James M. Barnett

James Michael Barnett, 74, died September 28, 2026 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina surrounded by family. He was born on July 25, 1952 in Middleborough, Massachusetts, the son of Richard and Anna Barnett. He was the loving husband of Denise Barnett, married on April 12,1980 in Nashua, NH.

Known to most as Jim, he attended Bishop Guertin High School and Daniel Webster College. He worked as an air traffic controller at Boston Logan Airport and later spent over 20 years at Bandwagon, Inc. in Wilmington, Massachusetts.

Jim brought with him a positive energy and booming laugh that filled any room he was in. He was happiest on Opening Day at Fenway Park, tailgating at the Harvard-Yale game, or watching the horses at Saratoga. He loved reading the newspaper, cooking made-to-order breakfast for whomever happened to be in his kitchen, and swinging a golf club at Belmont Lake. He never heard a joke that he didn’t laugh at and often told jokes that made you question why you were laughing so hard. Before retiring to North Carolina, Jim was a long-time parishioner at Infant Jesus Parish and later St. Aloysius of Gonzaga.

Jim is survived by his wife, children, Bret and Kevin, daughter-in-law, Sheila, grandchildren, Lucy, Clarke, and Isla, his in-laws, Annie Sirois, Raymond and Cindy Sirois, Simone Sirois, Deborah Sirois, Joanne Sirois, Carolyn Sirois, Roger and Cathy Sirois and Yvette and Barry Joslin, as well as many nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: A memorial gathering will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 6-8pm at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 26 Kinsley Street, Nashua. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, 10am, at St. Louis/St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish, 48 West Hollis St, Nashua. Interment will follow mass at St. Louis Cemetery, 752 West Hollis St, Nashua.

In lieu of flowers, it was Jim’s wish to have people make donations to the Nutt Hospital Association, c/o Paul Edmonds, Treasurer, 142 Dow Road, Hollis, NH 03049. The Nutt Hospital Association was there for Jim in a time of need and he hopes to pay that kindness forward.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Nashua. To view Jim's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.