Virginia Barden, 89, passed away on May 13th at the Sippican Healthcare Center, Marion, after a long illness. She had been a resident of Mattapoisett for 31 years.
Virginia Rossney was born in Boston, graduated from Quincy High School, resided in Pawtucket, RI for six years and then spent the first four years of her married life with George Barden in New York City where their two sons were born. In 1950 Virginia and her family moved to Westbury, Long Island, where they resided for 30 years until retiring and relocating to an old family home in Mattapoisett.
Virginia was deeply involved in mineralogy and palaeontology during the Long Island years and spent many happy hours prospecting for fossil and mineral specimens with fellow rock-hounds in New England, the Middle Atlantic States and Canada. She also made jewelry from the specimens she collected as well as from semi-precious minerals from around the world. Upon retiring to Mattapoisett, her skills as a craftsperson were applied to the weaving of Nantucket baskets and to teaching Nantucket basket weaving to local residents.
She will be missed by her husband, sons Robert Barden of the Isle of Man, Richard Barden of Granbury, TX, and stepson Thomas Edwards of Westlake Village, CA. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Robert Barden, Jr. of Port Jefferson, NY, and Lisa Barden Brown of Fairplay, CO, and by her three great-grandchildren, Mick, Bailey and Cecilia Barden of Port Jefferson, NY.
Family and friends will be invited to attend a memorial service at a place and date as yet determined.