Doris Elinor (deVarennes) Barlow Lanigan

Doris Elinor Barlow Lanigan passed away quietly at North Hill in Needham on March 8, 2025, at the age of 101. Doris, born in 1924 in Quincy, MA to the late Cecil and Doris deVarennes, spent her early years in Vermont and New Hampshire before moving to Needham in 1937, where she resided for the rest of her life. After graduating Needham High School in 1941, and the Hitchcock School in Boston, she commuted to Boston for many years before taking a job with the Needham Town Board of Health, where she stayed for 10 years. Shortly after marrying her high school sweetheart, Frederick I. Barlow, Jr., he joined the war effort, enlisting in the Army Air Corps. Lieutenant Barlow was killed in action in 1944 while flying a P-38 and strafing ammunition cars on German Rail lines. In addition to his bride, he left a young son, David H. Barlow, who attended Needham schools before beginning at St. Sebastian’s School in 1954. In 1959, just before David graduated, Doris joined St. Sebastian’s as assistant to the Headmaster. There she spent 30 very enjoyable years with her St. Sebastian’s family before retiring in 1989. Her wonderful memories from there include marrying her longtime companion Robert J. Lanigan in the school chapel in 1981. Doris and Bob led a full and rich life together with their many friends from Needham and Wellesley Country Club. After inheriting the family home on Nantucket Island in the late 1960’s, they began summering on Nantucket where they would entertain friends and family. After retiring, Doris and Bob spent six months in Hawaii playing golf and hosting many visitors. In 2012, they moved into North Hill, a senior living center, where they continued their very active social life. Sadly, her husband Bob passed in 2014. Her friends and family remember Doris as a petite and attractive woman who loved dressing in bright, perfectly coordinated colorful outfits and coiffured with her signature fluffy cloud of white hair.

Doris was a devoted, loving and proud mother to her son Dr. David H. Barlow (Beverly) of Boston and Nantucket. She adored her two grandchildren, Deneige Barlow Nash (Andrew), of Dedham, MA, and Jeremy Chase Barlow (Alison Boehm), of Nashville, TN. Doris was also the loving great-grandmother of Olivia and Ava Barlow and Harrison and Colby Nash. Doris was predeceased by her brother, Charles W. deVarennes, and was a loving aunt to his children, Julie Whittle (Cliff), Jim deVarennes (Linda) and Bobby deVarennes (Judy), all of Atlanta, and Charles “Chuck” deVarennes, Jr. (Pat), of New Mexico.

Visiting hours will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Avenue, Needham, on Wednesday, March 12th from 4-7PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Bartholomew Church, 1180 Greendale Ave, Needham, on Thursday, March 13th at 10am. Interment will be private

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Doris E., David H., and Beverly A. Barlow Scholarship Fund, St. Sebastian’s School, 1191 Greendale Avenue, Needham, MA, 02492. 

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