Happy 98^th Birthday, Barbara Doyle!

Barbara Doyle celebrates her 98th birthday.

Photo by Milt Werthmann

By Tom Chirdo

Barbara Doyle, a long, long-time parishioner and a strong part of the leadership provided by parishioners at St. Charles, celebrated her 98th birthday on Sunday, June 19, 2005 with her family and friends at Sunrise Assisted Living on Glebe Rd. in Arlington. With a smile as big as the sun, and surrounded by family and friends, Barbara described this birthday as "one for the books!"

She often reminisces about the good old days, her family, husband, children and especially grandchildren. She is a woman full of life, and having lived 98 years, has seen lots of history in the making: Babe Ruth play baseball, Sea Biscuit race, and was even a witness to the very last Washington Senator's home game. She learned about baseball from her father and went to many Phillies games with him. She loves to watch the Orioles. Football is not of much interest as she hasn't learned all the fine points of the game yet. She was also a poet and wrote a spiritually moving poem about clouds.

She served on the parish council and was a Eucharistic Minister. At 80, she joined the liturgy committee, because that was something she hadn't done. Faith is still central in her life, even now while unable to attend Mass in person. She anticipates visits from fellow parishioners, and ceaselessly prays to love as God loves. She remembers as her dear friends Fr "Tuck" Grinnell and Fr. Gerry Creedon and looks forward to First Friday by Fr. Creedon.

Barbara is also is known as the "hugging lady" because she loves to give and receive hugs.