Barbara Ann Hassett
Hassett
Barbara Ann (Choquette) Hassett, 78, of Bradenton Beach, known to her prized grandchildren as “Meema,” died Dec. 30, 2019, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, during a holiday visit to her family.
She was born in Pittsfield Sept. 28, 1941, to Robert S. and Marguerite (Brundage) Choquette.
Barb and her husband of 57 years, James “Jim” Hassett Jr., lived for the past 10 years in Bradenton Beach.
She attended Pittsfield High School, where she met her husband. He served in the U.S. Navy three years before they married in 1962.
She started her career in the accounting department at General Electric and worked there three years.
With their first child, she loved being a stay at home mom and was a huge supporter of her children in all their activities and sports.
After the children were raised, she worked in the nutrition department at the Pittsfield School Department. There, she helped implement the new electronic system for the SNAP program and developed some of the initial documents that were used nationwide.
Her interests included attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, going to the beach, walking, playing tennis, water aerobics and reading.
She was a devout Catholic.
She loved volunteering in her community in Florida, including at the Island Players theater in Anna Maria, the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival and at her favorite library, the Tingley Memorial Library in Bradenton Beach.
She will be missed by all who knew her. Her selfless, loving, giving spirit is an inspiration for us all. She had endless love to give to those around her with thoughtfulness like none other. She loved the holidays and getting into the spirit with her attire and jewelry. She treasured the attention she received from her grandchildren, especially during card games and making fun exaggerated photos and Bitmojis.
In her “not about me” nature, she requested a private service and to have her ashes scattered in the waters that border her Florida home. Memorial donations may be made to the Tingley Memorial Library Book Fund in care of the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home, 40 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield MA 01201.
Survivors include her husband, Jim; children James Hassett III and partner Lisa St. John, Jeffrey and wife Katie and Sandi and partner Deneil LoGiudice; brother Robert Choquette and wife Chris; brother-in-law Michael and wife Debbie; sister-in-law
Annie; grandchildren Evan, Nick, Shea and Brian; nieces and nephews Sarah, Katie, Danny and Jessica; an extended family and many friends who loved her dearly.