East Wakefield, NH

Barbara (Mansfield) Cawlina, aged 89, passed away on Thursday, February 25 in Frisbee Hospital, Rochester, NH. Born and raised in Lynn, MA, Barbara graduated from Lynn Classical where she lettered in basketball and was part of the Lynn Drum and Bugle Corps. After high school she was employed by General Electric.

She met her future husband, Joe Cawlina (a prominent New England bowler in the 50's and 60's), in 1950 at the West Lynn Post Office Bowling Alley. They bowled together and captured the Huntington Mixed Doubles Title before marrying in 1954. Barbara was featured in the Lynn Item as the top female Candlepin bowler in the late 1950's. She straddled both Candlepin and Ten Pin bowling in 1962 before dedicating herself to Ten Pin. Barbara was a dominant force of the New England Women's Bowling Association throughout the 60's - 90's. During this time she and Joe raised 5 children who were also active in the Lynn Public School system. She worked in a variety of local jobs in the Lynn area including Boston Fire Systems.

She and Joe have resided in E. Wakefield, NH for the last several years where Barbara enjoyed playing bingo at the Wakefield Senior Center, floating on Great East Lake, playing cards with family and friends, and enjoying her beloved Red Sox. Seeing them in the World Series at Fenway Park in 2004 was a major highlight which she spoke of often as well as being compared to Doris Day! She was also an avid reader and frequent visitor at the Gafney Library in Sanbornville, NH.

Barbara was the daughter of the late Ina and Everett Mansfield; sister of the late James Mansfield. She is survived by her loving husband Joseph E. Cawlina and sister Helen Goldberg (husband, Jack) of Peabody. She leaves her 5 fabulous children-Richard (and wife Susan), Michael (and fiance Leila), Barbara Luby (and husband Tom), Scott (and wife Terry), Nancy Vaughan (and husband Tom), grandmother to Drew (and wife Margie), Alison, Katie, Jesse, Daniel, Aimee, Jason, Jake, Sophie; great grandmother to Emilio and Hayden.

Peaslee Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Services/Celebration of life will be held at a later date when the summer sun arrives at Great East Lake. Memorial donations can be made to the Gafney Library, 14 High Street, Sanbornville, NH 03872.