Barbara (Burdett) Wagner passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the age of 94 following a tenacious battle with metastasized breast cancer. Barbara was born in Somerville, MA on July 8, 1930.  Barbara graduated from Somerville High School where she was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and also met her future husband, Don Wagner.  Their family moved from Reading, MA to Dennis, MA in 1965.  In the late 1960’s, as a young mother of 4 children, Barbara went back to college at Cape Cod Community College followed by a year of commuting to University of Massachusetts in Boston.  While earning her degree in Biology, she delivered her fifth child and completed her four-year degree in three years.  She proudly beat her oldest child to a college degree by one year.  She then was hired to teach Biology at Barnstable High School where she taught for 24 years before retiring in 1994.  
 
Barbara was predeceased by her beloved husband Arthur Donald Wagner in 2000 and her grandson William A.R. Wagner of Glendale, CA in 2007.  
 
She is survived by her five children: Dr. Linda A. Bishop of Beverly, MA, Dawn Ellen Wagner of Barnstable, MA, Mark A. Wagner and his wife Anne-Louise Tangring of Waterville Valley, NH, Paul A. Wagner of Sandwich, MA and Jonathan A. Wagner and his wife Kelly Hull Wagner of South Yarmouth, MA. She is also survived by five grandchildren Christine R.W. Harvell, her husband, Matthew of Los Angeles, CA, Matthew A. Wagner of Lowell, MA, Katherine A. Morley Eramo, her husband, Domenico of Beverly, MA, Andrew T. Wagner of Manchester, NH and Jeffrey R.R. Wagne rand his wife Jessica of San Diego, CA. She leaves three beloved great-grandchildren in California and Massachusetts, Eleanor Harvell, and Linden and Rowan Eramo.
 
One of Barbara’s favorite ways to spend time with family and friends was through travel, whether it was while passionately supporting her sons’ high school sports teams to exotic locations such as Fall River, New Bedford, and Attleboro, MA or with her husband and friends to far away to places like Alaska, California, Las Vegas, Mexico, Italy, Turkey and many more countries.  Her favorite way to travel was unquestionably cruising, and she frequently regaled friends and acquaintances with stories and pictures from over thirty cruises.
 
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a date in the fall. There will be a private interment with her husband at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
 
Our family was very touched by the kindness, gentleness, and sincerity shown by Dr. Jiaxiang “Luke” Liu.  He was so good to Mom.  His staff is amazing and reflects these same values. The same can be said of the team at the Decatur House Assisted Living in Sandwich, MA.  Although Mom was there for only about 10 weeks, she felt loved by the community and was made to feel special by the staff.  It truly is a unique place.We would also like to thank the team at Caring Hospice Services for their empathy and help providing Mom with a comfortable transition.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a gift to the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation with mention of Davenport/Mugar Cancer Center in recognition of Dr. Jiaxiang Liu and his compassionate team.  To donate, please use one of the following options:

• The hyperlink above, 
• To donate via phone, please call 508-862-5600 and mention Dr. Liu and the Davenport/Mugar Cancer Center,
• Or via mail:  CCHC Foundation, PO Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601, making note of Dr. Liu and the Davenport/Mugar Cancer Center.

 
 

We are so sorry for the loss of your wonderful Mom. I will miss seeing her smiling face on FB especially when she was having lobster! Sincerely, Carolyn