Barbara B. (Connell) Brodie

Barbara B. (Connell) Brodie, age 100, longtime resident of Merrimac, MA, passed peacefully at her home in Merrimac on December 19, 2024. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Norman H. Brodie.   

Born in Haverhill, MA on March 23, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Minnie (Moses) Connell. She was a faithful Catholic and a member of the Ladies Sodality at the Church of Nativity. She loved baking for Christmas fairs. She treasured family camping trips and big Christmas and birthday celebrations. She loved history and politics. Barbara was an avid reader and wonderful cook. Her specialty was molasses crinkle cookies. She adored children and babies. More than anything else she cherished her huge family. All her children unanimously agree that she provided a wonderful childhood with abundant love.   

She is survived by seven children: Norina Bourget and her husband Norman of Dracut, MA; Jocelyn Cox and her husband Raymond of Chester, NH; daughter-in-law, Patricia Brodie (wife of Daniel) of Merrimac; Dennis Brodie and his wife Debra of Merrimac; Terence Brodie and his wife (D) Kelli of Haverhill; Kevin Brodie of Georgia; Shaun Brodie and Sally Mahoney of Merrimac and Patrick Brodie of Haverhill. Barbara has 15 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren, 6 nieces and nephews and their families and last but not least, her devoted granddog, Haley. In addition to her parents, she was also predeceased by a son, Daniel Brodie; a daughter-in-law Kelli Brodie (wife of Terence), a sister, Charlotte and her husband, William Murphy, a brother, David and his wife Janice Connell and great-granddaughter, Madeline Brodie.  

Visiting hours will be held Friday, December 27, 2024, from 4 to 8 P.M. at the Highland Chapel of Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 2 Hillside Avenue, Amesbury, MA 01913. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 10:30 AM at the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Redeemer Parish, 4 Green Street, Merrimac, MA followed by a Graveside Service at Locust Grove Cemetery, where Barbara will be laid to eternal rest beside her loving husband, Norman.   

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Barbara B. Brodie can be made to the National MPS Society (explicitly directed to mucopolysaccharidosis IV (MPS IV) research) at https://mpssociety.org, St. Jude Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org), or Shriners Children’s Hospital (https://donate.lovetotherescue.org)