Barbara A. (Crowley) Breen

Barbara A. Breen (Crowley) of Malden passed away peacefully at home on June 16, 2025. She lived a life full of blessings and with some challenges but always with a devotion to family and her faith to sustain her. 

Barbara was born in 1940, the daughter of James and Mary Crowley, the second oldest of seven siblings. She was raised in Somerville, Massachusetts, and was a graduate of Saint Clement High School, having attended the parish elementary school and junior high as well. Barbara graduated from Boston State Teachers College and returned to Somerville where she taught elementary school for several years. 

In 1964 she married her sweetheart and best friend, Richard Breen. They settled in Malden and enjoyed 54 years of marriage before Richard’s passing in 2018. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. Time with family was her greatest joy. She and Richard were a devoted couple, sharing a love for travel, skiing, and sailing. Summers when her children were young were spent camping, often with other members of the family in adjoining sites. Time with the extended family was frequent and cherished, leading to close relationships with many beloved nieces and nephews. Having left the teaching profession to raise her daughters, Barbara eventually retired from Massachusetts Electric after a second career in customer service, but in her heart she was always a teacher. Barbara was a parishioner at Sacred Hearts parish in Malden where she served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister. 

During her retirement years Barbara became active in the Malden Democrats, volunteering for several local politicians and enjoying many gatherings and events throughout the city. She was also a member of the Malden Community Garden Club, where she and Richard cultivated a highly productive vegetable garden for several years. She was a beloved presence at her grandchildren’s activities. She was determined to see her twin grandchildren graduate from Malden Catholic, and her granddaughter graduate from college with her degree in dental hygiene, goals which were achieved this spring.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Carolyn Heald and husband Kent of Medford; her grandchildren William Heald, Bridget Heald, and Hannah Beecy; her son-in-law Michael Beecy of Beverly; her brother Dennis Crowley of Houston, Texas; her brother Edward Crowley and wife Andrea of Stow; her sisters-in-law Barbara Crowley and Isabel Crowley; her brother-in-law Allan Peeke; her sister-in-law Catherine Rais and her husband Frank; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Richard Breen, her daughter Maureen Beecy, her brothers Leo Crowley, James Crowley, and John Crowley, and her sister Joan Peeke. 

Funeral services will be held from the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St., Malden on Friday, June 27 at 11 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Raphael Church, 512 High Street, Medford, at 12 noon.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, June 26, from 4 – 8PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s memory to The Missionary Society of Saint Columban, an organization she began supporting with monthly donations as a young bride in 1964, and continued to support until her passing. They can be reached at 1902 N. Calhoun Street, St. Columbans, NE 68056 or https://columban.org/

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