Barbara Jeanne (Calnan) Forssell

Forssell, Barbara Jeanne (Calnan) of Pleasanton, CA, died after a long illness on Wednesday, August 27th.  She was 56.

Barbara was the daughter of Jeanne Calnan and the late Dr. Arthur Calnan.  She was born in Boston, MA and grew up in Hingham, MA, where she graduated from Hingham High School in 1975.  She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts, and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from The University of California at Berkeley.  Barbara was living in Pleasanton California where she loved all the outdoor activity Northern California offered.  She was an avid climber, and enjoyed both rock and ice climbing.  Her climbing adventures took her across the globe to locations including Italy and New Zealand.  She also loved skiing, especially at Mammoth Lakes, CA where she and her husband Per owned a mountain home.  In warmer months, she enjoyed sailing and hiking.

In addition to her mother Jeanne, she is survived by her sisters Kathleen Calnan of Rockland, Diane Robinson and her husband Steve Clarke of Tiverton, RI, her brothers Jeff  Calnan and his wife Jo of Winchester, Doug Calnan and his wife Carolyn of Scituate, David Calnan and his wife Aylene of Hingham, as well as ten nieces and nephews, two great nephews, and her lifetime friend, Per Forssell of Pleasanton, CA.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Friday 5-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Saturday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 10 AM. Burial  will be at a later date in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Hainsport, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Barbara may be made to Alzheimers Assn., MA Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.