Barbara Ann (Heaphy) Tobin

SALEM – Mrs. Barbara A. (Heaphy) Tobin 87, beloved wife of James F. Tobin, died peacefully Saturday, May 8th, 2021 at her home. 

Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late William and Mary J. (McGibney) Heaphy. She was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1951. She was a life long resident of the City of Salem. 

Following her marriage to her beloved Jim, Barbara focused her efforts on providing a warm and loving home for her husband and raising her treasured children. She was a terrific mother and did all in her power to create a wonderful life for her children. After her children were grown, she entered the working world, having been associated with Crimson Travel and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Mrs. Tobin had been employed at Salem High School as an Administrative Assistant for over 15 years until the time of her retirement. 

Barbara was very active in the Salem Community volunteering her time and efforts to many worthwhile causes. She was a long-time member of the Women’s Friends Society of Salem and volunteered her time writing eloquent cards with truly exquisite penmanship on their behalf. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, active in Salem P.T.A., Pickman Park Assoc. and volunteered at Salem Hospital. She was devoted to her Catholic faith and was an active communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Salem. Barb and Jim enjoyed traveling over the years. More recently, she enjoyed quiet moments reading and completing word puzzles.

Family was truly paramount in her life. As the matriarch of a large extended family, Mrs. Tobin fostered great love to all her relatives. This is where she found her greatest joy, in being a wife, mother and grandmother and supported them wholeheartedly in all of their endeavors. She never missed a life event and was often in the crowd giving words of encouragement. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, caring grandmother and ultimately proud of her family. 

Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, James F. Tobin of Salem, her daughter, Mary Tobin of Danvers, her sons, Timothy Tobin and his wife, Marie of Beverly and Patrick Tobin and his wife, Janis of Danvers, her beloved grandchildren, Holly and Emily Tobin and several nieces and nephews. She was the devoted grandmother of the late Janelle Tobin and Brendan Tobin and was the sister of the late William Heaphy.  

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral service will be held at O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem, Saturday, May 15th at 10 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Guests are required to register to attend her funeral service by clicking the link below or by calling the funeral home (978-744-2350) Burial is private. Visiting hours Friday, May 14th from 4 to 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Barbara’s memory to Janelle Lavender Tobin Charity, 11 Algonquin Rd., Danvers, MA 01923, www.janellelavendertobin.org or to Brendan Tobin Memorial Fund, C/O Essex County Community Foundation, 175 Andover St., Suite 101, Danvers, MA 01923 (www.ECCF.org) www.BlueSkiesRememberingBrendanTobin.org. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralserivice.com

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