WINTHROP – On Nov. 24, 2023, Barbara Agnes (Moriarty) Snowadzky, a longtime resident of Winthrop, and a dear loved one and friend to many, died peacefully at the age of 81 following cardiac surgery in Boston, Mass.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Rudolph Snowadzky; father, Edwin Moriarty, and mother, Rose Moriarty.

Barb is survived by her stepsons Vincent Snowadzky and Eric (and Dagmar) Snowadzky of Virginia; brother David (and Frances) Moriarty of Georgia, and sisters Mary Lynch of Ohio and Kathleen Moriarty of Maine. Barb also leaves behind many loved ones, including four Snowadzky grandchildren; an aunt; five nieces and nephews; more than 20 cousins; and many other family and friends.

Barb was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 1942, and graduated from Cleveland’s Beaumont School in 1959. During her teen years, she developed a passion for traveling after riding to annual family reunions in Massachusetts and working her summer job at the American Automobile Association of Cleveland. She helped AAA members plan road trips by hand-marking TripTik maps—years before GPS and smartphones.

Her love for Broadway musicals began in her early adult years as an amateur performer and key staff member of Cleveland’s Signet Players. In her 20s, she was a volunteer and later was hired at Cleveland’s Vocational Information Program (VIP), where she did job and career counseling and organized their tutoring program for disadvantaged teens.

Barb then did administrative work at Stouffer Foods Corporation and General Electric Company in Cleveland, Ohio; she married in 1979, graduated from Ursuline College in 1981, and earned an MBA from Case Western University in 1983. Next, Barb and Rudi moved to Hartford, Conn., where she continued working for GE until moving to Winthrop and working for Bath Iron Works in human resources until she tired of her long commutes and launched a new teaching career.

After teaching with Rudi at the American University of Bulgaria from 1994-1996, Barb completed her doctorate in sociology at the University of New Hampshire in 2005. Her dissertation was based on courageous, in-depth, mostly wintertime interviews of fishermen and community residents in Newfoundland and Labrador on how they adapted after government restrictions on their cod-fishing economy and lifestyle. Before she retired from paid employment to return to volunteer work, she taught sociology at the University of Maine’s University College Rumsford/Mexico, making many new friends wherever she worked.

Barb was a devoted Catholic throughout her life. Her faith shaped her values and guided her actions. While living in Winthrop, she was deeply involved in St. Francis Xavier Church and Saint Michael Catholic Parish. She was highly valued as a lector for reading scriptures clearly and loudly from the pulpit. She was also active in its mission work—including trips to Bolivia, Israel, and Palestine. She especially enjoyed working with the Parish’s Social Justice and Peace Committee. Her lifelong interest in environmental, social, and governmental issues made her an avid viewer of PBS NewsHour, a devoted reader of “America” (a Catholic magazine and forum on religion, society, politics, and culture), and an active participant in civic affairs. While she was a staunch supporter of progressive political views, she respected the differing views of others. In her final years and days, Barb worked tirelessly for better care and acceptance for the less fortunate and those who suffer from mental illness.

Barbara was a loving family member, friend, citizen, and community member—always willing to listen and share her empathy, compassion, skills, knowledge, and resources with all those she knew and encountered. She will be deeply missed. Her dying wish was that we put aside our differences and work together to help those in most need.

Barb’s family and friends are most grateful to her New England cousins, friends, neighbors, more distant loved ones, and the dedicated health professionals who helped and supported her in her final years and are continuing to help those in need.

Barb’s Visitation will be at the Roberts Funeral Home 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop on Jan. 20, 2024, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Immediately following visitation Barb’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Francis Xavier Church in Winthrop at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Conneautville, Pa.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St. Winthrop where memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

Barb requested that contributions be made to

Saint Michael Catholic Parish of Augusta, Maine https://stmichaelmaine.org/ ;

Catholic Relief Services

https://www.crs.org/ ;

or the

Equal Justice Initiative of Montgomery, Ala.

https://eji.org/

Copy the Story Link