Barbara Whalen

SOUTH BURLINGTON - Barbara (Robb) Whalen, 89, passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the UVM Medical Center.  She was born September 3, 1929 in Hardwick, Vermont. She was the eldest daughter of William and Nora Robb. Barbara graduated from Hardwick Academy in 1947.  Barbara attended Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont and graduated from Wilson school of Laboratory and X-Ray in Boston, Mass.  Barbara married Ted Whalen and became the mother of 3 children, Betsy, Shawn and Katie. She was the grandmother to Sophie and Sarah Whalen and Hunter and Graem Pelkey.

Barbara worked at Mary Fletcher Hospital in the Hematology lab where she worked as a lab technician and also stayed home to raise her children. Later she became part owner of Second Hand Roze thrift shop in Burlington which she owned for many years.  Barbara was blessed with so many friends. She enjoyed traveling to different countries, spending time with her family at Caspian Lake and Maine, being with her friends and family. She was an avid garage sale and thrift shop lover.

Barbara is predeceased by her parents William and Nora Robb, her brother Col. William Robb and his wife Faye Robb, her ex-husband Theodore Whalen, and her son Shawn Whalen. She is survived by her sister Claire Cowell and her husband Tom, her brother John Robb and his wife Connie, her daughter Katie Pelkey, her daughter Betsy, her daughter in law Christina Whalen, her grandchildren Sophie and Sarah Whalen, Hunter and Graem Pelkey, and several nieces and nephews. 

A mass will be given in her honor on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 11am at St. Norbert's Church in Hardwick with a luncheon to follow.  A burial service will be held in the spring.  The des Groseilliers Funeral Home is in care of arrangements and friends may visit dgfunerals.com to convey condolences to the family.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta in her name at PO Box 459, South Hero, VT 05486.

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