IN MEMORIAM: Barbara Couture, 71;
Nurse, Nursing Administrator, Artist
COOPERSTOWN – Barbara Louise Couture, a nurse and nursing administrator, and also a dedicated artist, passed away Wednesday night, Feb. 7, 2018, at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing. She was 71.
Over the years, she lived in Kew Gardens, Queens; Walton, and most recently Cooperstown.
Born June 14, 1946, in Fall River, Mass., she was a daughter of Arthur and Rita (Ferland) Couture.
After receiving her bachelor in nursing from Stony Brook University, Barbara became an accomplished nurse. Her career spanned nearly 40 years, working at Bassett Hospital, Fox Hospital, Albany Medical Center and later as a hospital nursing administrator for Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, where she served for 18 years. In 2007, she moved to Walton where she worked at Delaware Valley Hospital until she retired in 2013.
A talented artist, for the last 20 years Barbara lived her passion, devoting herself to painting. She had formal studies in oils with renowned artist, Rick Buchanan in New York City, who was former creative director of Tomson Leeds, and a teacher and lecturer.
She was a member of the Art Students League and studied drawing with Anthony Palumbo, oil painting with Frank Mason, and watercolor with Irwin Greenberg. Her work has shown at the Art Students League galleries, The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Sego Café in Oneonta, and the Bright Hill Center in Treadwell.
Her works are included in numerous private collections. She also taught privately for 12 years in New York City and Oneonta.
Barbara is survived by her four children, Michael A. Perrino and wife, Colleen, of Cooperstown, Christopher S. Perrino of Brooklyn, Matthew C. Perrino of Selden and Laurel E. Perrino of Manhattan; five grandchildren, Ashley, Michael, Danielle, Meaghan and Matthew; and her three siblings, sister Leslie Levy of Palm City, Florida, and brothers Brian and Bruce Couture of Charlotte, N.C.
She was predeceased by one sister, Lindell Couture.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at the Michael J. Grant Funeral Home, 3640 Route 112, Coram. A committal service will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram, where she will be laid to rest with her mother.
Memorial donations may be made to CCS Friends of Music and Art (FOMA), c/o Cooperstown Elementary/High School, 39 Linden Ave., Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Local arrangements are entrusted to the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.