Grace Mary Barth

Grace Mary Barth, 92, daughter of the late Harry Monroe Bowman and Grace Abigail Leonard, died at Elim Park Baptist Home in Cheshire on December 10, 2010. Beloved wife of the late Francis A. Barth, she was born on July 7, 1918 in New Haven and was known as Mary to all who knew her. Mary graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1935, the former Boardman Trade School in 1937 and from the Pratt Institute in 1939. Mary was a dressmaker for many years before working at Yale University in the Alumni Records Department. In 1973, she moved to Cheshire with Frank and took a job with the Board of Education in the school lunch program. Mary and Frank were avid Boston Red Sox fans and Mary loved to maintain her flower and vegetable garden. Mary is survived by a daughter Nancy Lee Goss of Hamden. Also surviving her are grandson Peter Oravec and his wife Liz, great grandchildren Tyler and Samantha Oravec, all of Shelton, grandson Glenn Oravec and his wife Shelley and step great grandchildren Abraham and Zaynah Kalaoun, all of Sutton, MA and a niece Susan Bennetto and nephews Ned and Peter Bennetto as well as numerous friends. In addition to Frank, Mary was predeceased by sisters June Bennetto, Ruth Berky and brother Leonard Bowman. A memorial service will be held at BEECHER & BENNETT Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden on Saturday, December 18 at 1:00 pm. There are no calling hours. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Autism Spectrum Resource Center, (ASRC) 101 North Plains Industrial Road, Harvest Park- Building 1A, Wallingford, CT 06492.