Barbara A. (Mattinson) Nagle, 82, of West Wareham died peacefully November 21, 2021 surrounded by the love of family.

Barbara was known for her kindness and warm smile, traits she never lost even as she battled Alzheimer's disease, an illness she gave a run for its money. She was married to the love of her life, Walt, for 60 years. They had just celebrated their anniversary days before her death. She was a loving mother to Kristen and Paul and a nurturing Mimi to grandchildren Melinda Brennan, Katherine Brennan, Keira Nagle, and Craig Nagle.

Barbara enjoyed gardening, sailing to Cuttyhunk and Block Island, and shared her beautiful voice in school and church choirs. She loved to sing "Happy Birthday" with Walt, though they never decided ahead of time who would sing harmony leading to many laughs. She had a special passion for flamingos — particularly how others reacted to her extensive collection of the pink birds perched on one leg.

Barbara was a natural teacher. A 1961 graduate of Bridgewater State College, she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She taught in Weymouth and Marshfield, later becoming a Title 1 tutor helping children with strategies to overcome learning disabilities. She was also a professional scrimshander, known as the "Scrimshaw Lady." Her custom designs have been distributed and sold throughout many countries. She shared her craft with students as an instructor at the Marshfield Community School for many years. In addition to scrimshaw, she loved to paint with oils and watercolors. Her handwriting and calligraphy was artfully done.

Barbara was trained as a Reiki master and a volunteer for Beacon Hospice in Hyannis where, inspired by her father and sister's journeys with Alzheimer's, she used her life skills and experiences to develop a new concept called "Chart-A-Life." The program was designed to help patients, families, and caregivers through a visual representation of a patient's life using words, pictures, and symbols to tell the patient's life story. Recognized to be especially helpful with Alzheimer's patients, "Chart-A-Life" became the subject of newspaper articles, television interviews, and ultimately evolved into a national program through Amedisys. "The Chart-A-Life posters help caregivers connect and relate to their patients," Barbara explained in one of the interviews. "It also creates a format for conversation with this person that they will be more apt to respond to — details from their past, their hobbies, family tree, nicknames…" In a separate interview with Bridgewater State University Magazine, Barbara explained: "We bring family members to life for other family members. We make connections. We help them see their loved ones in new, different and inspiring ways." Barbara considered her hospice work a vocation. "It's an old-fashioned phrase – 'having a calling.' I never understood it – until hospice, until the Chart-a-Life project," she said in that interview. "I've learned that if you can be open to what comes your way, it will lead you to where you are supposed to go in life."

Barbara was recognized by Amedisys with its Spirit of Excellence Award in 2012. She was also honored previously with the Points of Light award in 2010 as an individual who provided "meaningful change to communities across America." That same year, she was recognized by her alma mater with the Dr. Adrian Rondileau Award for Professional Achievement and Community Service.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, November 29, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street in Marshfield. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, November 30, at 1:00 p.m. at the North Community Church, Marshfield Hills followed by burial in the Daniel Webster Cemetery, Winslow Road, Marshfield. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research through https://brightfocus.org/ or to the Senior Behavioral Health Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth, by mail to 275 Sandwich Street, Plymouth MA, 02360.

This is the Live Stream Link - It will not be available until 12:45pm on 11/30/2021

https://my.gather.app/remember/barbara-a-nagle