Barbara L. St. Pierre, 96

LACONIA — Barbara “Barb” L. St. Pierre, a lifelong resident of Laconia, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving children. Barbara was 96 years old. She was greeted at the gates of heaven by those who passed before her — her loving husband Pete; her parents, Howard Washburn and Florence (Jewett) Fales; her brothers, Charles Haven, Howard and William; and sister Beverly M. Rowson.

Barbara was born in Laconia, in 1928, to Howard W. Fales and Florence (Jewett) Fales, their second of five children. She attended school in Laconia prior to moving to Portsmouth, where she graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1946, and later graduated from Laconia Hospital School of Nursing in 1949.

While attending school in Laconia, Barbara frequently dined with her girlfriends at a local fish and chips shop at Busy Corner. This is where she met her husband-to-be, Pete St. Pierre. Pete and Barb took a liking to each other and soon Pete got up the nerve to ask Barb on a date. From that point on they were inseparable. They married on Nov. 18, 1950, and started their life in Laconia, where they lived together for 69 years. Barbara was a devoted wife to Armand who, as anyone who knows them can attest, was the light and love of his life. Armand passed just nine days shy of their 70th anniversary.

They raised four children together, James (wife Natalie Harriman) of Laconia, Donna Pratt (husband Bob) of Jericho, Vermont, Joanne McAllister (husband Jeff) of Concord, and Thomas (wife Julie Sanders) of York, Pennsylvania.

Barbara also treasured her grandchildren, Tyler and Erin (Reifers), Garret and Heather (Karam), Wade Machon and Alexandra (Laflam), Madison Kieley, Wesley Hania, Conner and Brady; step-grandchildren Dana McAllister and Jennifer Fulmer and husband Kenton; and her great-grandchildren Eve, Duke, Oliver, Vera, Presley, Remi and step-great-granddaughter Lyra; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Barbara was a stay-at-home mother. After all of her children entered school, Barbara resumed her nursing career at LRGH in the areas of pediatrics, medical surgery, psychiatric and finally the adult day care sponsored by Lakes Region General Hospital and Easterseals for her final five years. In total, Barbara was a registered nurse for over 40 years.

After retirement Barbara remained active in a number of local organizations — Daughters of the American Revolution, St. Josephs Ladies Guild, Elder Friendship Club, Laconia Historical Society and Graduate Nurses Association of LRGH.

She was especially interested in her family’s genealogy, researching the Jewett, Gilmore, Collins and Fales families of Exeter, Rumney, Laconia, Sanbornton, and Thomaston, Maine, as well as the St. Pierre family of St. Norbert, Quebec.

The entire St. Pierre family would like to thank the Taylor Community health care workers and staff for their loving and supportive care over the years and the nurses at Concord Hospital-Laconia for their compassion and kindness during her last days.

Finally, a special thanks to Dad for convincing mom that the Taylor Community — a supportive community that’s active, social, and engaging — was the best option for them to live out their aging years. The Taylor Community has been a blessing to our family during this time as well.

There will be no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at St. Andre Bessette Parish-Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave.

Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield Street.

A reception following the burial service will be held at O Steaks & Seafood Restaurant, 62 Doris Ray Court.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Barbara to the Lakes Region Scholarship Fund for Barbara L. St. Pierre Nursing/Medical Studies, P.O. Box 7312, Gilford, NH 03247-7312, or by visiting lrscholarship.org/donors.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.