Barbara J. (O'Leary) Travis

Barbara J. (O’Leary) Travis, 88, of Fall River and a longtime Citizens For Citizens employee, passed away peacefully on  Friday, June 10, 2022 in Vermont.

For over forty years she was known as the “Queen” of the Operation Christmas Telethon, an annual fundraiser for less fortunate families in Fall River.

She began her career as a Commonwealth Service Corps volunteer. She later worked for over four decades for Citizens For Citizens starting in the Crisis Intervention Program, and then as the senior supervisor of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. She also operated the emergency food pantry, which helped feed countless needy families and the FEMA rental assistance program which provided aid to families being evicted. Her selfless work and life’s mission always centered around helping those less fortunate.

She sat on several boards in the community including Department of Transitional Assistance Board and Steppingstone, Inc.   She was actively involved with the Jerry Lawton homeless shelter, referring numerous impoverished individuals and always following up about their health and welfare.

She was the mother of 8 children; Deborah Travis, Maureen Tavares (John Tavares) all of Seminole, FL, Michelle Travis (Mike DeKoeyer) of Barnet, VT, Sharon Jackson, Robin Martel (Gregory Brilhante), Andrea Travis (Valter Moura), Kenneth Travis, Janet Travis (Douglas Massey) all of Fall River; sister of Daniel O’Leary, Helen O’Leary and the late Josephine Marsh.

She also leaves 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 So.Main St. Fall River, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a funeral service during the visitation at 5:00 PM.

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Christmas ℅ Citizens for Citizens, 264 Griffin St.

Fall River, MA 02724.