Barbara Joyce Rich

Barbara Joyce Rich, of Groton, MA, born February 8, 1934, passed away on December 16, 2025, after sustaining severe injuries in a car accident. At 91 and ¾, she was still loving her work as a dedicated Parent Advocate and talented Yoga Teacher. Barb worked enthusiastically in both capacities until her final days.

Barbara is survived by her four children, Tracy (partner Tam), Adam, Joshua (wife Kari), and Julie, and her nine grandchildren, Ayla, Freya, Hannah (partner Chris), Justin, Kelsey (husband Sam), Noah, Raven, Zach, and Zeno, her nieces Jenna (spouse Amanda) and Sydney, her nephew, Jae, and her two brothers, Richie (spouse Sylvia) and Peter (spouse Pauliina) along with great-grandchildren, Rayaan and Idris, grandnieces, Ella, Eloise, Finley, and other "dearly beloveds," including Kerry Reynolds, Betsy Robertson, and "frumate" Crissy Holeman. Additionally, she is remembered by many friends far and wide, and countless community members in her beloved Groton, where she thrived for the past 34 years.

Barb was born in Haverhill, MA, and graduated from Emerson College, working as an actress until she became a mother. She fell in love with the field of learning disabilities, eventually earning her M.Ed. in Special Education from Boston College at 40 years old. She worked for 25 years as a Director of Special Education, and when she "retired," she continued working and advocating for children to get the services they needed, always looking for a collaborative and peaceful solution. She earned her Kripalu yoga certification when she was 58 years old and taught yoga, movement, and meditation to children, adults, and elders for 33 years. Her love of meditation took her to India on a solo trip several years ago.

Barb was extremely service-oriented and loved volunteering and teaching. As a devoted volunteer, she supported her treasured UU church community, identifying proudly as a Jewish Buddhist Lesbian. She served on the Groton Interfaith Council, Groton Neighbors, and AVP (Alternatives to Violence), teaching yoga to incarcerated men, and up until a few weeks before her passing, was an active participant in Partakers, a program for incarcerated adults seeking their college degree.

She loved travelling and primarily travelled to visit family or to be of service. She participated in Global Volunteers programs in New Orleans, Costa Rica, Ghana, and Appalachia, giving wherever she could, building houses, teaching children, and offering yoga and meditation classes. She taught at both Harvard and Groton Councils on Aging, Rivercourt Residences, and, as recently as November, did a mindfulness workshop with teenagers at Groton-Dunstable High School.

She loved the ocean, starting at Salisbury Beach as a child, continuing when she and her then husband, John L. Rich, and their four children lived in the Philippines, working for the Peace Corps, as well as her many connections to Cape Cod and Nantucket.

Barb truly lived life to the fullest. She self-published three books of poetry, and she highly valued reading and learning new things. Continuing her love of acting, Barb would often read poetry at open mics and could be found performing annually at the Paper Bag Nativity Pageant at First Parish of Groton UU. Throughout her life, Barb connected deeply to nature. She was a lifelong gardener and always found peace and pleasure in her backyard, watching the leaves, listening to birds, and delighting in the deer.

Ultimately, Barb kept her heart open to the possibility of connection to family and friends. She continually reached out to everyone in her life, hoping to repair past regrets and create new friendships, and was always eager to have a cup of tea or a new experience with almost anyone. In her final days, with each person who visited, called, or texted, she shared memories and honest farewells. She expressed immense gratitude for her full life, meeting this final experience with grace and grounded presence.

In lieu of flowers, Barb would have appreciated donations to First Parish Church of Groton, 3 Powderhouse Road, Groton, MA 01450, or online at https-//uugroton.org/donate/

Arrangements under the care of the Badger Funeral Home, 45 School St., Groton, MA. 978-486-3709