Barbara May Alie

Barbara Alie died on May 23, 2024, peacefully and on her own terms. She was 87. Born in Melbourne, Australia, to Elsie and William, younger sister to Joan, and the late Margaret. Barbara always remembered home. In her early 20s, she hopped on a ship and spent the next several years traveling and working her way around Europe, tearing up dance floors wherever she went. She lived and worked in Germany for two years, married an American and moved to Massachusetts, where she loved her in-laws, and never got used to the cold. In Gardner, then Westborough, Massachusetts, she raised four children on freshly baked cookies and brownies, tried to teach them table manners, learned to drive in the snow and got a liberal arts degree.

After her children grew up, she packed up her car in search of a warmer climate, landing in Washington, North Carolina and finally in Roswell, Georgia. She held a variety of jobs throughout her life, from bartender to office professional to cook in a Chinese restaurant.

Active until the day she died, and always independent, she never hesitated to go out of her way to help her family and friends. She could talk to anyone, had a great sense of humor and was always ready to laugh. She was interested in the world and in learning, and had many talents and interests. She traveled to five continents, and was road tripping into her 80s. She sang, gardened, made clothes and afghans for her family, learned Spanish and sign language and kept up on current events. She was a faithful Jehovah’s Witness for more than fifty years.

She was loved by her children, Christopher, Stuart, Robyn, and Jason and delighted by her six grandchildren, Tristan, Kristin, Shaun, Alayna, Andrew and Ryan. She also leaves her daughters-in-law Natalie, Lori, and Jill, and many treasured friends.

Her family will celebrate her life privately. Friends are welcome to share their memories of Barbara.