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Dolores Barrett cherishes her autonomy so much that when she heard her loved ones and neighbors had planned a benefit for her and her trio of mentally disabled children, she offered resistance.
“I told my family and friends to do something for someone who needs it more than me,” the 80-year-old said Monday, one day after her inner circle held a celebration at the South Philly String Band Hall, 2820 W. Porter St.
The four-hour occasion raised much-needed money for her and her offspring, who first lost peace of mind when a neighbor’s June electrical fire caused secondary damage to their now-former abode on the 1500 block of South Etting Street then their possessions, as looters took advantage of their summer sojourn to the Jersey Shore.
“We thought right away that we had to do something,” George Sumner, a member of the benefit committee, said as he prepared to mingle with the afternoon’s 300 guests.
The inhabitant of the 1200 block of Durfor Street and an ex-Grays Ferry dweller revealed his old neighborhood has always prided itself on aiding its downtrodden dwellers. That attraction to altruism made uniting residents past and present a cinch, bringing on plenty of moments to reminisce and to root for a fortunate future for Dolores Barrett, who since losing her husband Jimmy to cancer 25 years ago has acted as the primary caregiver for Jackie, 57; Cindy, 55; and John, 48.
“She has been a strong woman for so long and is very self-sufficient, but we had to come together for them all,” niece Debbie Barrett, of the 2500 block of Christian Street, said. “We’re all better people for being acquainted with Dolores.”
The matriarch could not attend the festivity, which included a Chinese auction and a raffle, as her middle child is battling an illness, but she resided at the forefront of everyone’s conversations.
“If you look up the definition of nice, you should see a picture of Dolores and Jimmy,” John McGee said. “For me, they were closer than family.”
The Glenolden figure lived next door to the Barretts for 30 years, developing close friendships with the children. Upon learning of the looting, he fought the urge to cry and knew his first turf would rally for their revival.
“Plenty of people will say it, and it’s true,” he said. “Grays Ferry people love coming back together for our friends; it’s just the way we were raised.”
Though companions have blessed the Barretts with a bevy of best wishes and monetary contributions, their relatives have continued to give more strength to the claim that blood is thicker than water, with cousin Eileen Vogel welcoming them last month to live in her Grays Ferry home.
“Circumstances have arisen and they required immediate assistance,” Vogel said as she settled next to Jackie Barrett, who delighted in being cameras’ frequent focus.
Cousin Paul Haggerty, another committee constituent, said, Dolores Barrett and her progeny often venture out together, as she has wanted neither her advancing age nor their disability to prevent them from enjoying the most fruitful experiences possible.
“Prayer, I suppose,” Dolores Barrett said of her main guide in handling her situation. “It’s often the best means we have.”
The fire and subsequent vandalization ended 56 years in the domicile for the faith-filled parent, whose allegiance to her departed mate likewise proved her steadfast acceptance of life’s offerings, whether good or bad.
“Jimmy was so good to her and everyone, really,” Northeast Philly’s Bob Parrotti, who spent 36 years as a Barrett neighbor, said. “He was a mentor to me and helped me to land a job with the Philadelphia Police Department.”
The years have certainly yielded numerous pleasant and saddening experience for the Barretts, with the patriarch’s death, Cindy Barrett’s sickness, the fire and the looting, which, Debbie Barrett said marks the second time invaders swiped their property, at the top of the latter list. Sunday’s revelers, however, chose to chuck misery and misfortune and focused instead on letting the good times reign.
“I’m not surprised how quickly this all came together,” Sumner, who learned of the fire through Haggerty, a childhood friend, said. “It’s easy to see how much Dolores and the kids matter to everyone.”
Michelle Sumner, his wife and a kindergarten teacher at St. Gabriel School, 2917 Dickinson St., disclosed Monday that her elementary institution’s student council will be collecting money for the clan this entire month. The body’s advocacy for assisting a cherished elder figures to swell the overall largess, which George Sumner confided has already reached an impressive amount.
“This community and the Whitman area have done so much to be selfless and to ease things a bit,” the supervisor at Murphy Recreation Center, 300 Shunk St., said. “I’m really hopeful that we can work hard to help them to rebuild their lives.”
He eventually made his way to the main table, where he found Jackie and John Barrett, who attend workshops at People Employing People, 1200 S. Broad St., smiling and feasting. Well aware of the latter’s musical tastes and athletic allegiance, George Sumner arranged for the playing of Mummers tunes and the University of Notre Dame Victory March. John Barrett used his footwork to fill the hall with a mixture of smiles and tears as he strutted and acknowledged his Fighting Irish, earning sustained applause.
“Wasn’t that beautiful?” George Sumner asked as John Barrett adjusted his team hat and returned to his table to accept plaudits.
Though Dolores Barrett could not attend, her years of sacrifice and affection received their due, as Haggerty noted the day marks only the beginning of efforts to show appreciation for her role in the lives of so many.
“We’re looking into buying her a house and giving her even more of a sense of resolve,” the New Jerseyite said. “We are trying to do so much for her no matter how much she intends to fight us.”
As she figures to face dilemmas as she ages, Dolores Barrett will likely accept more assistance, knowing her strength cannot match her affection as eternal.
“I feel blessed to have such support,” she said. “The love we’ve received is incredible.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
John Barrett and his older sister Jackie Barrett were the guests of honor at the celebration.
Photo by Kathryn Poole
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