Barbara Joan O'Leary

1934 - 2022  (88 years)

• Name	Barbara Joan O'Leary
  	"Queen" of the Operation Christmas Telethon Father: Daniel Joseph O'Leary Mother: Helen Mary Healy [1]
  Birth	Jun 1934	Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [2, 3]
  Census	1950 (15 years)	Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [4]
  In the 1950 US Census, she was recorded as age 15, living at 57 Alpine Street, Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts with her parents.
  Death	10 Jun 2022	Vermont, U.S.A.   [5, 6]
  Obituary	13 Sep 2022 (88 years)  [5, 6]
  Barbara J. (O'Leary) Travis, 88, of Fall River and a longtime Citizens For Citizens employee, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2022 in Vermont. For over forty years she was known as the "Queen" of the Operation Christmas Telethon, an annual fundraiser for less fortunate families in Fall River. She began her career as a Commonwealth Service Corps volunteer. She later worked for over four decades for Citizens For Citizens starting in the Crisis Intervention Program, and then as the senior supervisor of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. She also operated the emergency food pantry, which helped feed countless needy families and the FEMA rental assistance program which provided aid to families being evicted. Her selfless work and life's mission always centered around helping those less fortunate. She sat on several boards in the community including Department of Transitional Assistance Board and Steppingstone, Inc. She was actively involved with the Jerry Lawton homeless shelter, referring numerous impoverished individuals and always following up about their health and welfare. She was the mother of 8 children; Deborah Travis, Maureen Tavares (John Tavares) all of Seminole, FL, Michelle Travis (Mike DeKoeyer) of Barnet, VT, Sharon Jackson, Robin Martel (Gregory Brilhante), Andrea Travis (Valter Moura),Kenneth Travis, Janet Travis (Douglas Massey) all of Fall River; sister of Daniel O'Leary, Helen O'Leary and the late Josephine Marsh. She also leaves 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 So.Main St. Fall River, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a funeral service during the visitation at 5:00 PM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Christmas ? Citizens for Citizens, 264 Griffin St. Fall River, MA 02724. Online condolences at AuclairFuneralHome.com. Published by The Herald News, 13 June 2022
  Person ID, Branch	I26058
  Last Modified	3 Jun 2026

  
  

  Spouse / Partner	Robert Andrew Travis,   b. 17 Sep 1930, Middletown, Orange County, New York, U.S.A. d. 10 Mar 2020 (Age 89 years)
  Marriage Intent	30 Jul 1957	Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, U.S.A.   [1]
  Marriage	4 Aug 1957	Christ Church Episcopal, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Christ Church Episcopal, Portsmouth,  New Hampshire   [1]
  	Marriage Record of Barbara Joan O'Leary and Robert Andrew Travis
  Age at Marriage	She : 23 years and 2 months - He : 26 years and 11 months.
  Children	1958  [6]
  1. Debora Travis 2. Maureen Travis 3. Michelle Travis 4. Sharon Travis 5. Robin Travis 6. Andrea Travis 7. Kenneth travis 8. Janet Travis
  Family ID	F9597	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Jun 2026

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Barbara Joan O'Leary(1934 – 2022) 2 3

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - Jun 1934 - Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Census - 1950 - Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Marriage Intent - 30 Jul 1957 - Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Marriage - 4 Aug 1957 - Christ Church Episcopal, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Death - 10 Jun 2022 - Vermont, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Barbara Joan (O'Leary) Travis

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S2360] New Hampshire Department of Health, New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage Records, 1700-1971, ( Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 202), Marriage Record of Barbara Joan O'Leary and Robert Andrew Travis. [S29] Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010). [S22] Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013). [S2303] Bureau of the Census, 1950 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 20212), National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: 5255; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 28-108. [S114] Ancestry.com, U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006). [S2563] Obituary of Barbara Travis, (Fall River, Massachusetts: The Herald News, 13 June 2022).