Frank J. Barberio, 100, lifelong resident of Haverhill, passed peacefully Sunday morning, Oct. 1, at Penacook Place, Haverhill. He was the husband of the late Maria (DiPietro) Barberio.
Born in Haverhill, he was one of five children of the late Giuseppe and Angelina (Politano) Barberio and was educated in the Haverhill School System, graduating from Haverhill High School in 1935, where he had been a member of the high school band. During the 1930s, he was a member of the I.Y.M.A., Italian Young Men’s Association football team, a semi-pro team and at one time the City Champs.
On Feb. 11, 1941, Barberio, along with 35 other Haverhill young men, enlisted in the U. S. Army. He was stationed in Iceland for 22 months then transferred to Europe, receiving three battle stars for action in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland. He was also the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal, discharged on June 15, 1945 with the rank of staff sergeant.
Before he opened his own store with his late wife, Maria, Barberio had worked in Haverhill’s thriving shoe manufacturing industry. He managed several retail stores, retiring as assistant store manager from the former Kings Department Store in 1983. After a brief “retirement” he went back to work for another 11 years, at the Shamrock Liquor Store, finally retiring in 1995.
He and his wife, Maria, loved to travel to the many well known resort islands and to the casinos at Foxwoods, Las Vegas and Atlantic City. He was actively involved in his community and proud of his Italian heritage. An avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, he also enjoyed bowling with his fellow residents of Phoenix Row as well as the Men’s Friday Morning League at Pilgrim Lanes. While his grandchildren were growing up, he never missed a chance to take them to their practices and their games.
He is survived by his son, Frank J. Barberio Jr. and wife Cindy, of Haverhill; daughter, Donna M. Hobbs of Nashua, N.H.; grandchildren, Patrick Barberio and Elizabeth Barberio both of Boston, and Kimberly and Craig Hobbs of Nashua, N.H.; great-grandchildren, Tegan and Maddox Snow of Nashua, N.H.; sisters-in-law, Mary Barbeiro of Lawrence and Nancy DiPietro of Albany, Ga.; along with several generations of nieces and nephews, extended family members and dear friends. In addition to his parents and his wife, Barberio was predeceased by two brothers and two sisters, Joseph Barberio Jr., Fred A. Barberio, Angelina Benedetti and Concetta “Connie” DeCristofaro.
The family thanks to the staff at Penacook Place and Merrimack Valley Hospice for their exceptional care.
Visiting hours at the Monument Square Chapel of Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 334 Main St., Haverhill, is Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral mass takes place Thursday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. at All Saints Parish, 120 Bellevue Ave., Haverhill, followed by burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Penacook Place Activities Fund, 150 Water Street, Haverhill, MA 01830 or to the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack Street, Lawrence, MA 01843.