Barbara M. (Silk) Welch

WORCESTER – Barbara M. (Silk) Welch, 91, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 4, 2017 under the loving care of her family and the dedicated staff at Notre Dame Healthcare Center in Worcester.
Born in Worcester on October 16, 1925, daughter of the late Mary (Connolly) Silk and George W. Silk of Southbridge.  She was pre-deceased by her husband John E. Welch in 1973, and is survived by John E. Welch, Jr. and Wendy Fors of Holden, and Michael and Bridget Welch of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and their four children, Elizabeth, John, Patrick and Peter.
Barbara grew up in Southbridge and graduated from the former Mary E. Wells High School in 1943.  She then entered the former Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.  Barbara went on to do post graduate work in Maternity Nursing at the former Boston Lying Inn Hospital.  Barbara worked in the Maternity Dept. at the former Memorial Hospital for over 25 years, where she served as the supervisor in the delivery room.  After retirement, she was then employed as a newborn nurse for Worcester Pediatric Association for ten years.  Barbara was a true nurse’s nurse.  She ran the nurse’s ward with firm direction and guidance and loving compassion for her patients – mothers and babies.  Her former patients remembered her with unending gratitude and her staff remained grateful for the example she set.
Barbara was a member of Memorial Hospital Nurse’s Alumnae Association, the Women’s Guild of St. George’s Church and was committed to devotional service at the Eucharistic Chapel of Adoration at St. Georges.  Barbara will also be remembered as an enthusiastic line dancer and member of the Thursday morning bowling team.  Her life of faith was lived out through sacrifice (though she never called it such) and service to others.
Her family would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Jerrianne Segar, Dr. Elizabeth Howard and the staff of Notre Dame Du Lac for their compassionate care of Barbara.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Barbara’s family from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday, August 8, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Wednesday, August 9 at St. George Church, 38 Brattle Street in Worcester. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Leicester. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Saint John’s High School, c/o John E. Welch Scholarship Fund, 378 Main Street Shrewsbury, MA  01545 or Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive Pine Ridge, SD  57770 or the St. George’s Parish Scholarship Fund at St. Georges Church, 40 Brattle Street Worcester, MA  01606. To share a memory or offer a condolence please visit our "Guest Book" on this page.


WORCESTER – Barbara M. (Silk) Welch, 91, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 4, 2017 under the loving care of her family and the dedicated staff at Notre Dame Healthcare Center in Worcester. Born in Worcester on October 16, 1925, daughter of the late Mary (Connolly) Silk and George W. Silk of Southbridge.  She was pre-deceased by her husband John E. Welch in 1973, and is survived by John E. Welch, Jr. and Wendy Fors of Holden, and Michael and Bridget Welch of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and their four children, Elizabeth, John, Patrick and Peter. Barbara grew up in Southbridge and graduated from the former Mary E. Wells High School in 1943.  She then entered the former Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.  Barbara went on to do post graduate work in Maternity Nursing at the former Boston Lying Inn Hospital.  Barbara worked in the Maternity Dept. at the former Memorial Hospital for over 25 years, where she served as the supervisor in the delivery room.  After retirement, she was then employed as a newborn nurse for Worcester Pediatric Association for ten years.  Barbara was a true nurse’s nurse.  She ran the nurse’s ward with firm direction and guidance and loving compassion for her patients – mothers and babies.  Her former patients remembered her with unending gratitude and her staff remained grateful for the example she set. Barbara was a member of Memorial Hospital Nurse’s Alumnae Association, the Women’s Guild of St. George’s Church and was committed to devotional service at the Eucharistic Chapel of Adoration at St. Georges.  Barbara will also be remembered as an enthusiastic line dancer and member of the Thursday morning bowling team.  Her life of faith was lived out through sacrifice (though she never called it such) and service to others. Her family would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Jerrianne Segar, Dr. Elizabeth Howard and the staff of Notre Dame Du Lac for their compassionate care of Barbara. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Barbara’s family from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday, August 8, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Wednesday, August 9 at St. George Church, 38 Brattle Street in Worcester. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Leicester. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Saint John’s High School, c/o John E. Welch Scholarship Fund, 378 Main Street Shrewsbury, MA  01545 or Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive Pine Ridge, SD  57770 or the St. George’s Parish Scholarship Fund at St. Georges Church, 40 Brattle Street Worcester, MA  01606. To share a memory or offer a condolence please visit our "Guest Book" on this page.