Barbara Theresa (Lauro) Taracevicz was the quintessential matriarch of her family. A self-made woman who was born an only child to immigrant Italian parents, Barbara poured herself into her education, and with no siblings from whom to draw an example, she blazed her own trail by setting her own example and meeting her own exacting standards with an uncommon but understated elegance. It made her a success in all that she did, whether it was closing a real estate transaction, making a lesson plan for her elementary students, setting a table for dinner, wrapping a birthday present, or hosting a family gathering during the holidays where her homemade meals were expressions of her love, kindness and generosity for all those fortunate enough to have an invitation to her tavolo.

In all that she accomplished, Barbara had the extraordinary gift of her personal touch, a delightful manner matched only by the warmth of her disarming laugh that drew everyone closer to her, most notably her late husband of 62 years, Bernard Taracevicz, who was smitten from the first time they met in 1953 as seasonal holiday co-workers at the US Post Office in Malden. When Barbara passed away at age 89 after a short illness on Jan. 4, 2024, at Milton Hospital, everyone drew close to her bedside where she was surrounded by her loving family who in her final moments returned the love she had given them so unconditionally all of her life.

Born May 26, 1934, in Malden, Mass, to Alfredo Lauro, who immigrated to the United States from Avellino, Italy, and Aurora (Degli Angelli) Lauro, Barbara was instilled with an indefatigable work ethic and love for learning that served her well from her time as an honor roll student at Glenwood Elementary to Beebe Junior High to Malden High, where her senior yearbook listed her as “a very busy gal.” At Malden High, Barbara enjoyed being a cheerleader, president of the French club, an honor student in the Latin club, member of the student council, tennis player and guard on the girls’ basketball team. She remained active even after the death of her father in the middle of her senior year.

Inspired by her educational experience to become a teacher, Barbara went to Salem State College in an era when it was difficult for women to gain admission to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in English. It served as the launching point to her career in education as a second and third-grade teacher in the Malden Public School system.

As a teacher of children, Barbara was inspired to start her own family of four children with Bernie after they were married on Oct. 11, 1958. Bernie’s job as an executive in the spirits industry afforded a comfortable family lifestyle and a membership to Wollaston Golf Club, where Barbara and Bernie forged many lifelong friendships through the sheer power of their good nature and magnetic personalities.

Barbara was a true Boston sports fan and there was nothing more comical than seeing her get a charge out of a Bruins goal, a Celtics 3-point basket, or a Patriots touchdown. A lover of the arts, Barbara took up painting, but her life’s unrealized dream was to be a pianist or vocalist, which revealed why she always kept a baby grand piano in her living room. It also explained her love of Lady Gaga, whom she saw in concert at Fenway Park, and whose rendition of “La Vie En Rose,” brought a wan smile to her face when it was played for her in the hospital.

She saw the beauty and meaning in all things artistic, including a garish 6-foot white plaster sculpture of Venus de Milo given to her by a relative as a well-meaning gift. While her immediate family scoffed at it, Barbara proudly proclaimed it an “objet d’art,” and prominently displayed it by the front entrance of her lovely Milton home at 5 Wagon Wheel Drive.

Well-known and respected for her four decades as a real estate agent, first with DeWolfe Realty, where she gained wide acclaim as one of the top real estate agents in Milton, and, later, at Coldwell-Banker, Barbara helped many families settle in Milton, helping them find their homes with a personal touch for which she was greatly admired

Preceded in death in 2021 by her husband, Bernard John Taracevicz Sr., Barbara is survived by her four children (and spouses): Deirdre Taracevicz-Berg (Robert) of Milton; Steven Taracevicz of Stuart, Fla; Barbara Vega (Michael) of Milton; Bernard J. Taracevicz Jr., of San Francisco, Calif; and eight grandchildren: Trent and Ava Berg, of Milton; Victor Taracevicz, of San Luis Obispo, Calif., James Taracevicz, of Los Angeles, Calif., Misha and Luca Taracevicz, of Basel, Switzerland; Natalia and Noel Vega, of Milton.

After a private family visitation at Dolan Funeral Home, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 11:30 a.m., St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 350 Reedsdale Road, Milton.

In lieu of flowers, it is kindly requested donations be made to Home for Little Wanders at thehome.org.