Barbara Ann (Archibald) McKone

Barbara Ann (Archibald) McKone completed her beautiful, creative and adventurous life on January 2, 2019 while living in Saint Elizabeth’s Manor in Bristol, RI.  She was enfolded by family love as she slowly released her courageous, independent nature over a week and her spirit rose. She is well remembered and loved by many on the east and west coasts, as both were certainly her home.   

A daughter of the late Francis and the late Anne C. (Wynn) Archibald, she was born June 1, 1930 in Lexington, MA.  As a young child she surmounted the challenges of polio with a fascination and optimism for life which fueled all of her ways and all of her days.  As a teen she was most proud of being able to dance, go to the ocean, be a cheerleader, as well as, her academic successes at Keith Hall  in Lowell MA.  As a young woman she consciously raised strong and independent daughters, she began her degrees and traveled the world.  She most delighted in maintaining a dual citizenship with Ireland and her shamrock green car.  In mid-life she pursued a dream to become a “CA girl” making her home in Orange County, getting her PHD, working as a therapist in innovative women’s health, a perfect expression of her kind and giving nature. Semi-retired she worked for Edwards Theaters due to her lifelong passion for movies, walked the seawalls of Balboa Island and later dedicated her working energies to helping others through Oasis Senior Citizen’s Center near her home in Newport Beach. 

She is survived by her brothers: Francis X. Archibald of Mt Pleasant, SC, and Walter Archibald of Sewell, NJ; her 4 daughters: Ann Marie McKone of Kittery, ME; Susan McKeon & Wayne Jipsen of Saint George, UT; Patricia & John Mack of Bristol, RI; Kathleen & Scott Pihl of Sunriver, OR; and her 4 grandchildren: Nathan (&Kristi) Rendo of Waco, TX; Caitlin (&Stephen) Caldwell of Warren, RI; Katharine (&Andrew) Boynton of West Greenwich, RI; Ian Pihl of Seattle, WA;  her 6 great-grandchildren: Liam, Reid, Ryan, Keava, Brennan, Finn; as well as, dear nieces, nephews and so many friends, all whom she treasured. 

She was predeceased by: her brother, Charles Archibald; her sister, Carol E. Archibald; her nephew, Mark Archibald.  

By her request there will be a Funeral Mass in Lowell, MA on Monday June 17^th2019 at 10 AM St. Patrick Church 282 Suffolk, Street. The service will be followed by interment of ashes in a family plot at St Patrick’s Cemetery 1251 Gorham St.  

Memorials: Polio Global Eradication Initiative (PGEI) or Boston Children’s Hospital.

My Sister Carol

Today at 11:12 in her home in The Villages, Florida, my youngest sister, Carol, died with three close friends in attendance. She had declined chemotherapy and radiation a couple of months ago. This was her third bout with cancer and it was too much for her. I visited her in April along with my son, James. 

Carol was born on June 7, 1935. She would have been 80 in a month. She was a retired federal employee, a contract officer for the Air Force during her working life. She started with the Air Force in an entry position and worked her way to the top civil service grade short of the Executive Service.

She was an avid golfer for fifty years and won many tournaments and served as the president of her golf club. She was blessed with many friends, among them Carole Tessier with whom she shared her life. They moved in together when their mothers died and owned property together. 

Carol was a friendly and outgoing personality who had a good sense of humor, was smart, liked a beer and cheered the Red Sox and New England Patriots. She was especially voluble when the Sox ended a 100-year drought and won the World Series in 2004. 

Carol was the linchpin of our family She lived with our mother all her life and took care of the business affairs of an aunt and uncle. She was especially close to her older sister and younger brother. Our brother Charlie preceded Carol in death, also a victim of cancer. 

My mother told me that of all her five children, Carol took my father's 1940-41 abandonment of us the hardest. Like all of us she struggled to put herself through college and overcome hardships we all faced. She did this with the same courage and discipline that she refused the final chemo and radiation treatment.

Carol was a lifelong Roman Catholic and received the last rites recently. I have no doubt her soul joined our mother in heaven on this, Mother's Day, 2015.

We, her siblings, my family, Carole Tessier, and the multiple dozens who knew and loved Carol will miss her as we continue to pray for her.

Carol Tessier and Carol Archibald, 2010