Barbara S. Hecker

DATELINE: HOUSTON

Hecker, Barbara S., 93, died Sunday, February 25, 2018 at the Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services after an acute illness. A resident of Pawtucket, RI for 71 years and Houston, Texas for the past 15 years, she was born on December 4, 1924 in Taunton, MA to the late Frank and Stella (Aronofsky) Block. She was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and Pratt Institute, NY, and worked professionally as a registered dietician at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI.  Barbara met her future husband while volunteering at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, an endeavor that led her to both a passion for service that would endure well into her 70’s and a relationship that was binding. A lifelong member and former president of the Pawtucket chapter of Hadassah and the Miriam Hospital Women’s Association, she was an exceptional and loving wife, mother, friend, and dedicated volunteer.  This says something about what she did, but it says little about who she was. Barbara was a sparkling star – a woman who continued to grow and stretch and learn well into her 80’s until disease rested her. She had lifelong interests ranging from politics to popular culture, was a voracious reader and a lover of classical music, opera, the Blues, ballet and art. She recognized this world as a vast and rich trough, and she partook of it gratefully and gave back to it generously and enthusiastically. She was loving and good humored, independent and oftentimes outspoken, earnest and straightforward, a careful listener and a trusted confidant. She met challenges and loss with strength and resolve, and navigated her journey with grace.  Barbara was predeceased in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Harry Hecker, and her adored sisters Paula Simons and Phyllis Leventhal. She is survived by her son, Bernard Hecker and daughter in law, Kathleen Bonal, of Palo Alto, CA, and her daughter Rachel Hecker of Houston, TX. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Seven Acres for their outstanding and compassionate care, and to caretakers Rita Moses Lewis and Sabina Mwingira for their exceptional love and dedication.  Graveside services will be held Thursday, March 1, at 1:00 at Lincoln Park Cemetery, Warwick RI.