York – Barbara Catherine Harper Heaney Perkins, 91, of York, Maine, passed away peacefully, on Monday, June 12, 2017 at the Greystone Farm in Salem, New Hampshire.

Barbara lived a rich, long life in which her family always played a central role. She was born  August 9, 1925 in Somerville, Massachusetts, to James A. and Barbara F. Harper. Barbara was a graduate of Saugus High School, Class of 1943 and Mt. Auburn Hospital Nursing School, Class of 1947.

Barbara worked as a registered nurse for many years at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Saugus General Hospital, and Malden Hospital. Following her retirement from nursing she remained active in the York community serving on the Board of Directors of the York Garden Club and as a member of the League of Women Voters. She continued to care for people as a volunteer with the Hospice of York and as a volunteer for the York Hospital. Always busy, Barbara loved her camp, spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, sewing, playing cribbage, puzzles, traveling and serving her famous grilled cheese sandwiches!

She was predeceased by her first husband John F. Heaney after 31 years of marriage. She lost her second husband Carl W. Perkins after 14 years of marriage. She also lost their son Dr. Sandy Perkins and son-in-law James Gosselin.

Barbara is survived by her children, Jack Heaney and his wife, Patricia of Laconia, NH, Tricia Gosselin of Hopkinton, MA, Dan Heaney and his wife Betty of Gilford, NH, Joanne Suttmeier and her husband Bill of Issaquah, WA, Thomas Heaney and his wife Jennifer of East Kingston, NH, Gary Heaney and his wife Tina of Methuen, MA,  Bob Perkins and his wife Priscilla of Springfield, MA, David Perkins and his wife Tammara of Princeton, WI, and Sandy's wife Mary Beth Whiton of Greenfield; 28 grandchildren, Matthew Heaney, Northampton, MA, Beth Heaney, Carbondale, IL, Martin Gosselin, Brookline, NH, Gregory Gosselin, Berlin, MA, Colin Gosselin, Millbury, MA, Sara Barakat, Boston, MA, Andrew Heaney, Reading, MA, Danielle Feld, Montpelier, VT, Scott Suttmeier, Bonnie Lake, WA, Jenna Suttmeier, Santa Barbara, CA, John Heaney, Charlestown, MA, Erin Sterling, Quincy, MA, Annie Morin, Freemont, NH, Molly Heaney, East Kingston, NH, Jason Heaney, Washington, DC, Jessica Catano, Salem, NH, Thomas Heaney, Somerville, MA, Russell Brown, Washington, DC, Krista Brown, Methuen, MA, Brianna Hardy, Methuen, MA, Patrick Hardy, Methuen, MA, Dustin Perkins, Crested Butte, CO, Jason Perkins, Falmouth, ME, Khun Porl, Lawrence, MA, Meghan Roberts, Melbourne, FL, Emily Perkins, Monson, MA, Kira Perkins, Denver, CO, Hannah Perkins, Fort Collins, CO; 20 great grandchildren.