Barbara “Babs” Louise (Labins) Werblin, age 88, died peacefully March 8, 2025. We remember her playfulness, evident in her signature splash of pink hair, and the genuine kindness, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm for life evident in everything she did.

Babs was a friend to all–unless they were playing the Red Sox that day. She demonstrated her caring and compassion in many ways, but her favorites were sending loved ones batches of her famous sour cream cookies and cards generously decorated with stickers and poetry.

She prized her education and experience as a student (Boston Girls Latin School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst) and wanted others to love their education too. She taught generations of elementary school students at West Tatnuck School in Worcester and retired in 2002, but she did not stop teaching.

She joined the staff of the YWCA in Worcester, having been a longtime member, and  taught others, by example, the joy and importance of staying active and engaged in her community. She was once featured on the cover of their monthly magazine swinging kettlebells.

Babs was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marshall B. Werblin, who she met on a blind date and married within the year. They had 59 beautiful years and two daughters together–both teachers in their own ways: Lisa B. Werblin of Framingham who guides mothers and babies in the delivery room and the late Andrea “Andi” Werblin Reid and her husband Angus, a poet whose work helps others navigate life and death.

She was the cherished daughter of the late Irving and Ruth Labins; loving sister of the late Stephen H. Labins and his late wife Lois; sister-in-law of the late Lester Werblin, and the late Ruth Lonstein and her late husband Barnett; sister in law of Rhoda Werblin of Maynard, MA, and loved by more nieces, nephews, and family members than we can name.

We extend our special thanks to the staff of the memory care unit at The Branches in Framingham, the hospice team at Good Shepherd, the aides from Senior Helpers, and her beloved cat Sammy who cared for her with great love and compassion.

A graveside service will be held at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton, Massachusetts on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 11:30 am. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, cookies may be baked for loved ones and donations may be made to the YWCA Central Massachusetts or charities supporting animals. Babs would have liked that.