Nurse, Army veteran, town volunteer
Barbara May. (Courtesy photo)
Barbara Ann (Kraus) May of Leominster, formerly of Harvard, passed away peacefully Nov. 14, 2014, at Sunrise Senior Living in Leominster surrounded by her friends after a lengthy battle with cancer. Born in Winthrop, Mass., on August 21, 1934, she was the daughter of Arthur and Mary (Reilly) Kraus and lived primarily in Harvard. She is survived by her sister, Sister Barbara Theresa, Order of SND of Worcester (known in secular life as Marie Kraus), and a daughter, Sandra May, of Highland Falls, N.Y.
Barbara graduated from Boston College’s nursing program with a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling at Fitchburg State College and another masters degree at Boston University in maternal child health. She pursued post-masters studies at the University of Lowell.
She served in the U.S. Army and spent two years with the Army Corp of Nurses. She then spent several years working for doctors and hospitals in the area. She became a nursing educator at the former Burbank School of Nursing and then at Fitchburg State University, where she remained until her retirement in 2005 after more than 30 years. Her head hospice nurse was a former student of Barbara’s, bringing her teaching full circle.
She was a member of the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, Massachusetts Nurses Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses. She was also the recipient of the Fitchburg State Distinguished Service Award.
Barbara served her community as a part-time emergency dispatcher in the town of Harvard and with the Harvard Council on Aging. She was a parishioner at Holy Trinity Church in Harvard, serving in several roles including lector, and was a Eucharistic minister serving at Leominster Hospital. She enjoyed knitting, reading, spending time with her close group of friends from her Boston College class, and caring for all the cats and dogs she had throughout her life.
Calling hours were held Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Badger Funeral Home, 347 King St., Littleton. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, Nov. 20, at Holy Trinity Church, 15 Still River Rd., Harvard. Burial followed at Bellevue Cemetery, Harvard. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter, the charity of your choice, or to the Nursing Scholarship at Fitchburg State University.
