Keohane Funeral Home

Mahar, Barbara J. (Tappen) age 75, originally from Quincy, died on January 16, 2015.

Barbara was a graduate of Bridgewater University and taught physical education in Braintree Public Schools. She married the love of her life Bob and made their home in Braintree. She was active in many ways in her community. A master CCD teacher at St. Clare’s Parish, a tennis coach at Braintree High School and at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy. She worked tirelessly on behalf of her calling with the church and helped found Massachusetts Women Church and a women’s charity Miriam’s Journey through which she gave of her time and energy to improve the spiritual lives of many.

She and her husband loved to go boating and traveling spending much time with her children on their boat “Tap Too” and visiting places like Sarasota, Florida, the Virgin Islands and the Grand Canyon. Barbara was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Bridgewater University for her many outstanding contributions towards women in sports. 

Lived in Braintree with her husband Robert E. Mahar with her two children her daughter Deborah J, (Mahar) Griffin and her husband Sean and their three children Alisandra, Jake and Olivia all of Kingston and her son Robert Mahar and his wife Jennifer and their two children Katherine and Jacqueline all of Pembroke. She is survived by her two brothers Paul Tappen and his wife Jeanne and their two children Jessie and Allie of Plympton and Stephen Tappen and his wife Madeline of Hingham and her late sister Carol DiLoreto. Barbara is the sister in law of Nicholas DiLoreto of Quincy  and Aunt to Paul DiLoreto and his wife Mary Kate of Kingston, Joanne Zine and her husband Ed of Brockton and David DiLoreto and his wife Kerry of Florida.  

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Tuesday 4-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday at 9:15 prior to the  Funeral Mass on Wednesday at 10 AM in Holy Trinity Parish at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Quincy. Burial in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. Donations in memory of Barbara may be made to Alzheimers Assn., MA Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.