Elizabeth Barbara Losapio

WORCESTER-Elizabeth "Barbara" Losapio, 81, passed away peacefully into eternal life, Monday, March 24 in UMass Medical Center.

She leaves her loving husband of 57 years, Arthur Losapio; her sons, Hon. Paul A. Losapio and his wife, Lenora, Attorney Joseph M. Losapio and his wife, Charlotte, Arthur Losapio, John "Bear" Losapio all of Worcester; her daughter, Nora Atchue and her husband, Michael of Whitinsville; her grandchildren, Ashley, Cara, Christina, Catherine, Joshua and Mia and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Stella Sliwoski and her brother, John McDonald.

She was born in Worcester daughter of Joseph and Honora (McDonald) Granata, and was very proud of having grown up in the Green Island neighborhood. Upon her marriage to Arthur, she moved to the Shrewsbury Street area, where she raised her family and lived at the time of her death.

Barbara attended Lamartine Street School and Classical High School. Barbara had a sharp mind for numbers, which she loved to use in her daily life. Barbara had fond memories of working at Brockelman's Market as a young woman. When all her children reached school age, she began work in the General Accounting Department at Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, where she worked for many years and served as President of the Bank's Employee Fellowship Association. Upon her retirement from the bank, Barbara went to work as a part time bookkeeper for her son Joseph's law office, where she made sure to teach him the lost art of balancing a check book down to the penny. Barbara was also an Avon Representative since the 1960's. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Academy Mother's Guild, the St. Anne's Church Choir, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.

An excellent cook and baker, Barbara's greatest joy was preparing and serving meals for her family on holidays. Her cookies, cakes, and pies will always be remembered as works of art that tasted even better than they looked. What will most be remembered about Barbara, however, is her indomitable spirit that allowed her to face each day with a smile on her face. She especially enjoyed traveling with her husband and friends to such places as Italy, Las Vegas, and New York City, and vacationing with her children and grandchildren at the family's summer home on Cape Cod in Cotuit, MA. She loved to dance and always looked forward to the weddings of family and friends. Barbara also enjoyed playing cards with her lifelong friends, playing Bingo and the Daily Number, and going to lunch with her fellow retirees from Guaranty Bank.

The family would like to thank the many health care professionals who cared for Barbara during her seven year battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, especially Dr. Robert Horner and the UMass Memorial staffs at the Levine Cancer Center, the Belmont St. 5th floor Cancer Ward, and the Lake Ave. 7th floor Intensive Care Unit. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Levine Cancer Center, 33 Kendall St., Worcester, MA 01605.

Barbara's Funeral will be Thursday, March 27 from CALLAHAN & FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry St. Interment will be in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Wednesday, March 26 from 5:00 until 8:00 PM in the funeral home.