Barbara W. (Riopel) Thayer

Fairfield, MT / Warren - Barbara W. Thayer, 89, died May 21, 2021 in Great Falls, MT.  Before moving to Montana with family in 2016, she lived in Warren for 60 years. A widow, she was married to Paul E. Thayer, Jr. for 57 years.

She leaves her daughter, Jane Drolet and her husband Kevin of Fairfield, MT; a son Mark Thayer of Colorado Springs, CO; two sisters, Carol Brodeur and her husband Paul  of Charlton, and Joanne LaCourse and her husband Roger of Dudley; two brothers, Walter Riopel and his wife Martha of Farmington, CT, and Warren Riopel and his wife Verna of Bandera, TX; two grandchildren Thomas Hoffey, Jr. and his wife Shauna of Holden and Joel Thayer and his wife Kaleena of Falcon, CO as well as three great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was born in Cherry Valley and grew up in Worcester, daughter of the late Nelson and Helen (Mason) Riopel.

Barbara worked her early years in a bank, a woolen mill, and in retail. She graduated from the School of Practical Nursing Pioneer Valley as an LPN in 1971.  She was proud to be a nurse, and worked with special needs children at the former Belchertown State Hospital for many years.  She then worked serving the elderly at the Masonic Home in Charlton, for several years. Upon retiring from nursing, she worked many enjoyable years at the Yankee Peddler gift shop in Sturbridge. She loved camping and traveling with family, visiting with family and friends, word search puzzle books, and playing dominoes.

A Funeral Service for Barbara will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 12 noon in the Varnum Funeral Home, Inc., 43 East Main St, West Brookfield.  A calling hour will be held from 11am to12 noon in the funeral home prior to the service.  Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in Warren.

Varnum Funeral Home, Inc., 43 East Main St., in West Brookfield is assisting her family with arrangements. 

An online guest book is available at varnumfuneralhome.com 

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