Barbara Ann LaFrance

Barbara LaFrance (nee Shakespeare) passed peacefully at home on November 21, 2024. She was 81. At the time of her death, she was living in West Palm Beach close to her two daughters, Lisa and Jennifer. Barbara was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on March 24, 1943, to Frederick Shakespeare and Beatrice Cooper. She never hesitated to claim blood relations with “the Bard,” William Shakespeare. She had a large and musical family, known for their big parties on Victoria Avenue where they would roll up all the carpets and dance through the big downstairs rooms. Always an excellent student, she earned her undergraduate degree from Assumption University and a master’s from Ohio University. Her first job out of university brought her to Bridgewater State College where she taught etiquette. While at Bridgewater she was introduced to Philip LaFrance and the two married on June 3, 1967. Philip and Barbara moved to an historic home in Taunton, with large rooms and large fireplaces, perhaps reminiscent of Victoria Avenue. A stay-at-home mom in her daughters’ early years, she was very involved in the community as a member of the Junior Women’s Club of Taunton, a coach in the Junior Girls Softball League, an active Choir member at Holy Family Church, and in a variety of other volunteer positions. Ultimately, she went back to work helping to establish The Volunteer Bureau of Taunton and later worked at the United Way of Greater Attleboro/Taunton, finishing her career back at Bridgewater State College in the Development Office. Barbara and Philip had a second home in Little Compton, Rhode Island, an area they both loved very much. She was an avid Boston sports fan and was thrilled to throw out a first pitch at Fenway Park in 2008. She loved the arts and the theater and most notably performed in the Star Players of Bristol County's 20th anniversary production of "Anything Goes." She had a big laugh and unfailing sense of humor and she had her nurses and doctors laughing even up to the end. A special thank you to Jouseline Thelusme who took extra special care of her in her final weeks. She is predeceased by her loving husband Philip LaFrance, her parents, and a brother, Thomas Shakespeare. She leaves behind daughters Lisa LaFrance (and her husband Richard Huntt) of West Palm Beach, Florida and Jennifer LaFrance of Royal Palm Beach, Florida. She also leaves her grandson Bryce Huntt, her grand dog Poe (who will forever keep her secrets), her “Cousin Joe” Filbey in Canada, and several nieces and nephews. She touched many lives with her humor and optimism and her daughters will strive to honor this legacy. A celebration of life will be held in Florida in January (details still to be established) and in Little Compton in the summer of 2025. Memorial donations can be made to her Scholarship Fund, established in 2009, the Barbara Shakespeare LaFrance Scholarship Fund at Bridgewater State College. Checks can be made payable to the BSU Foundation with the Barbara Shakespeare LaFrance Scholarship Fund noted on the memo line and mailed to Bridgewater State University Foundation, P.O. Box 42, Bridgewater, MA 02324. To make a gift online, please visit https://bridgew.edu/give. Barbara's scholarship fund will appear in the dropdown menu.

Barbara Ann LaFrance

March 24, 1943 - November 21, 2024