Obituary of Laura Barrett

Laura Pamela Barrett was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 1, 1949, one of four children born to Palmira Carmen Alves and Manuel Loro Barrett (who along with her younger brother Arthur pre-deceased her). She spent her early life in Maricaibo, Venezuela before returning to the United States to attend high school at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and following the return of her family from Venezuela, attended Kent Place School in Summit, New Jersey where she graduated in 1966. Laura got her undergraduate degree at Bucknell University, Cum Laude 1970 (Double major in Spanish and English with minors in Organic Chemistry, Biology and Calculus) before obtaining her MLS (Master’s Degree in Library Sciences) at Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1971. Although she received many awards and recognition for her many years of work in informatics, health sciences research, multi-media and computer related education centered in the libraries of the University of Medicine and Dentistry for the State of New Jersey, her great love of music was well known. From playing piano, the native harp of Venezuela, and viola, she had a lifelong love of opera and classical music. Her proximity to Manhattan let her enjoy many nights attending the Metropolitan Opera in the City as well as the folk concerts at the Unitarian Church in Morristown which she attended nearly every Friday night. Not only brilliant, Laura was also kind, caring and sweet. Laura was an advocate of woman’s rights and for peace in the World. Laura loved to travel and loved animals, caring for special needs kitties. She is survived by her younger sister, Cynthia Berends (husband Gary) of Prescott Valley, Arizona, niece Margo Berends and nephew Spencer Berends, and younger brother, Richard Barrett (wife Kyle) of Phoenix Arizona, nieces Raleigh Barrett and Ranier Barrett. Following a long health struggle with Parkinson’s, Laura died on June 12, 2020 at the Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott, Arizona with family members at her side. Funeral services held at Sunrise Funeral Home, Prescott Valley, AZ, Saturday June 20, 2020, officiated by Pastor Mike Gaston, with graveside service and interment on Saturday, June 27, at Holy Rood Cemetery, 61 Whippany Road, Morristown, NJ. In lieu of flowers: Donations can be made in Laura’s honor online at https://donations.peointernational.org/peo-donations-ips (P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship In Honor of Laura Barrett Chapter AS/NJ) or by check payable to The International Peace Scholarship mailed to: Cherie Parker, PEO Chapter AS, Treasurer, 240 Evergreen Court, Mountainside, NJ 07092 In Honor of Laura Barrett. Arrangements in NJ were under the care of Dangler Funeral Home, Morris Plains, NJ.