Elizabeth M. Wilson - Obituary

lizabeth Mary “Barbara” Wilson was the youngest child and only daughter of Thomas Visser and Mary Chisholm of Massachusetts. As a child, she had a love of all animals, especially horses. She spent her summers in Canada grooming and taking care of them. Barbara entered the religious life at age 16, and made her first vows at age 18. She was a Carmelite sister for 13 years. She took the name Sister Barbara and introduced herself as “Barbara” throughout her life. She was trained as a LPN and cared for the elderly, sick and infirmed. After leaving the convent at age 30, Barbara met and fell in love with Frederick Xavier Wilson. They married in 1970 and had four children: Kathy, Dan, Sarah and David. She was a devoted mom and spent all her time supporting her children in many activities like swimming, hockey, basketball, lacrosse and volleyball. Her strong love of all animals lead her to be an active volunteer for the SPCA for over 20 years. She was proud of having found homes for hundreds of dogs. She was the trusted and beloved dog walker in her neighborhood. Barbara loved spending time in her beautifully landscaped yard, tending to the many dogwoods, azaleas and other gorgeous flowers found there. Her house was always decorated for all holidays, and was given the name “home of all seasons”. Barbara was known as Grammy to her 7 grandchildren: Ryan, Cameron, Bradley, Abby, Xavier, Sam and Sofia. She often said that she lived “a full life”. She passed away peacefully on Friday, May 19, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Mary, her husband Frederick Xavier, her brothers, Teddy, Franklin, and Sandy, and her son David Josiah. A Funeral Mass will be held June 30, 2023 at 11am at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 14908 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. A celebration of life will follow at Msgr. Richard A. Hughes Family Life Center, 4610 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.