Barbara D. Denson of New Canaan, Conn. and East Chop died peacefully on Wednesday, April 18 with her family by her side. She was 81.

She spent her lifetime of summers enjoying the Vineyard, from her family’s first home overlooking Ocean Park to sunsets from the deck of her Crystal Lake cottage to, in her later years, quiet time watching the harbor traffic from Fuller Street Beach.

She was predeceased by her husband of 30 years, John M. Denson, and is survived by her children, John M. Denson Jr. of Darien, Conn. and Edgartown and Jennifer Collins of New Canaan, Conn., and her four grandchildren: Ellie, Peyton, Emma and Charlotte.

Barbara lived a life filled with love, laughter and happiness and will be forever be missed and in her family’s hearts. “To live is to laugh is to love.”