Barbara Ann Auction (Berthel) - Salem, NH

Barbara Ann Aucoin (Berthel), 84 of Salem, NH, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2022 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.  Born on October 1, 1937, Barbara was the daughter of the late Harold and Jetske (Jesse) Berthel.  She grew up in Melrose, MA and studied “bookkeeping” at Bentley College before settling down to raise a family.  After having her children, Barbara served the Salem area by driving a school-bus for many years which included being a regular driver for the Salem High Marching Band.  She further worked many years by delivering flowers for Flowers by Constantine where she brought smiles to many faces. She spent her summers at her family’s property of Little Island Pond in Pelham, NH where she was an avid card player and loved swimming and doing “cannonballs” on un-suspecting family members.  She also was a long-time dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and prior to her illness volunteered frequently by providing transportation to the many missionaries new to the area.

She was pre-deceased by her brother Albin Berthel and sister June Gretter.

She is survived by her husband David Aucoin, sister Holly Reed, son Thomas Towse and his wife Donna, daughter Wendy (Towse) Davis and her husband Charles, April Aucoin and her significant other Jeffrey Morse, step-daughter Michelle Toll and her husband Michael, and step-daughter Rebecca Dow and her husband Tim. She leaves behind her 6 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and of course her beloved cats and grand-fur babies. 

A Memorial Service will be held at her church on Saturday July 23rd at 10am at The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints, 39 Hill St, Methuen, MA 01844.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s memory to the American Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alz.org