Teresa M. Barton

Teresa “Terry” Morocco Barton, 92, of Bristol, CT, died peacefully, February 1, 2019, with family by her side, in her home in Bristol. Born September 10, 1926, she was the daughter of Alfred Morocco (originally of Lenola, Italy) and Pasqualine Battista Morocco. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 49 years, Stanley “Buzz” Barton, and her grandson Sean Barton.

Terry attended Bristol schools, and after graduating high school, attended St. Joseph College (now, the University of St. Joseph) in West Hartford, where she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in English, class of ‘47. In 1971, she returned to, and completed her Master’s degree in Special Education, at the University of St. Joseph, and, even later, completed her Sixth-Year Program degree in Special Education at CCSU.

Terry’s love of English led her in two directions. She was a reporter for The Hartford Times and The Waterbury Republican, and then taught at St. Joseph School, followed by 20 years of teaching Special Ed at South Side School (both in Bristol). She retired in 1997.

Fiercely independent and always active, Terry then became a lecturer for a number of years at Tunxis Community College, and also led many workshops. Additionally, she volunteered her time to teach seniors how to use computers at the Bristol Senior Center. Not ever one to leave her writing too far behind, she wrote many wonderful and interesting articles for The Farmington Valley Post. Whenever there was an opportunity, Terry would take another class, attend a lecture, or take specialized courses, such as the Master Gardener’s Program at UCONN. Terry not only believed in lifelong learning, but lived it, even as recently as a few months ago when she took up learning to play the Ukulele.

Terry believed firmly in community service, serving on boards and commissions her entire life, including three that she regretfully had to resign from this past December, when she became ill. The boards she served on over the years included: BART – the Bristol Area Retired Teachers (President); ARTC – Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (Board Chair); ARTC – Glenn Moon Scholarship Fund (Co-Chair); Advocates for Bristol Seniors, Inc.; Bristol Senior Center – Commission on Aging; City of Bristol Transportation Committee; City of Bristol Board of Library Directors; Past President of The Chapman Beach Association; Guild of the Blessed Sacrament; and PACTAC – Plainville Area Cable Television Advisory Council. Terry has always volunteered at each of the churches she has been a member of, and used every opportunity she had to help make other people’s lives better. Additionally, Terry was very active with her alma mater. She was a member of the Golden Dome Society and the Saint Catherine Society, was a Class Agent, served on reunion committees throughout the years, and was a member of the Bristol Club. In 2018, Terry established The Stanley & Teresa Morocco Barton Endowed Scholarship at the University of St. Joseph.

As well as theatre, museums and other interesting and educational activities, Terry was fortunate to travel to many countries and many parts of the US. Her summers, though, had become her favorite time of the year, because she spent them at her cottage in Westbrook, where the family has summered for the past 70 years. She often hosted her colleagues at the various organizations for lunch outings in Westbrook, helping to fulfill her love of entertaining and cooking.

She enjoyed simple things, like working in her gardens, spending time with her children and grandchildren, collecting sea glass on the beach, and merely sitting somewhere quiet, reading another book.

Terry is survived by her sister, Marianne Grace, and three generations of children:
Her five children, Christopher Barton (Burlington), Jan St. George (Southington), Michael Barton & his wife Elizabeth (Hartford), Peter Barton and his wife Cheri (Bristol), and Andrew Barton and his wife Mary (Bristol); her eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Barton) Kelleher and her husband Christopher (Forest Hill, MD), Nicholas Barton (New Britain), Alexander Barton (Hartford), Catherine Barton (Santa Monica, CA), Becky St. George and Marc St. George (Southington), Taylor Barton and Angela Barton (Bristol); and, her two great grandchildren, Landon Kelleher and Parks Kelleher (Forest Hill, MD).

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, directly at St. Gregory the Great Church, 235 Maltby St., Bristol, CT. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, 151 Farmington Ave., Plainville, CT.

Calling hours are Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Ave., Forestville.

Should you wish to make a contribution in Terry’s name in lieu of flowers, the organizations that she supported included Food For the Poor; St. Jude’s Children Hospital; Journey Home, Inc. in Hartford; and the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford.

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