Shirley Ann (Proulx) Barra,63, passed away August 6, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by her family, at Newton Health Care Hospice Center in Newton, Mass. She was born on June 6, 1948, in Burlington, VT, to Joseph Urbain Proulx and Alma (Dague) Proulx. She grew up in Burlington, VT and graduated from Burlington High School and worked for many years at the Burlington Free Press before moving to Manchester, NH for a short while, then to Newport and Orleans, VT where she worked for Ethan Allan until her illness. She was a caring and loving woman and only saw the best in everyone. This made her special to each and every person who's life she touched. Shirley especially loved her son Justin Barra of Fort Collins,CO who was her life. She is also survived by her brother Ronald Proulx and his wife Viera of Waban, MA. Her family also includes her nieces Gisele Ellis, of Medford, MA, Alyssa Proulx, Boulder, CO and Elenka Proulx of Castro Valley, CA and her aunt Yvette Proulx , Manchester, NH and a great niece and nephew and many cousins. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 from 5 to 8pm with a prayer service at 7pm at Faggas Funeral Home,551 Mt. Auburn St.,Watertown, MA. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, c/o Thoracic Oncology, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215. Funeral Services on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 11am in St. Joseph's Church, Allen St., Burlington, VT. Visiting hours on Friday, August 12th at from 7 to 9pm at the Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Home, 85 N.Winooski Ave.,Burlington, VT .