Margaret A. Barrett

To view Margo's funeral via live stream, go to http://www.oldnorth.com and click on the YouTube link.

Margaret A. Barrett of Arlington, Massachusetts, known to her friends and family as Margo, passed away suddenly on July 31, 2025 following complications due to her on-going struggle with Multiple Myeloma.  Margo was just 60 years old.

Born in Boston on August 9, 1964, Margo was the eldest of the four children of Agnes E. and Richard J. Barrett. She was raised in a close-knit neighborhood in West Roxbury, where she attended St. Theresa of Avila Parish and made many lifelong friends through church activities and CYO dances.  Margo graduated from St. Clare High School in Roslindale and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Regis College in 1986.  Later, she pursued and completed a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management at Emmanuel College in Boston.

Over a career that spanned more than 30 years, Margo rose to human resource leadership roles across several organizations. Her specialty in global human resources took her to many corners of the world, including a memorable two-year stay in Hong Kong.  Margo had an innate curiosity and a deep respect for other cultures and she developed a true personal love of travel to foreign lands.  Whether walking through a museum, sampling local cuisine, or taking in new landscapes, Margo brought an open heart and a reflective spirit to every experience.

In 2007, Margo settled in Arlington, Massachusetts, a community she cherished deeply. There, she began hosting international exchange students, turning her home into a place of warmth, discovery, and cultural exchange. She mentored dozens of young people, helping them navigate American life, sharing her love of Boston’s history, and celebrating the traditions of their home countries. Margo’s thoughtful hospitality left a lasting mark on many students from around the globe.

In 2015, Margo joyfully adopted her daughter, Silvia Isabel, from Colombia—an event she described as the most meaningful moment of her life. Silvia arrived as a teenager, and under Margo’s loving guidance, flourished into a poised and accomplished young woman.  Silvia recently graduated from college and has embarked on her own career in New York City.  Margo was deeply proud of Silvia’s strength, intelligence, and resilience.

Margo’s interests were wide-ranging. She loved Irish music, yoga, walking  the loop at Castle Island, and cheering for the Red Sox.  A woman of deep personal faith, Margo found spiritual community and connection in recent years in the Episcopal Church. She was a devoted member of Old North Church in Boston, where she formed many meaningful friendships. In 2024, she was honored as an Associate of the Order of St. Anne in Arlington Heights, deepening her lifelong relationship with God and her commitment to spiritual service.

Margo will be remembered for her independence, quiet wisdom, and her generous spirit. She was brave in the face of illness, never losing her sense of purpose or compassion. She was a loving daughter, a devoted mother, and a thoughtful friend to many.

Margo is survived by her beloved daughter, Silvia Isabel of New York City; her mother, Agnes E. Barrett of West Roxbury; and her siblings Richard J. Barrett (Elizabeth), Ginny Cook (Ken), and Christine Davis (Greg). She was a cherished aunt to ten nieces and nephews. Margo was predeceased by her father, Richard J. Barrett. The entire Barrett family is especially grateful to Evelyn Burns and Maura Joyce, longtime dear friends of Margo’s whose kindness and support helped her navigate the challenges of her treatments at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Visiting hours for family and friends will be held at the Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre Street West Roxbury, on Friday August 15, 2025 from 4pm-6pm.  A memorial service will be held at Old North Church in Boston on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 10:00 am, with a reception to follow.  Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Margaret’s memory to either The Sanborn Foundation, www.sanbornfoundation.org  which supports Arlington residents facing cancer-related challenges, or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. danafarber.jimmyfund.org

To view Margo's funeral via live stream, go to http://www.oldnorth.com and click on the YouTube link.