard F. Cooper, Jr. of Newton, NC; a son, Craig Elliot Cortis of the home; three sisters-in-law, Cecile Cortis of Worcester, MA, Lillyan Thebodo & husband Bernard of Worcester, MA, and Barbara Avirett & husband Luther of Bradenton, FL; a niece, Beverly Nickerson & husband Everett of Waltham, MA; two nephews, Charles Weeden, Sr. & wife Norma of Pawlet, VT and Chester Remington & wife Judy of Honolulu, HI; three granddaughters, Lori Jenkins & husband Carl of Newton, NC, Melissa Grainger of Conover, NC, and Kerri Nash & husband Kelly of Catawba, NC; seven great-grandchildren, Bryan Sigmon, Aron Sigmon & wife Jessica, Benjamin Jenkins, C. LeAnne Jenkins, Laurel Jenkins, Kody Nash and Korbin Nash; and a great-great-grandchild, Carter Sigmon all of Catawba County, NC; seven great-nieces; three great-nephews and four great-great-nieces survive her. In addition to her parents, her husband of 58 years, Norman E. Cortis, a brother, Arthur F. Weeden, Sr. & wife Louella M. Weeden; a niece, Jennifer L. Weeden Paulsen and a nephew, Arthur F. Weeden, Jr. preceded her in death. The family is forever indebted to the countless hours of wonderful care and concern given to Barbara by Home Health Care & Hospice of UMass Memorial. We are especially grateful to our loving friend Rosemary Charron for the personal touch of care and uplifting of our spirits she provided in the home. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, MA. The Rev. Dr. Samuel W. Young, former pastor of the First Congregational Church of Oxford, UCC will officiate. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Shrewsbury, MA. Memorials may be made to UMass Memorial Home Health and Hospice, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Mass. 01605 or to The Salvation Army, 640 Main Street, Worcester, Mass. 01608. Please sign the online guestbooks at www.JenkinsFuneralHome.net and www.ParadisFuneralHome.com. The Cortis family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Newton, NC and to Paradis Funeral Home in Oxford, MA.