Dr. Medairy Barstow

[gallery] Dr. Mary Veronica Medairy Barstow, 92, passed away December 25, 2014 after a long illness, spending three years in hospice care at Willow Valley in Lancaster, PA, where her loving husband, Ward, also resides. Ward was instrumental in her daily care and they were to celebrate their 65th Anniversary the next day on Dec 26th. Born to Dr. George C. Medairy and Mary E. Hilton Medairy, Mary grew up in Owings Mills, Maryland, with her sister, Margaret Medairy, and her brother, Curtis Medairy, both deceased. Mary attended Seton High School where she played basketball, graduating in 1940. In 1944 Mary graduated from Notre Dame College of Baltimore with a degree in Chemistry. She then entered the convent at St. Joseph’s College in Emmittsburg, but left in 1946 to attend the University of Maryland Medical School, where Mary was one of only two women in the graduating class of 1950. Mary married Ward Barstow on December 26, 1949. After an 18-month bout with tuberculosis and resulting surgery in 1952, Mary was advised by her doctors to refrain from working if she desired to raise a family. Consequently, Dr. Barstow only practiced medicine for ten years, with the Baltimore City Health Department, after raising nine children in Bradshaw and later Bel Air, MD. Mary is survived by daughter Sue Barstow Fox and husband Clarke Fox of Bel Air, and sons Steve Barstow and partner Bob Tinsley of Halethorpe, Arthur Barstow and wife Lynn Kelly Barstow of North Billerica, MA, George (Doc) Barstow and wife Sandy Byrne Barstow of Bel Air, Thomas Barstow and wife Ivey DeJesus Barstow of York, PA, and Patrick Barstow and wife Jenny Roemer Barstow of Pylesville. Mary is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Mary is predeceased by three children, Christopher Barstow, Mary Barstow and Rebecca Barstow. Mary was an avid reader, enjoyed playing bridge and tennis, and taking trips to Key West. Mary served as a volunteer with Harford Home Hospice Care, and as a volunteer assisting senior citizens with income tax preparation and filing. Her children remember her most for her lessons and example of thoughtfulness, strong Catholic faith, responsibility, unconditional love, individuality, forgiveness and humility. In the words of a close family friend Mary “was a woman ahead of her time.” In lieu of flowers if you would like to make a donation in Mary’s name, please do so with Catholic Charities at Catholic Charities USA, P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD 21297-1066. A mass of Christian burial will be held for Mary on Tue Dec 30, 2014 at 10:00am at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, 141 North Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD. Interment will follow at Bel Air Memorial Gardens.

Dr. Medairy Barstow

December 27, 2014