Barbara MacFadyen

Bozrah — Barbara Anne MacFadyen, 85, of Bozrah, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

Barbara was born in Detroit, Mich., on Nov. 27, 1938, to Nelson Archer and Leona (Murgul) Archer. She spent her childhood in Michigan and later moved to Florida. Barbara met her husband, Bruce MacFadyen in Florida and the two were married in “The Pink Church” in Pompano Beach in 1967. Bruce’s career as a submariner in the U.S. Navy took them to Iceland, Connecticut, and Virginia before they finally settled in the mid-’70s in Niantic, where they raised their daughters.

Barbara graduated from Northville High School in Northville, Mich., and earned a degree in education from the University of Florida. She held various jobs over the years, including teacher, social worker, and registrar of voters for the town of Bozrah.

Barbara will be remembered as a devoted wife and a caring mother. She was also a loving sister who regularly flew all the way to Thailand to visit her brother John. For many years Barbara was a member of Niantic Community Church, where she rang with the bell choir and volunteered for American Red Cross blood drives. She was a fan of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team. She also loved to crochet, and her family will remember her love for them every day thanks to the many scarves, cozies, and animals she made for them over the years.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Anne MacFadyen; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Michael Datum; half-brother James “Jay” Archer; and granddaughters, Rose (Datum) Sweeney and Chloe Datum.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Bruce MacFadyen; brother John Archer; and half-brother Peter Archer.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Red Cross.

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at Cummings-Gagne Funeral Home, 82 Cliff St., Norwich. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Niantic Community Church, 170 Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic. Please visit www.cummings-gagnefh.com to leave condolences or share a memory.