This month we lost one of our original employees—Barbara Vaillancourt, Gary’s mother.Barbara VaillancourtOne of the four parents of Gary and Judi, Barbara was instrumental in helping create Vaillancourt Folk Art in 1984. She started in the Pouring Room, when the business first began in Gary and Judi’s home, then, once the business relocated to Armsby Road, was best known to collectors as the first manager of then “Vaillancourt Folk Art & Friends.”Barbara was born in Millbury to Edmund and Mildred Collette. Barbara was a life-long resident of Millbury and was active in town activities throughout her life. As a young woman she worked at the Boston Store in downtown Millbury. She married Francis Vaillancourt in 1948. She was an avid candlepin bowler and played on several teams ultimately bowling on television. She was a member of the Millbury Finance Committee, a President of the Millbury Woman’s Club and assisted with voting registration. She worked at the Outlet Store in the Auburn Mall for many years and ultimately managed the Vaillancourt Folk Art store for her son Gary and his wife, Judi.She leaves behind her three sons, Gary and his wife, Judi of Sutton MA, Guy of Saco ME and Dana and his wife, Abby of Huron, SD. She also leaves her grandchildren, Anna Hall, Daniel Vaillancourt, Luke M. Vaillancourt, Maura Vaillancourt, and Loren Carver and also has seven great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her husband, parents, sibling, two daughters-in-laws as well as three of her grandchildren. A dynamic woman, Barbara was at the core of the business and will always be remembered with great affection.
