Barbara Joanne Petrishen passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Barbara was born on November 3rd 1953 in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies to Manley Louis Evelyn and Iona Evelyn, and was affectionately known as “Likkle”. She was the third of seven children. Over the years Barbara would share her fondest memories of her childhood in Jamaica. She often reminisced about the days she would help her mother with preparing food, traveling to the country side, eating “stinking toe”, “bustamante backbone”, and guinep.

She attended primary school and secondary school until the age of 15, before migrating to the United States and completed her high school education at Girls’ High School in Boston, Massachusetts. She pursued various opportunities as a model, fashion designer, commercial photography styling and seamstress. In 1972 she met John Petrishen and then later married. In which she had three children, Jeffrey, Maxine, and Natasha.

Barbara lived a life of integrity, joy, all with compassion, as she touched the lives of many through her God given talents. She had ways of giving her time to others, caring and being an active listener. A devoted mom, Mrs. Petrishen sough the best for her children; instilling Christian moral values and self-worth. She was the true definition of a loving, devoted and nurturing mother, as she endlessly poured into her children and referred to her grandchildren as the light of her life. She always encouraged them to follow their dreams, even if their dreams appeared unattainable. As she would say, “nothing is ever too hard for God.”

Barbara was a member of the Waymark Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where she thoroughly enjoyed worshipping and expressed her praise by offering up her operatic angelic voice during selective song service. She was a true social butterfly and looked forward to fellowshipping with church members after service and cultivated many friendships wherever she went. She equally found pleasure in hosting friends and family at her home and found immense pleasure in cooking her favorite fusion dishes. She adored being around her family and she would drop everything at a moment’s notice when her siblings would visit

Barbara was full of creativity and was a woman that enjoyed fashion and looking her best at all times. She developed a love for designing hats and she had a hat for almost every outfit. She has a hat collection like no other and would give any milliner a run for their money. Barbara’s hats were paired with thoughtfully designed hand bags to complete her stunning outfits. She never let the size of any dress halter her vision, instead she relied on her creative and skillful side to totally deconstruct and recreate a masterpiece of an outfit.

Barbara is survived by her three children, Jeffrey Petrishen, Maxine Spencer, and Natasha Channer, grandsons, Emory Channer and Cason Spencer. Siblings Louise Bennett, Ronald Evelyn, Gerry Evelyn, Myleen Wellman, and Hermine Evelyn-Sawyer. Nieces and nephews, Pam Bennett, Richard Bennett, Jan Williams, Amanda Jennings, Iona Ellis, Matthew Evelyn, Sean Evelyn, Meshon Evelyn, Seddrick Evelyn, and Thyra Evelyn. Cousins Marjorie Watts and Lorrel Palmer. Great-niece Kaysha Campbell, Abriana Jennings, Milan Ellis, Sophia Evelyn and great-nephew Bryston Jennings, Jameison Evelyn, Bennett Evelyn, Zaid Ellis.

Her memories will forever be etched in our hearts.

Viewing will be held at Waymark SDA Church, 1048 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester on Friday, May 24th from 10-11AM. Funeral Service at 11AM. Interment at Cedar Grove Cemetery.