Obituary of Barbara L. Bossidy

Barbara Louise Bossidy (nee Ruggles) passed into God’s loving hands on Sunday, March 26, 2023, surrounded by family and care givers at The Cottage Assisted Living in Torrington, CT after a short illness. The family is particularly grateful to her son Daniel and his family Carol, Kelly, Anna and all the Nurses/CNA’s at The Cottage for tirelessly and lovingly caring for her during her stay in hospice and for all of her time in Torrington.

Barbara was born in Fall River, MA on June 15, 1929, to Clarence and Norma (Jones) Ruggles. She spent her early life in Portsmouth, RI. At 6 years old, the Ruggles family moved to Manchester, CT. They lived in ‘the house on the lane’ while her father built their longtime home on Kingsbury Ave. in Rockville. Barbara lived in Rockville while she and her three brothers attended St. Bernard’s School. She graduated from Rockville High School in 1947.

Barbara was a trail blazer when she attended Central Connecticut Teacher’s College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in teaching in 1950. She taught in several locations during her career but primarily at Waddell School in Manchester CT. She retired from Waddell School in 1987 to care, at home, for her grandchildren in a place we smilingly called grammaschool. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and family chatting over a cup of coffee, reading, gardening, knitting, bird watching, going to weekly mass, doing crossword puzzles, and playing a variety of games with her grandchildren and sometimes letting them win.

In 1953, Barbara married John Bossidy and they eventually settled in Manchester in 1970 until John’s death in 2019. Barbara spent her final years in Torrington at the Cottage Assisting Living while her son Daniel and his family watched over her during the pandemic.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband John Bossidy, her parents Clarence and Norma Ruggles, her brothers Gardner Ruggles, Clarence Bud Ruggles and Stanley Mike Ruggles. She is survived by her children and their families:
John Bossidy II of Manchester, CT
Bridget and John Wcislo of Longmeadow, MA and their son Michael
Rev. Daniel and Carol Bossidy of Torrington, CT and their children Kelly Bossidy, Anna and Jeff Beckman, all of Torrington, CT
Kathleen and William Hackett of Bolton, CT and their children Kellen Hackett of Boston, MA, Conor Hackett and Andrew Hackett, both of South Windsor, CT
Mary and Matthew Walsh of Manchester, CT and their children Meaghan and Paul Taylor of Manchester, CT, Samantha and Jason Figueroa of Sumter, SC, Benjamin and Brittany Walsh of Cromwell, CT, and Kathleen Walsh of Manchester, CT
And great-grandchildren Riley, Shea, Brooke, Olivia and Samuel

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bridget’s Church, 80 Main Street, Manchester, CT, on Wednesday, March 29^th, 2023, at 11:30 AM followed by interment in St. Bridget’s Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.

CLICK TO VIEW LIVESTREAM FUNERAL SERVICE