Our beautiful mother, Joan Crotty (Barry) Bascom, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2023, at her home in Salem, NH, surrounded by her loving family.

Joan was born in Boston on September 23, 1933, the youngest of three children to John Girard Barry and Teresa Cathryn (Wright) Barry. The family home was first in Cambridge, later moving to North Main and finally to Riverina Road, Shawsheen Village. She adored her sister Jacquelyn and worshipped her brother Jack.  She had a wonderful childhood growing up in Andover with both looking after their "baby" sister and all three taking care of the family dog - a black standard poodle aptly named Candy, since their dad worked for Necco Candy Company. In these early years, Joan and her family took various trips to Nova Scotia to visit her mother's family.

Joan enjoyed her teen years as a young model. In 1949, 16-year-old Joan was the Marsha Jordan 1st Runner-up and was one of 10 young women chosen to entertain actress Janet Leigh at a luncheon held at the Parker House. During high school she participated in the marching band attaining head majorette as a senior. After graduating from Punchard High School in 1951, she continued her professional modeling career. In 1952, Columbia Pictures sponsored the Rita Hayworth "Salome" Hollywood Beauty Contest.  Joan – 19-years-old – was one of two first place Co-Winners announced at the Capitol Theater. After rising to the highest level in Boston, Joan was given an opportunity to go to NYC to further her career. However, she had to turn it down because her father did not approve of her leaving home. Not wanting to go against his wishes, she promptly ended her modeling pursuits. Through a friend, she was offered a job at AVCO in Wilmington, where she met the love of her life - her future husband - on her first day. As their story goes, the first time dad saw mom he told a coworker - Joanne Slater (our future Girl Scout Leader) that he was going to marry that girl. They eloped three months later and enjoyed a marriage that spanned more than 60 years and six children!

First living in Millville Circle but with a growing family needing a larger home, led them to Elmwood Avenue in Salem which is still the family homestead to this day. Joan always made her family her priority. She had a way of making you feel loved and safe and happy all at the same time. Raising six children could not have been easy but she made each of us feel special in our own right. During the early years, we certainly kept her busy. Depending on the time of year, once school was out, our summers were spent on the Cape - endless days exploring Pleasant Bay and Bucks Pond, or blueberry picking along Kendrick Road on our way to Aunt Jo's house. Fall was all about school shopping and getting back to the routine of being in the classroom instead of the beach and catching up with friends we hadn't seen and looking forward to Halloween and picking out our costumes. Going door to door through Marsh Acres and wondering who was going to get the most candy! Winters - plenty of time sledding over at the highest hill on the farmer's field, skating at Bodwell Pond, skiing on Spicket Hill, or just building snowmen or making snow angels in the front yard, then Spring - finally spring was all about anticipating what was to come - getting us all outside to enjoy the warmer weather and appreciate everything back in bloom. Best of all were the Easter baskets from Grampa!! Mom never lost her appreciation for the beauty in the nature that surrounds us. The renewal of springtime was inspirational.

With each of the seasons, Joan would always decorate her home accordingly. Always festive and fun, her home was always warm and welcoming. Mom had a talent for finding just the right spot for everything and that's what turned our house into a "home." Every "trinket" holds a treasured memory. The holidays throughout the year were always magical. Mom was an amazing cook and baker - she could put meals on the table that were total comfort food 365 days a year! Each of us had our own favorite birthday treat - and she made sure your day was celebrated just for you. Thanksgiving was truly a day to be grateful to gather - the pumpkin pie and chocolate pudding pie with whipped cream were simply amazing (who wants the beaters?).  However, Christmas was her special holiday - from the presents all beautifully wrapped and tucked under the festive tree to the handmade wreaths on the doors, but her Christmas cookies were just the best ever! Always so thoughtful and caring - creating all these childhood memories for each of us that would last a lifetime.

As the kids got older Mom was busier than ever. From shuttling one or the other to Brownies, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, chaperoning field trips, and once old enough to participate in school sports, she earned the nickname of "Roadrunner" since she had to follow the bus to different sporting events to show her support. Learning to drive was the next challenge that fell on mom to have to try to teach us and that didn't always work out very well for some of us! What's one more scratch on the VW Bug? There was never a time that a stray one of us brought home was refused. Mom always said there was room for one more pet! She did it all without complaint - always patient and understanding.

As busy as she was, Joan still found time to participate in the Monday Night Women's Bowling League at Sandy's, be involved as President of the Haigh PTA, and was especially proud of her years with the Lady Lions, and appointment and tenure as President at one point. The annual Penny Social was an event we all looked forward to. Once we were all settled into our own routines, Mom eventually returned to work at various agencies, but always chose to stay close to home: Decker Electric, Gordon and Sons Insurance, Tuttle State Farm Insurance and her favorite, the Haigh School lunch program - with her dear friends Flo and Ray - she loved being one of the lunch ladies!! Her last job was with RCA as an archivist for their newly established library. She was looking forward to being part of this new program but, unfortunately this was cut short by a serious car accident which caused injuries severe enough to lead to her early retirement.

Joan never let this set her back. Despite the grim prognosis, she persevered with six months at Braintree Rehabilitation and proved the doctors wrong. She did make it back with sheer belief in herself and the fact that her family needed her, and she could not give up. With each passing day she tried harder and harder to get strong enough to be able to not only take care of herself but return to taking care of her family. She was more determined than ever to make each day count - not to take anything for granted. Following her recovery, close friends of our parents, John and Betty Nettles and Fred and Babs Mele, introduced them to Aruba - One Happy Island - and it was just what they both needed after a difficult year of recovery. From that point on - after purchasing their first timeshare at Casa Del Mar - they enjoyed that annual trip for the next 25 years. Introducing their kids, then grandchildren and even great grandchildren that to this day, still enjoy. The whole purpose was to get away and appreciate time with each other - gives a whole new meaning to "timeshare" but that is what mom saw as their investment: To make sure her family continued to share what she and dad gave us - what better gift for her family - which has always been her priority. Looking out for us and knowing what we needed even if we didn't.

In retirement, Mom and Dad simply enjoyed being together - antiquing on Cape Cod and Rockland, ME, collecting Fiestaware to include road trips to Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell, WV, visiting friends in Florida during the winter months and especially going to the movies and dinners out with family and friends. Some of their favorite spots included 400 East, Wee Packet, Front Street, Rosina's, Villa Roma, Cape Sea Grille, Pisces, Outer Bar and Grill, Lanyard, Ralphie's and Petey's, as well as the Lobster Roll Boat Cruise out of Sesuit Harbor organized annually by our Cruise Director Lisa McCoy.  Cedar Crest in Lawrence, MA was a special spot where they would spend their anniversary.

Joan enjoyed many different things - for as many different reasons. She loved collecting anything to do with strawberries, seahorses, and red cardinals. She has jars full of seashells and sea glass from Aruba. She loved to read, play cards, Rummikub and Sudoku. Jigsaw puzzles were particularly entertaining for her - she loved the challenge of putting it back together. She enjoyed watching classic movies, the Hallmark Channel, PBS and Project Runway.  She truly enjoyed watching reruns of old TV shows with Mr. Mike on Wednesday nights. Mom also enjoyed a glass of Vietti Moscato d'Asti every now and then. Her family was her passion and her proudest achievement. Most importantly, she enjoyed each day. Over the years, mom enjoyed watching her family grow - with each wedding and grandchild then great grandchildren, she was grateful to be there to be part of the occasion but more excited for the next generation to carry on where she would leave off. She loved unconditionally and was kind to everyone.  She was both fun and funny. She was brilliant and beautiful - inside and out - strong and brave - truly one of a kind. How lucky are we to call her – MOM.

Joan is pre-deceased by her husband, Charles Patrick Henry Bascom, whom she has missed terribly every day since his passing on July 18, 2016; her brother, John "Jack" Girard Barry Jr., and her sister, Jacquelyn "Jacka" Alyce Marie (Barry) Steinert.

She is survived by her beloved children and their families: Debe Schiavi (Anthony), Diane Bascom, Dawn Mossey (Michael), David Bascom (Laura), Dean Bascom, Kimberley Veach (Michael), and Christine Maloney; Grandchildren: Holly Diane Tavano (Justin), Robbi Dawn Redfield (Michael), Andrew Bascom (Bryce), Matthew Bascom (Sasha Saenz), Tyler Mossey (Chrissy Scrofano), Charles Hunter Veach (Kati Bower), and David Bailey Veach; Great-grandchildren: Chase and Linnea Tavano, Charlotte and Ray Redfield, Noah Bascom, and TJ Mossey; her oldest and dearest friends: Pam Hill, Phyllis Gidley, Lorry Nelson and Diane Jarosz; as well as her many four legged companions: kitties: Cubbie and Whiskers, and pups: Nugget, Charlie, Lily, Kayla and Izzie.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful care provided by the Amedisys Hospice Care Team of Kelly and Melissa and a special thank you to Casey Todd, Home Healthcare Provider and dear friend. You all truly made a difference and your commitment to mom's quality of life will always be remembered.

Our sister, Dawn, however, deserves unlimited accolades for her unselfish and unwavering support of caring for our mother, day and night, for many years - so that Mom's wish to remain at home could be realized. You made the difference in extending mom's life so the rest of us could enjoy being with her, too. Words cannot appropriately express our appreciation and gratitude for all you did for both our parents. A special thank you from all your siblings, for doing what we couldn't do.

Per mom's request, no services are planned at this time. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Cape Cod, MA, at a later date.

In memory of Joan, please consider a hospice memorial donation. Contributions may be sent to the "Amedisys Foundation," 8 Commerce Drive, Suite 101, Bedford, NH 03110, or random acts of kindness would be appreciated as well.