Obituary
BARBARA ELIZABETH HALL
March 4, 1923 – October 18, 2021
On Monday, October 18, 2021 at 5:33 p.m., Barbara Elizabeth Hall passed away
peacefully at Heritage Waterside Assisted Living, in Daytona Beach, with
Hospice care and her granddaughter, Kimberly, by her side. At 98 years old, it
was a life well-lived – with love, adventures, family, and generosity and kindness
for everyone she met.
Barbara Elizabeth Hall was born to Ruth (Merrill) Sewell and Newton F. Sewell in
Boston, Massachusetts on March 4, 1923. As a child she moved to Lynn, MA.,
with her family and grew up with three brothers (Robert, Roy, and Donald
Sewell). She graduated from Lynn High School in the class of 1941.
As a young woman during WWII, she was a “Rosie-the-Riveter”, working on the
altimeters for the airplanes at General Electric in Lynn, MA. In 1943, she married
George D. Kelly and had a son, Raymond, born February 8, 1943. In 1946, she
married Malcolm Burbank and had a daughter named Beverly, on February 11,
1947. In 1949, they moved to Castine, Maine where they lived at Maine’s
Maritime Academy and enjoyed clamming at the seashore during annual family
visits. In 1952, they moved to Amesbury, a small town in Massachusetts, where
“Mal” worked for GE as their Turbine Installation Manager, and where Barbara
concentrated on raising her family. Her husband’s work as an engineer for
International General Electric (out of the Boston office) took him around the
world and brought them to live in Munkebo, Denmark from 1960-1964, and
where Barbara made life-long Danish friends. Upon returning from Denmark
they bought a home on the Merrimack River in Amesbury and enjoyed family
boating.
In 1971, she relocated from Massachusetts to South Florida with her daughter
and granddaughter, and later married Robert (Bob) Hall in 1972. Upon her
retirement in 1995, she moved to New Smyrna Beach to be near her daughter,
Beverly, and son-in-law, Phil Hover.
Barbara was a stunning red-head who always dressed beautifully and had a fun
and caring personality. With a child-like enthusiasm for life, she enjoyed talking
with people and being in the know of current events and history that lead her to
volunteer for many years at the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce. She
also volunteered for years at the Drug-Free Youth organization where she
worked with Katie Acres and made many long-time friends. Later, she
volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, in addition to utilizing her
friendly nature helping people meet others in the (NSB) Newcomer’s Club.
She actively participated in life by getting out and “going and doing”. She
enjoyed the arts and culture, nature, reading, traveling, being with family, and
always kept up with world events, and the weather! Her ability to recall old
dates and details always amazed her family, and her many funny sayings like,
“her/his nibs”, made them laugh.
She is survived by her son, Raymond Burbank; daughter-in-law, Linda Burbank;
two grandsons, Robert and Sean Burbank; two great grandsons, Robin and
Raymond Burbank; her daughter, Beverly Hover; son-in-law, Phil Hover; and
granddaughter, Kimberly Hover. Her final wishes were to be cremated with no
funeral service. She was very loved and will be greatly missed. In her final days,
when it was difficult for her to speak, she whispered, “Don’t go faster than your
angels can fly”, and gave a wink. May she forever Rest in Peace with her angels.
My deepest condolences to her family and all who lives she touched .