Barbara J. Skinder

Barbara Joanne Skinder, age 92, of Andover, MA, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2024, at the Brudnick Center in Peabody, MA. 

She was born on January 12, 1932 and was the daughter of the late Thomas and Frances (Allan) Doyle. 

Barbara grew up in Arlington, MA, and was the oldest of seven siblings. She attended Katharine Gibbs College and worked in Boston until she married Ralph Skinder in 1954. They moved to Westwood, and later to Andover with their five children. A devoted mother, Barbara attended her children’s baseball games, track meets, horse shows, concerts, and musicals. She loved to sing in the church choir and was the founding youth group leader for St. Roberts Church. She enjoyed dancing and skating and was known for her impeccable style. She cherished the beauty of New England’s mountains and ocean and delighted in getting lost on country roads. She was a talented cook, baker, and floral designer and hosted countless parties for friends, family, and neighbors. She was everyone’s mom, and she and Ralph were the pillars of warmth and kindness to all who entered the door at 189 High Plain Rd. She made friends wherever she went. She loved her family and friends deeply and was loved in return. 

She was the beloved wife of the late Ralph Skinder and the loving mother of Gerry Skinder (and late wife) Nicole, Mark Skinder and wife Hunter, Carolyn Skinder, Laurel Gourville and her husband John, and Amy Meredith and her husband Todd. She was the adoring grandmother of Briar, Byron, Cedar, Eli, Margaret, Evan, Jasmine, and Alisher. She was the sister of Elaine Reynolds and was preceded in death by siblings Faith, Diane, Rosemary, Tom, Paul, and Bobby. 

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Augustine Church, 35 Essex St, Andover, MA, on Saturday, November 9 at 12:30 pm and the reception to follow will be at Andover Old Town Hall on 20 Main St, Andover. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rosie’s Place in Boston (rosiesplace.org/) and Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org). 

The Skinder family would like to give special thanks to the Brightview Community and to Mary, Nadya, and the rest of Mom’s amazing caretakers at the Brudnick Center for Living where she was loved and cherished these last four years by staff and residents alike.