Melissa E. (Meigs) Barbeau

Melissa E. (Meigs) Barbeau 90, passed away at home on Thursday May 13, 2021 supported by her loving family. She was the daughter of Rebecca Sutton Meigs (Ipswich, MA) and Ralph Remington Meigs (Bellows Fall, VT).  Melissa and her family lived in Barrington since 1966, previously living in Rumford.

Melissa met her husband Will (Wilfred) Barbeau at freshman week at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where they graduated together in 1951. Both had a life-long involvement in the Bates alumni organization.

Melissa was the Vice President of Barbeau Associates, a Public Relations firm based in Providence, from 1963-1995.  She served in leadership roles in the Public Relations Society of America, the Women’s Ad Club of RI, the Rhode Island Bates Club, the State Ballet of RI, and ARTS Rhode Island. She was President of the Barrington Women’s Club at her death.  She enjoyed travel, playing bridge, Sunday crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and coloring mandalas.

Melissa leaves her husband, Will (Wilfred) and three children; Rev. Susannah Currie and her husband Deane of Riverside; Laura Choiniere and her husband Robert of Rumford; and Andrew Barbeau of Swansea, MA.

She also leaves five grandchildren; Rev. Sage Cole and her husband Ted of Hyde Park, MA; Grace Izzi and her husband Nicholas of Riverside;  Benjamin Currie and his wife, Desiree, of Providence; Jonathan Barbeau of Seattle, WA; and Alexandra Husted and her husband Will of Plymouth, MA. Melissa also leaves four great-grandchildren, Theo and Zach Cole, and Elijah and Charlotte Izzi.

Calling Hours will be at the Smith-Mason Funeral Home at 398 Willett Ave. Riverside, RI from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday May 19, 2021

Burial will be private.

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