Barbara Jean Swenson (Waite) 85 of Melrose, passed away peacefully at home on October 8th, 2024 surrounded by her closest loved ones.

Barbara was the devoted wife of John Swenson for 61 wonderful years, a doting mother of Michael Swenson and Kirsten Carter (Swenson), loving grandmother to Reid and Paige Carter. Daughter of the late Kenneth Dawson Waite and Jennie Agnes Waite (Grace) of North Cambridge, caring sister of Gail Anne Murphy of North Cambridge, the late Kenneth William Waite of Tewksbury, and Donna Arlene Fraser of North Cambridge, caring aunt and cousin to many, and a friend to all who knew her.

She lived a beautiful life, embraced by love and light.

Barbara was born in Medford and raised in North Cambridge with her parents and siblings, where she met her soulmate, John, who swept her off her feet with his ever-present charm. The two married in Rhode Island and moved to Cambridge before Michael was born. The family later relocated from Cambridge to Arlington, where they welcomed two foster children, Vincent and Irene. They then moved to Woburn, where their daughter Krissy was born.

From Woburn, the family of four moved to Boulder, Colorado to help manage Barbara's asthma symptoms. The family returned to the East Coast, settling in Maine to be closer to their relatives. They initially lived in Portland and then moved to Limerick, where Barbara and John raised their children on a homesteading farm. Although Barbara always had a passion for gardening, it was on the farm that her green thumb truly thrived. She cultivated a wide variety of flowers and vegetables and could frequently be found tending to her garden at any time of the day.

The family of four moved back to Arlington, then Cambridge, and finally settled in Melrose. After this move, Barbara started working at Harvard University for Harvard Real Estate, then became a Leasing Agent in the Housing Office. She made many lifelong friends at Harvard and enjoyed a weekly lunchtime game of Boggle with colleagues, including her sister-in-law Maria Waite (Kenneth).

Barbara was renowned for her kindness, warm smile, free spirit, and deep religious faith. She had a passion for cooking and baking, with a particular fondness for sweets, especially chocolate. She was an enthusiastic reader and enjoyed attending live performances in the theatre district. Barbara also loved to travel, often embarking on cruises with family and friends.

Around 2009, Barbara started to show signs of dementia which ultimately led to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's in 2015. Her entire family rallied together to ensure Barbara was taken care of and remained comfortable during her decline brought on by this terrible disease. In time, her family sought the support of Care Dimensions Hospice Care for end-of-life assistance. This allowed Barbara to benefit from services such as music therapy with Dan, regular visits from a compassionate chaplain named Marshall, and weekly visits from a therapy dog named Wrangler.

As her life neared its end, Barbara wasn't always aware of her surroundings, but she continually felt the love of the family she had nurtured and that had grown around her. Occasionally, when her family became a bit too lively, she would gently offer a loving "shh" to signal that she heard them and needed them to calm down. Her family cherished these moments when her familiar personality would shine through, reminding them she was still with them.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM in Saint Mary's Church, Herbert Street, Melrose. A Mass Of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. Family & Friend's respectfully invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Barbara Jean Swenson. Please visit www.alz.org for donations.