Janet E. Barbelle

A graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy, Class of 1951, she received her Bachelor of Science degree from the College of the Sacred Hearts, her Master’s degree in Education from Rhode Island College and a second Master’s degree in the field of Special Education from Bridgewater State College.

An educator for 42 years, she began her career as a member of the Holy Union Sisters. She taught at parochial elementary schools in New York City, Mt. Kisco and Astoria, NY, Fall River and Central Falls, RI. In 1968, she taught at Pottersville School before transferring to the Somerset Middle School Math Department. She then transferred to North Middle School as their Reading Clinician. In 1984, she was assigned to the Special Education Department at Somerset High School, retiring in 1996.

A member of the Somerset, Massachusetts and National Teachers’ Associations, she was recognized in “Who’s Who in The American Education” in 1992 and 1993.

She was a communicant of Holy Name Church where she served on the Parish Council and taught CCD. She also served on the Diocesan CCD Board and was the Diocesan Representative on the New England regional CCD Board. She was an instructor for the Diocesan CCD Teacher Training Program.

After moving to Swansea, she became an active member at St. Dominic’s Church where she served on the Parish Council. She also served as a Lector and was a member of the Women’s Guild. Janet was the recipient of the Marian Medal in 1971.

She served as office volunteer and later director of Birthright of Greater Fall River. In 1984, she was appointed Regional Consultant for all of Massachusetts centers until she resigned in 2003. For several years, she was a member of the Diocesan Pro Life Committee. Janet was a member of the cursillo community and served on several teams at La Sallette.

She is survived by her nieces, Karen Lair and Patricia Bamford; great niece Krystal Barber; great-great niece and nephew Phillip and Brooklynn; and many cherished friends. She was the sister of the late Vaughn Stinson, Robert J. Barbelle, and step-sister Anita Carralton.

Her Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 10:00AM in St. Dominic’s Church, 1277 G.A.R. Highway, Swansea, MA. Visitation will be held prior to her Mass from 8:30 to 9:30 AM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea. Contributions in her honor may be made to the church. Burial in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River.