Obituary: Barbara E. Agostinelli, 79

Barbara Eugenia (Plociennik) Agostinelli was a resident of Portsmouth, RI. She grew up in West Roxbury, MA with her parents, Eugene J. and Katherine (Sheridan) Plociennik, and her two sisters, Anne Marshall of New York and Corinne Boyd of Quebec, Canada. She was married to Anthony J. (Tony) Agostinelli for 52 years. They raised their four children in Providence before moving to Portsmouth in 1999.

Barbara was a school psychologist with a Master’s in Education earned at Boston College and was an alumna of Emmanuel College also in Boston. She loved children, and worked in the Norton, MA public schools for 20 years. She finished her career in the Providence school system, working with troubled and at-risk children.

Barbara was a great cook and host. She learned those skills while working as an activities director for the US Army in France. In addition to her love of a good party, she loved dogs (especially her Golden Retrievers), Irish music, Italian opera, the Boston Pops and any chocolate dessert.

Her love for her family and life will be carried on by her four children and five grandchildren; Maria A. Agostinelli, her husband Denis Marusic and son Niko of Plano, TX; Katherine A. Spinella, her husband Francis and two daughters, Francesca and Cecilia of Portsmouth; Mark A. Agostinelli, his wife Debra, and their two sons, Mason and William of Chatham, NJ; Matthew E. Agostinelli, his wife Carmen Chavez of San Diego, CA.

Barbara spent her last years locked in a battle against Alzheimer’s disease. Along with her devoted husband Tony, she was lovingly cared for by the staff of St. Elizabeth’s Manor in Bristol, where she passed away peacefully with her family by