Rocky Hill Obituary: Barbara Sherwood, 82

Barbara Bella Sherwood, 82, of Bloomfield, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 2, 2016, at St. Mary Home in West Hartford.

Born in Putnam on July 9, 1933, daughter of the late Charles and Bella Gertrude (Beausoleil) Poulin, she was raised in Putnam and was a graduate of Putnam Catholic Academy. Barbara later continued her education at Annhurst College receiving a B.A. in Mathematics, and later at the University of Hartford where she received her MBA in her 40's.

In the 1960's and 1970's Barbara was involved in civil rights and human rights activities both locally and nationally. In 1968, she chaired the Hartford Committee to elect Senator Eugene McCarthy as President. Barbara worked for 25 years at Cigna Insurance Company in Bloomfield and retired as a systems analyst. In her spare time, Barbara enjoyed working as a literacy volunteer at Cigna. During her retirement, she continued volunteering in the community by delivering Meals on Wheels and for 17 years she volunteered as a consumer advocate at the Connecticut State Attorney General's Office.

She was an avid gardener and loved to read and complete crossword puzzles. Barbara lived in Rocky Hill and Hartford before moving to Bloomfield to be closer to her daughter 25 years ago.

She leaves two sons: Geoffrey C. Sherwood and his wife Hyanghee of Montville, NJ and Jason S. Sherwood of Palmdale, CA; a daughter, Robin A. Sherwood and her husband Cary Henderson of Bloomfield; four brothers: Edward Poulin of Florida, David Poulin and his wife Jody of Florida, Maurice Poulin and his wife Judy of Putnam, and Michael Poulin and his wife Trish of West Hartford; seven sisters: Jacqueline Maynard of Florida, Shirley Ann Humes of Florida, Lorraine LeClaire and her husband Ray of Putnam, Lucille Smutnick of Abington, Sandra Keating and her husband Dan of Canton, Corinne Freeman and her husband Edward of East Hartford, and Rose Marie Chicoine and her husband Roger of Florida; five grandchildren, Demetra Sherwood of San Francisco, CA, David Sherwood of NY, NY, Jonathan Sherwood of Nashville, TN, Nicole Sherwood and Scott Sherwood both of Palmdale, CA; and a great granddaughter, Faith. She was predeceased by her former husband and the father of her children, David Scott Sherwood; and three brothers, Paul, Leonard, and Richard Poulin.

Her family will receive friends on Thursday, July 7, 5-8 p.m., at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Friday, July 8, 1 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Wintonbury Ave., Bloomfield. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Bloomfield.

Barbara's family has requested that memorial donations be made to CARE, Gift Center, P.O. Box 7039, Merrifield VA 22116-9753 or to Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, 30 Laurel St., Hartford, CT 06106-1377.