Janice Barry

Mrs. Janice M. (Leavitt) (McCarthy) Barry, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, formerly of West Newton, died on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Bickford of Virginia Beach.  She was 88.

Janice was born and raised in West Newton, a daughter of the late Ralph and Genevieve (Salvia) Leavitt.  She was a graduate of Newton High School and earned an associate’s degree from Lasell Jr. College in Newton. She held various jobs over the years; several were in retail sales of clothing, fine jewelry, and custom frames for artwork. She also worked as a secretary at West Newton Savings Bank.  Her most rewarding job, however, was as personal secretary to Brandeis University’s founding president, Abram Sachar, while he was serving as chancellor of the school.

A Virginia Beach resident for more than thirty years, she enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies and interests.  Every day brought a good book, a long walk and crossword puzzle with it.  Janice was known as a great cook . . . always willing to try out a new recipe.  She danced often with her late husband, Joe, and the pair traveled extensively . . . Aruba and Newport, Rhode Island were among their favorite destinations, along with a dream trip to Italy.  Time spent at the beach was cherished, and evenings often included listening to music or watching a classic movie.

The wife of the late Joseph A. Barry, III, she leaves her daughter, Karen L. McCarthy and her husband, Anthony Cordeiro, of Arlington; her step-children, Mark and Douglas Barry and Kirsten (Barry) Pisanelli Cole; her cousin, Jane Salvia; eight step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. 

Janice was also a cousin of the late Joseph Salvia, Marie Terranova and Marilyn Tedeschi. Her four Salvia cousins grew up next door to Janice and she so enjoyed feeling like they were all her siblings.

Family and friends will honor and remember Janice’s life by gathering to visit in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, January 9th from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by her funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will be on Wednesday, January 10th at 12:45 p.m. in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or at https://www.alz.org/