Barbara J. (Houghton) Stachowiak, 76, passed away on Thursday March 23, 2023 in Alexandria, VA after an extended battle with ovarian cancer. Born in Springfield, MA to the late Robert and Shirley (Loomis) Houghton and raised in East Longmeadow, MA, Barbara was a dedicated R.N., spending much of her career working for the State of Massachusetts. After retirement from the state, she began a second career in private practice. She lived in Westfield and Leverett, MA, Cooper City and Plantation, FL, Ft. Wayne, IN, Silver Spring, MD and finally Alexandria, VA., building many strong friendships along the way. Barbara loved jazz and classical music, and made annual pilgrimages to Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow. Barbara loved to explore the many museums in her adopted home of the Washington D.C. area and was always up for hiking the trails of many local and national parks. An ardent feminist and AIDS rights advocate, Barbara took great joy in working for causes close to her heart. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Robert J. Stachowiak, in 2017. She is survived by her brothers Robert Houghton, Jr. of Springfield, MA and Stephen Houghton and his wife Nancy of Springfield, MA; her daughter Brittney St. Germain and her husband John Lewis of Arlington, MA; her son Robert H. Stachowiak and his wife Elizabeth Lener of Alexandria, VA; her son Erick Stachowiak and is wife Melissa of Davie, FL; and her 5 cherished grandsons: Owen, Ian, Malcolm, Grant, and Clark. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Condolence Messages