Anne “Molly” Evans Chappell Barnett, age 92, died of natural causes in Beverly, Massachusetts on September 5, 2022. Her life was bracketed by two pandemics and was full of the love of music, poetry, and nature. She was born February 9, 1930 to Lyla and Stewart Chappell in Syracuse, NY. A graduate of Syracuse University in 1952, Anne was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional organization for college women in music and the American Guild of Organists. She served as a substitute organist and choir director in several Syracuse area churches over many years including Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church, Camillus, NY. She was also the administrative assistant for the Social Sciences department at Onondaga Community College from 1970 - 1984. Anne moved to Massachusetts in 1993 and served as organist/choir director of Christ United Methodist Church in Wellesley, MA from 1994 - 2001, and organist at First Church of Christ Scientist in Wellesley from 2006 - 2013. Anne relocated to Beverly, Massachusetts in 2018, resided at Girdler House and became a member of the First Church in Wenham, United Church of Christ, where she enjoyed organ and choir-filled worship, but wished for congregants to stop talking during the organ prelude. Anne was predeceased by her parents Lyla and Stewart Chappell, her brother, Frederic Chappell, and her husband, Donald Lloyd Barnett. Surviving are her four children, Pamela Barnes of Worcester, MA, David (Ann) Barnett of Syracuse, NY, Jennifer (Larry) Moss of Santa Fe, NM, and Amy (Rick) Sprenkle of Hamilton, MA, along with 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren who were united in mutual joy.
A celebration of Anne’s life will be held on Saturday, September 24th, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the First Church in Wenham, 1 Arbor Street Wenham, Massachusetts 01984. Her remains will be returned to her place of birth at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Family Promise, North Shore Boston Affiliate in the memory of Anne C. Barnett (www.familypromisensb.org)
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