Deborah Sue Barber

Deborah "Deb" Barber, 70, of Wakefield, passed away Monday, February 10, 2025. Born in Newport, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Edna Barber.

Deb was the adored and beloved wife of Richard "Ric" McIntyre. She graduated from Rogers High School and the Newport School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. Deb worked as a hospice nurse and then a case manager for South County Home Health for nearly 40 years. She bettered the lives of hundreds of families with her remarkable nursing skills and fierce devotion to patient interests.

Deb was a beautiful, thoughtful, and compassionate woman. She loved her family, husband, home, gardening, food, her patients, and life in general. She was an all-star Mom and an Olympic gold medalist grandmother or "Abu" as the grandchildren called her. Deb supported Ric's academic career as they traveled to France, Cuba, Russia, and elsewhere. She was a gracious and tasteful hostess for all holidays, appealing to the senses of both children and adults. Her flower gardens changed with the seasons and brought joy to all. She loved good food and always scouted out plates at the table so she could ask "can I have a bite?"

Deb was very important to an extraordinary number of people, perhaps the reason she spent half her life on the telephone. She and her dear friend Su Rubinoff made quilts for the children as they graduated and married. Deb and Su made walnut chains filled with tiny Christmas gifts each year for the grandchildren. Her generosity was astounding. She was the brightest light in our world.

Deb is survived by her husband Ric, children Christopher Watsky (Almudena), Elizabeth Messina (Aaron), and David Watsky (Cole), her stepchildren Sean McIntyre (Erin), and Shannon McIntyre Ellsworth (Alec), and her treasured grandchildren Ernesto, Maya, Eden, Colin, Cora, Henry, Kate, Axel, Eamon, and Rosie. She is survived also by her sisters Gail, Greer, Garnet, Nancy, and Ruth Ann, her brother Carl, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late David Barber and Larry Barber.

A memorial mass will be celebrated Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 10 AM in Christ the King Catholic Church, 180 North Road, Kingston RI. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, February 18, 2025 from 4 to 6 PM in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield, RI.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Meadowbrook Waldorf School, 300 Kingston Road, Richmond RI, 02892, or South County Health, 100 Kenyon Ave, Wakefield RI 02879, noting that your funds are for Home Health.