We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved sister Bronwyn "Bronnie" A. Barry, 68, of Lowell, MA, and later Wheatland and Casper, Wyoming. Bronnie died on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Shepherd of the Valley Nursing Home in Casper after a long and painful illness due to diabetes.
Bronnie was the eldest daughter of James and Barbara (Dodge) O'Brien. Born on August 7, 1954 in Lowell, MA, she attended Lowell public schools and graduated from Lowell High School with the class of 1972. She received a full scholarship to UMass Amherst, where she attended one year before leaving school to move to Colorado with her future husband. They returned to Lowell and she enrolled at Essex Agricultural & Technical School to study Animal Sciences. She later worked at Linwood Animal Hospital as a Vet Technician.
Bronnie married James M. Barry "JB" of Winthrop, MA in 1976. They lived in Hampstead, NH. Bronnie enrolled at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH, achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 with a 4.0 GPA. While attending school, she worked at Cambodian American League in Lowell and learned to speak Khmer. She later worked at Franklin Pierce in the grants office until she moved to Wheatland, Wyoming after her husband's death in 2001.
Bronnie played guitar, sang, and wrote her own songs. She was also a fierce champion of animals throughout her life. After moving to Wheatland, she started a pet-sitting business. She worked with the Platte Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to rescue animals. She also worked as a bookkeeper at a local store, as the treasurer of the Episcopal Church in her neighborhood, and as a remote Technical Editor for Diagnosys Test Systems in Westford, MA until her illness forced her to move to various nursing homes.
Bronnie is survived by her siblings: Kimberly Pouliot of Lowell; Kelly O'Brien of Lowell; Heather O'Brien of Stratham, NH; and Kerrie Gallagher of Dixmont, ME. She is also survived by one niece (Carly O'Brien-Hart) and her nephews (William O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Joel Souza, Dustin and James Gallagher); by many dear friends and extended family; and by her beloved cat, Jean Claude.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held [date TBD] in Lowell, MA at the Immaculate Conception Church, preceding an inurnment at St. Joseph's cemetery in Chelmsford, MA.
In Bronnie's memory, please consider donating to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper. To leave the family a special message, please select the "Share Memories" option.