Janice Brown Barrows: Founder of Barrows Insurance Agency

Janice Brown Barrows, beloved wife of Robert H. Barrows, loving mother, and founder of Barrows Insurance Agency in Mansfield, died Thursday, April 18, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was 85 years old.

Mrs. Barrows was born April 11, 1928 to George and Mabel Osborn Brown of Foxborough.  She was a 1946 graduate of Foxborough High School.  She was a member of the Emblem Club, former member of the Board of Directors at the Mansfield Credit Union and was a 50 year member of the Mansfield Orthodox Congregational Church where she was also in the choir. When not with her family, she could be found relaxing at her Cape home in Dennisport, MA or enjoying a show at Mansfield’s Black Box Theater.

Barrows is best known as the founder of Barrows Insurance Agency in Mansfield, a business she founded at the age 50 in 1977 out of her home on Pratt Street. She became the first woman to own an insurance agency in the area.   

 She is survived by her husband Robert of 65 years and her three cherished children: Cynthia Barrows Berkowitz and her husband Ron of Newton, MA State Representative Jay Barrows and his wife Debbie Laursen Barrows of Mansfield, and Robert H. Barrows, Jr. and his wife Stephanie of Smithfield, Rhode Island. 

Calling hours will be at Roberts and Sons Funeral Home, 30 South St, Foxborough, Saturday, April 20 from 1 to 5 p.m.  A burial service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m.

View the full obituary on the Smithfield Patch Announcements page.