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Barbara Ann Fairbrother, beloved wife of the late Louis Fairbrother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She was the daughter of Patrick and Mary Zimmerman Lawless. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Margaret Duross (Tom) and Janet Muto (Charles).
She is survived by her children: Patrick (Kristen), the late Kathryn, Thomas, Daniel (Lisa), Paul, Susan Mohan (Michael), Ann Mansour (Jac), and Janet Burns, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Barbara and her sisters were left motherless at the ages of three, one and a half, and newborn. They were raised by their Irish father with the help of many caring aunts and uncles.
A graduate of Mercy School of Nursing, Barbara spent most of her life caring for her husband and family. She loved music and was a longtime member of the Oakland Choral Society. She was a lifelong member of St. Benedict's Church.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Coats Funeral Home - Waterford. A funeral mass will take place on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10:30 AM at St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Burial to follow after mass at All Saints Cemetery at 12:15 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Right to Life or St. Jude.
Arrangements entrusted to COATS FUNERAL HOME-WATERFORD. To post a tribute, visit www.CoatsFuneralHome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Ann (Lawless) Fairbrother, please visit our floral store.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/
Right to Life of Michigan
P.O. Box 901, Grand Rapids MI 49509
Web: https://rtl.org/