Margaret Theresa Barriere

Margaret Theresa (Greeno) Barriere
April 15, 1939 – August 3, 2025
It is with great sorrow and love that we announce the passing of our beloved mother
Margaret, 86, of Pawtucket, RI, on August 3, 2025. She was surrounded by the love of
her family. She is now at peace in heaven with our Lord and reunited with her many
family members and friends. She was also known by many as Peg.
She was born in Central Falls, RI on April 15, 1939. She was the beloved daughter of
the late Henry E. Greeno Sr. and Doris (Fletcher) Greeno. She was the last surviving
sibling of Henry E. Greeno Jr., Paul Greeno Sr., and Eileen Martin — a role she carried
with strength, grace, and a deep sense of family pride.
Peg was the proud and devoted mother of five children: Cheryl Rourke and her husband
Jeffrey of Rehoboth, MA; the late S. Edward Barriere of Cumberland, RI; Maureen
Marcotte and her husband Ronald of Pawtucket, RI; Neal Barriere and his partner
Brenda Newton of Pawtucket, RI, and Michael Barriere of Pawtucket, RI. She was a
tireless and loving caregiver to her youngest son, Michael, whose special needs she
supported with remarkable dedication. She had 9 grandchildren and 5 great
grandchildren. Her greatest title was Gigi which her great grandchildren lovingly called
her.
Peg attended St. Leo the Great School and William E. Tolman High School. After high
school she attended Felt & Tarrant Comptometer School. Peg worked at Memorial
Hospital in Pawtucket, RI, and the Notre Dame Ambulatory Center in Central Falls, RI,
before retiring in 2009.
Peg found joy in the simple pleasures of life — playing cards, bowling, reading,
traveling, visiting the slot machines, horror movies, and watching Days of Our Lives —
but nothing brought her greater happiness than spending time with her family and
friends and bringing a smile to your face. Your birthday wasn’t complete until you
received a phone call from her singing “Happy Birthday to you" in her best Marilyn
Monroe singing voice.
Her strength and perseverance were nothing short of extraordinary. Peg bravely battled
numerous health challenges, including open heart surgery and five separate cancer
diagnoses: breast cancer twice, as well as colon, lung, and stomach cancer. True to her
nickname, “The Energizer Bunny,” she refused to let any of it keep her down. Her
resilience was as inspiring as it was unwavering.
Due to her recent health issues Peg decided she wanted to plan her own living funeral.
She desired to celebrate her life and personally say her goodbyes to her family and
friends she loved so much. She sent out the invitations and everyone thought it was
such a great idea. Many had never heard of a celebration like this before and were
inspired by her thoughtfulness — several even said, that's something I would like to do
someday.
A memorial service and collation will be held on August 30, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the
Knights of Columbus, 534 Arcade Avenue, Seekonk, MA — the very gathering Peg
had lovingly planned as her living farewell.
A private burial will be held at Mt. Calvary in Cumberland, RI where she will be buried
with her son.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peg’s memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.