Betty Barclay

Leila Elizabeth Barclay “Betty” 100, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2024, at her daughter’s home in Ferndale, WA with her daughter and son-in-law by her side.  

Betty was born October 6, 1923, to John W. Brown and Margaret (Duff) Brown, the oldest of 6, in Suffern NY. She grew up on the family apple farm in Monsey, NY.  After graduating high school, she studied at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY and became a registered nurse. 

Betty married Herbert Barclay on December 30, 1945, and lived in Shanks Village, NY.  For a while, Betty was the nurse at a camp for disabled children as well as a volunteer nurse in the US Army.  

In 1952 they moved to Sheffield Massachusetts where she and Herb joined friends to run a country inn. In 1954 the family moved to Westborough, Massachusetts where they raised their four children. Betty was a dedicated and active member of the Congregational Church from 1954 to 2014 serving on many committees and singing in the choir.

At one time Betty owned a boutique clothing store in downtown Westborough and for a short period of time was a nurse at a hospital in Worcester, MA. She devoted many years volunteering for the local food pantry. At the age of 78 she took a job driving “elderly people” to doctor appointments or running errands for them.

Betty was passionate about so many parts of her life including classical music, word puzzles and games, collecting owls, being by the water, especially Cape Cod, traveling and taking as many opportunities as possible to be with family and friends. She was always willing to try new things, experiences and determined to get the most out of life.

After her husband’s passing in 1991, Betty moved from the family home of 46 years to a condo complex in Westborough. In 2014 she moved to Ann’s Choice, a senior living facility, in Warminster, PA. to be closer to her son John and his family.  In 2020 Betty moved to Spring Creek senior living in Bellingham, WA to live near her daughter Betsy and son Jeff.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Herbert Barclay and is survived by her son Jeffrey (Irene) of Ferndale, WA; David (Barbara) of Grimes, Iowa; Betsy (Mark) of Ferndale, WA, and John (Cathy) of Doylestown, PA, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, her beloved sisters Lynn Krashes and Jeremy Brown, nieces, nephews, and their children.

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday May 13th in the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St. Westborough MA.

A public graveside service will be held May 14th 1p.m. at Pine Grove Cemetery, 106 South St      Westborough, Massachusetts. The service will be followed by a celebratory reception in the vestry of The Congregational Church of Westborough, 57 West Main St., Westborough, MA

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Faith G. Newark Scholarship Fund.

Check payable to Westborough Community Chorus, Inc (WCC Inc) P.O. Box 702, Westborough, MA 01581. Faith G Newark Scholarship Fund on the memo line. For online donations, contact Carla

Paulson Mason at 508-579-9263