Ariel M. Barbaro

Ariel M. (Walch) Barbaro, 91, passed away on May 9, 2018 at Baystate Medical Center. Born in Wilbraham to the late Frank P. and Agnes K. (Garbacz) Walch, she was a lifelong Wilbraham resident and a parishioner at Christ the King Church. Ariel trained as a milliner in her youth and created beautiful hats throughout her life.  During WWII, she worked at the Springfield Armory and later worked at the State Line Potato Chip Company where she met her husband.  After raising her children, she became a U. S. Postal Inspector at Book Press Inc. in Ludlow. During her husband’s career as a Massachusetts State Police Trooper, she strongly supported the mission of the Massachusetts State Police. She was an avid knitter and an excellent cook but most especially, she was a devoted mother and generous to those in need.

Ariel was predeceased by her husband, Frank J. Barbaro; her brothers, Mitchell and Stanley Walch; her sisters, Genevieve Francis and Lucy B. Nietupski; a nephew George Francis and a niece Cindy Francis. She leaves her children: Francis C. Barbaro of Wilbraham, Christopher A. Barbaro of Ludlow, Kimberly A. Andrews and her husband William of Somers, CT, Michael M. Barbaro and his wife Alesia of Ludlow and Mark M. Barbaro of Wilbraham; her daughter-in-law Cynthia Barbaro of Ludlow, her brother-in-law Joseph Barbaro and his family: Camille McMahon, Angela DiBassio, Michelle Barbaro and Joseph Barbaro; her granddaughter, Ashley A. Barbaro, her great-grandson, Darren Zaldivar and also other beloved family members, Blake Andrews, Derrick Andrews and Mackenzie Riley; a niece, Barbara Walch and nephews Paul and Wallace Nietupski and Joseph Francis; a cousin, Joseph Welcz, as well as many other nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.

The family would like to thank her primary caregiver, Dr. Eugene Boss and also the Baystate Medical Center ED, SICU and Mass Mutual 7 physicians, nurses and staff for the kind, compassionate and dignified care she received.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 with family and friends gathering at 10:00 a.m. at Nowak Funeral & Cremation Services, 15 Ludlow Ave., Indian Orchard and proceeding to Immaculate Conception Church, 25 Parker St., Indian Orchard for a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m.  Burial will follow at the MA Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.  Calling Hours will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Adoration Chapel, 41 Warsaw Ave., Ludlow MA 01056.

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