Barbara Dolores Conway

It is with profound sadness that we announce that Barbara Dolores Conway, 84, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026, with family members at her side.

Barbara was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to parents Neil F. Payne and Helen Minton. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Lieutenant Colonel Brian J. Conway (US Army, Retired); three children, Sean Conway (Michele) of Michigan, Kevin Conway (Shelli Avenevoli) of Maryland, and Sheila Conway of North Carolina; siblings Mary Ellen, Alicia, and Chris; four grandchildren, Abigail, Allison, Max, and Fiona; and one great-granddaughter, Shea. She was predeceased by her brother David.

Barbara earned her B.A. in Education at Fordham University. After graduating, she worked for the Department of Defense and was assigned to Landstuhl, Germany, where she taught elementary students. With the opportunity to ship limited personal belongings overseas, Barbara made a characteristically bold choice: she brought her Plymouth convertible, a rare and memorable sight on German roads at the time.

It was in Landstuhl that Barbara met Brian. Their relationship began with a spirited challenge to a tennis match, a moment that captured the competitive spark and mutual respect that defined their partnership. By family lore, Brian was not smart enough to let her win. They married in 1967 and soon returned to the United States to begin building a family together.

Barbara’s life was shaped by Brian’s many job-related relocations, which brought the young family to New Jersey (Monmouth Beach, New Providence), Florida (Longwood, Ormond Beach), Missouri (Creve Coeur), and Massachusetts (Concord, Lexington, Sudbury, and Centerville).

Although she and Brian ultimately rooted themselves in Centerville, they embraced the practice of “snowbirding” to Florida and later settled in Pelican Preserve (Fort Myers) as their southern home and official residence.

Barbara was of the Catholic faith and attended Mass regularly. She devoted significant time to the homeless and less fortunate, including spending many overnights offering support and guidance to incarcerated women. Her unshakable optimism, which earned her the nickname “Brightside Barbara,” sustained friends and family through difficult moments and was a defining feature of her character.

Barbara and Brian were known for opening their homes and hearts to others. It was especially on Cape Cod where they offered care, stability, and unconditional support to many who passed through their lives. They formed a lasting and deeply meaningful bond with Jeni Wheeler, Sheila’s best friend, whose place in the family became one of their most profound expressions of compassion and love.

An avid sports fan, Barbara followed football, college basketball, tennis, and swimming, but her greatest passion was figure skating, which took her across the country and overseas to attend—and even volunteer at championship competitions. She was also an insatiable reader, especially of historical fiction, and delighted in crosswords, competitive bridge, and countless games of solitaire on her iPad.

Barbara possessed a rare curiosity about the lives of others and an extraordinary ability to make people feel seen, interesting, and important. She found joy in simple pleasures: baking breads, preparing family dinners, packing beach sandwiches, baking apple rhubarb pie, supporting local theater, attending concerts at the Melody Tent in Hyannis, pottery shopping along Route 6A, finding a good deal at TJ Maxx, and enjoying ice cream. She cherished the rhythms of knitting, reading on the beach, and floating in the ocean, a skill she proudly taught to her grandchildren.

Above all, Barbara treasured time with family. This included the beloved July 4th gatherings on Cape Cod and the enduring “Conway Christmas After Christmas” traditions that reunited her children and grandchildren year after year. Equally dear to her heart were the joyful visits to Harvey’s Lake (Pennsylvania) with her best friend Andrea, the wife of her late brother David, and extended family. Many memorable conversations and laughter were shared around the long wooden table in their lakeside home. These gatherings extended through shared time on Cape Cod and in Florida, remaining a lasting source of joy and togetherness for Barbara.

Barbara’s life was a tapestry of kindness woven with compassion, grace, and unshakeable faith. Her generosity extended far beyond her family, touching neighbors, friends, and strangers alike, always inviting others into warmth, care, and belonging. Though she is deeply missed, her spirit lives on in the countless lives she lifted and the love she gave so freely.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations, each reflecting Barbara’s lifelong commitment to compassion, service, and community:

● Homeless Not Hopeless, Inc.

Supporting transitional housing and empowerment for individuals experiencing homelessness.

https://homelessnothopeless.org/support/

● Family Table Collaborative (West Yarmouth, Massachusetts)

Improving food security by providing nutritious meals and strengthening community connections.

https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/donate