Barbara Joan O'Leary1

F, (June 1934 - 10 June 2022)
Father-Biological*Daniel Joseph O'Leary
Mother-Biological*Helen Mary Healy
Last Edited=3 Jun 2026
Barbara Joan (O'Leary) Travis
     Barbara Joan O'Leary was born in June 1934 at Westfield, Massachusetts.2,3 She was the daughter of Daniel Joseph O'Leary and Helen Mary Healy. Barbara, age 15, appeared on the US Census of 1950 living at 57 Alpine Street, Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,in the household of her parents, Daniel Joseph and Helen Mary O'Leary.4 Barbara Joan O'Leary and Robert Andrew Travis filed marriage intentions on 30 July 1957 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.1 As of 4 August 1957,her married name was Travis.1

Barbara Joan O'Leary, age 23, married Robert Andrew Travis, age 26 , son of Andrew Alphonse Travis and Mary Josephine Burke, on 4 August 1957 at the Christ Church Episcopal, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

Children:
1. Debora Travis
2. Maureen Travis
3. Michelle Travis
4. Sharon Travis
5. Robin Travis
6. Andrea Travis
7. Kenneth travis
8. Janet Travis.1,5


Barbara Joan O'Leary died on 10 June 2022 at Vermont.6,5 Barbara's obituary of 13 September 2022, reads:

Barbara J. (O'Leary) Travis, 88, of Fall River and a longtime Citizens For Citizens employee, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2022 in Vermont.

For over forty years she was known as the "Queen" of the Operation Christmas Telethon, an annual fundraiser for less fortunate families in Fall River.

She began her career as a Commonwealth Service Corps volunteer. She later worked for over four decades for Citizens For Citizens starting in the Crisis Intervention Program, and then as the senior supervisor of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. She also operated the emergency food pantry, which helped feed countless needy families and the FEMA rental assistance program which provided aid to families being evicted. Her selfless work and life's mission always centered around helping those less fortunate.
She sat on several boards in the community including Department of Transitional Assistance Board and Steppingstone, Inc. She was actively involved with the Jerry Lawton homeless shelter, referring numerous impoverished individuals and always following up about their health and welfare.

She was the mother of 8 children; Deborah Travis, Maureen Tavares (John Tavares) all of Seminole, FL, Michelle Travis (Mike DeKoeyer) of Barnet, VT, Sharon Jackson, Robin Martel (Gregory Brilhante), Andrea Travis (Valter Moura),Kenneth Travis, Janet Travis (Douglas Massey) all of Fall River; sister of Daniel O'Leary, Helen O'Leary and the late Josephine Marsh.
She also leaves 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 So.Main St. Fall River, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a funeral service during the visitation at 5:00 PM.

Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Christmas ? Citizens for Citizens, 264 Griffin St. Fall River, MA 02724. Online condolences at AuclairFuneralHome.com.

Published by The Herald News, 13 June 2022.5


Citations

  1. New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records. New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage Records, 1700-1971. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2021.
  2. Ancestry.com. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2010.
  3. Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts, U.S., Birth Index, 1860-1970. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2013.
  4. Census Bureau. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2022.
  5. Herald News, "Barbara J. (O'Leary) Travis" Fall River, Massachusetts, 13 June 2022.
  6. Ancestry.com. U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2006.