Barry Harold Newsome (1948-2018)

Barry Newsome was born on May 26, 1948 to Bettie and Harold Newsome of Hatboro. One of four children, he had three sisters.

He came to our class from Pennypack Elementary School. In high school he was remembered as friendly and quiet with interests in basketball and golf.

After high school Barry worked as a firefighter and volunteer EMT in Warminster and Horsham. During his time in Warminster, he met his future wife, Michele Anescheck (a graduate of Archbishop Wood HS). They were married in 1971 and became the parents of 3 daughters-Renee, Janine, and Nicole, who they raised in Warminster.

Barry was a very involved Dad, coaching and cheering on his daughter’s sports teams. The daughters and 5 grandchildren continue to live in the Bux-Mont area.

In 2006, Barry and Michele relocated to Florida following a job offer. He worked for Pneumatic Scale Angelus in Clearwater until he retired in 2016. Barry was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a Eucharistic minister at his church. He and Michele were active with marriage encounter both in PA and FL.

As a smoker and firefighter, Barry eventually suffered from COPD. In 2012, he was diagnosed with lung cancer as well. In October of 2018, doctors discovered yet another form of cancer in his brain. He entered home-based hospice on Oct 26 and died on Dec 24. He rallied a bit toward the end and had good final visits with his children and grandkids. (one granddaughter and 4 grandsons- a baby girl is due in Mar 2019)

As his obituary says, “he will forever be remembered for his amazing smile and blue eyes”.

Over the years, he was well known for his optimism and sunny outlook on life. He was fond of saying, “Never had a bad day; some are just better than others”. He stayed true to that sentiment even for the last 6 years of his life as he battled cancer. His daughters had it engraved on a plaque for him some years ago.

A small funeral service and luncheon in his honor was held at his home church, St Matthews Catholic Church in Largo, FL on Dec 29.

In mid-January 2019, their granddaughter, Cailey flew down to Florida to drive with Michele back to PA with his ashes. After a funeral mass at St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Warrington on Jan 26, his ashes were interred in St John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont.

The family asked that memorial contributions be made in Barry’s name to The V Foundation for Cancer Research or Suncoast Hospice Foundation of Clearwater.

http://www.legacy.com/link.asp?i=ls000191094116