Barbara May (Elliott) Cronin

In Loving Memory of Barbara May Cronin

May 9, 1930 – August 26, 2018

Barbara May Elliott Cronin, 88, of Brevard, NC, was escorted by angels into Heaven to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 26, 2018 at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, NC.  She was born on May 9, 1930 in Newport News, VA to Theodore Herbert Elliott and Louise Christine Dishman Elliott. In addition to her parents, Barbara is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, John D. Cronin; son, Stephen D. Cronin; and niece, Rebecca Brackett.

She leaves 4 children, John D. Cronin, Jr. “Jack” and his wife Diane of Penrose, NC;  Mark E. Cronin of Pisgah Forest, NC; Cynthia L. Volk of Rock Hill, SC; and David A. Cronin and his wife Lori of Princeton, MA.  She also leaves 2 siblings.  Sister, Jennie-Lou Brockelman and her husband Webster of Lincoln, MA; brother, Theodore H. Elliott and his wife Thyra of Darien, CT; 3 grandchildren, Christina L. Volk and her fiancé Jacob Brinkman of Rock Hill, SC, Joseph F. Volk V of Rock Hill, SC,  Katie E. Cronin of Princeton, MA, and 3 step grandsons Julian Aguiar, Marco Aguiar, and Emilio Aguiar of Princeton, MA; A  great-grandson, Stryker Brinkman of Rock Hill, MA, nephew Geoffrey Brackett of Stratham, NH and nieces Dr. Alexandra Alexanderian and her husband David of Lexington, MA; Priscilla Elliott of Los Angeles, CA.

Barbara learned to play piano at the early age of three and graduated from Winchester High School where she grew up.  She studied music at Skidmore College and married the love of her life John D. Cronin in 1951.  A devoted Christian, her career revolved around church and spreading joy through her love for music.  Barbara was Organist and Choir Director for many churches, including First and Second Congregational Churches in East and West Boxford, MA, Chaffins Congregational Church in Holden, MA for 10 years, First Congregational Church of Gardner, MA for 10 years as well as Faith Memorial Chapel and St. Timothy’s in NC for 6 years.  Barbara and Jack moved for his Naval career and lived in many places including: Charleston, SC, San Pedro CA, Seattle, WA, Boxford, MA, Newburyport, MA, and Princeton, MA before retiring in Brevard, NC where she loved attending the summer concerts at the Brevard Music Center and playing organ music at Cedar Mountain Faith Memorial Chapel.

She also was a public school music teacher for Boxford and Dudley, MA.   A wonderful homemaker who had an open heart, she enjoyed teaching, being a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, as well as playing Bridge, gardening, knitting, needlepoint, sewing, and puzzles. She combined her love of reading and cooking when she self-published many favorite recipes in 4 issues of “Mom’s Home Cookin’ cookbooks.

Barbara’s true joy was to entertain with music and dinner parties for friends and family by playing the piano while Dad sang…she was most happy when everyone joined in and sang along.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on September 22, 2018 at 11 AM at the First Congregational Church of Princeton. An additional memorial service will be held in the Spring on June 1, 2019 at 11 AM at Faith Memorial Chapel, 11 Faith Chapel Rd. Cedar Mountain, NC.

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