Barbara M. Heim

Barbara May (Bunker) Heim

December 23, 1937 - December 30, 2019

Barbara May (Bunker) Heim, a longtime resident of Salem, NH, passed away on December 30th at the age of 82 after a brief stay in hospice care of the Sutton Hill Center.  She resided and raised her family in the same home she was born in until 1991. She was a lifelong resident of Salem, apart from a short time she lived in Landisville, PA, when she was first married in the 1950s.

Barbara was a member of the First Baptist Church in Salem, where she taught Sunday School and was the pianist for many years. She also was a part of the Christian Endeavor Group and Missionary Youth Fellowship in her teens. She sang with the Vocalaires in the Merrimack Valley, played the organ at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and played piano with the Billy Graham Association when he visited Boston in late ‘50s and early 60s. She was also a member of the Rockingham Christian Women’s Club.

Barbara attended the No. 6 School and graduated from Woodbury High School in 1955. Over her life, she worked at her family’s restaurant, Lou & Bill’s Diner in the Salem Depot, as a department head at Grant’s in Lawrence, as a secretary at multiple schools in Salem, and additional office management and bookkeeping positions at local businesses.

Barbara enjoyed attending Andre Rieu concerts, Nascar races, and watching Little League games in which her children took part.  She also loved needlework, puzzles and watching the Boston sports teams.  

Barbara was known as ‘Ma’ to her 9 children, as well as their spouses and many of their friends, and will be greatly missed by them all. She is survived by her nine children; sons: Douglas and his wife, Kim of Raymond, Darren of Salem and Darrell and his wife, Tara of North Andover, MA.   Daughters: Deborah Belanger and her partner, Jeff of Windsor, Donna Mercier and her partner, Eugene of Woodstock, Darlene Taylor of Manchester, Dori Heim of Manchester, Dorice McCullough and her husband, John of Derry, and Deena Haggart and her husband, Scott of Chester. 

Barbara was Grammie to her 16 grandchildren, Nathan, Shane, Justin, Amber, Marky, Derek, Ashley, Jennifer, Joshua, Johnny, Ryan, Nolan, Will, Aidan, Brennan, and Haeley.  She was Great-Grammie to her ten great grandchildren, Devin, Destiny, Ava, Zoe, Lillian, Samantha, Michael, Codey, Nathaniel and Jonathan. 

Barbara was predeceased by her parents Louis and Gladys (Smith) Bunker and her brother William Bunker.

Barbara’s family would like to thank the staff at the Sutton Hill Center in North Andover, MA for their care and compassion during her final months.

Family and friends are invited to visiting hours on Thursday January 16, 2020 from 4 pm to 6 pm at the Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main Street, Salem, NH.  A memorial service will follow the visitation at 6:00 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.  To leave an online condolence, please visit Barbara’s tribute page at www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com.

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