Barbara S. Peirce, 63, of San Pedro, California, formerly of Ashland, Massachusetts, died January 5, 2014, at her home in the company of her brother Jeffrey, who gave her so much personal loving care during her long struggle with cancer. Barbara was the daughter of the late George and Bettie (Martin) Peirce. She graduated from Ashland High School in 1968 and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1972. After obtaining her nursing degree from Boston College School of Nursing she provided dedicated and compassionate care as a psychiatric nurse for twenty years to patients at Mount Auburn Hospital, and continued in that field when she moved to California. Barbara leaves her brother Jeffrey B. Peirce of San Pedro and her brother G. Michael Peirce and his wife Janet of Hopkinton. Services in California were private and a memorial collation will be planned for the spring in Ashland. Barbara loved animals, especially those who have no homes, so if you wish, donations in her memory may be sent to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741-5000, or at donations@bestfriends.org.