Barbara A Wickham

WICKHAM, Barbara A. (Park), Age 91, of Westwood, MA, formerly of Alexandria, VA, died peacefully on June 15, 2022. Beloved mother of Annette and John Wickham of Alexandria, VA, Sarah Wickham-Rothstein and her husband Kevin Rothstein, and grandmother of Madeline and David Rothstein, all of Westwood. She was predeceased by her sister, Janet (Park) Chaffe, her beloved friend and companion, Jay Richter, and her former husband, Dale Wickham. Barbara is also survived by her nephew, Dean Chaffe and his wife Michelle, and her niece Jane Fine and her husband Marc.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Barbara was raised in Worcester and graduated from the Bancroft School where she was elected senior class president. Known as "Parkie" in high school, Barbara lived her entire life true to her creed: "I shall go softly all my years." She attended Smith College, graduating in 1951 with a major in history. When newly married, Barbara lived for two years in Hawaii, where she taught English at The Punahou School. She settled in Hollin Hills, a suburb of Alexandria, VA, to raise her family. She was an active member of the community, for many years spearheading the annual July 4th picnic and editing the community bulletin, among other activities. She lived there for 52 years before moving to Westwood.
Barbara was known for her ready, warm smile, quiet intellect and wide-ranging curiosity. She was a patron of the arts, an avid bridge player and voracious reader. She was a Master Gardener, and upon retirement, returned to school to become a massage therapist, volunteering her services for patients in hospice care.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with Barbara's family during Visiting Hours in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock St, in Westwood on Saturday afternoon June 25th from 2 – 4 p.m. Funeral services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara's memory to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, www.dana-farber.org.