THE "MOTHER" OF MARY'S DAUGHTER
In an age that touts living in the present moment, we seldom think about the time when we may no longer be able to balance a checkbook, compose a letter, or deal with the dreaded cable company. We might not want to think about the possibility of relinquishing control of our individual freedom and our ability to express ourselves adequately and in a manner that gives us satisfaction.
Mary Alice Hyatte was a hard-working woman who was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on December 16, 1920. Following a move to Rockford, Illinois, and a subsequent divorce, she raised five children alone while working a variety of jobs. Throughout her life she enjoyed cooking, watching football, and being with family. Her great sense of humor allowed her to always see the bright side of a situation. At the age of 62 Mary retired from the Chrysler factory in Belvidere, Illinois, and lived with her daughter, Bunny Craig, who eventually became her caregiver.
Barbara Boustead, Mary's middle child, married in 1981 and moved with her husband in 1982 to Madison, New Jersey. They had two daughters, Laura and Alicia, and Barbara's mother Mary would come out to visit frequently to help with the children. Barbara subsequently started her own private therapy practice for individuals and couples and also facilitated groups to empower women dealing with codependency issues.
Following her divorce in 2002, Barbara wanted to move closer to her mother. While she loved her work, she had a fervent desire to start over in her life. Ultimately, she chose Madison landing a position as a Clinical Social Worker at the Mental Health Center of Dane County, now called Journey. Later, she also taught in the UW School of Social Work
from 2009-11.
Barbara realized that, while h
er mother's positive spirit never waned, she was no longer able to do some of the things that had previously brought her joy and kept her in connection to the world. For instance, her mother asked for help in writing cards to friends. To maintain her mother's independence, Barbara involved her mother in the process of selecting which card to send to whomever, as Barbara transcribed her mother's thoughts and wishes. Barbara had found a niche that other caregivers couldn't or wouldn't do.
When her mother suggested that her son, a Vietnam veteran, could use some help with his finances, Barbara also took on that role for a while. It wasn't long before friends and acquaintances began to seek out Mary's daughter as her compassionate assistance spread by word of mouth.
Realizing that she might be on to som
ething, Barbara took business courses through the auspices of the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) and in 2011 started her own business helping others to manage their financial affairs. Since acquaintances were already seeking "Mary's daughter," it was only logical that she name her business just that. In January 2012, she started working with a coach from the UW School of Business.
As a Daily Money Manager (DMM) for older adults and veterans in south central Wisconsin, Mary's Daughter partners with clients to ease the burden that comes with managing daily financial matters. When working with seniors, veterans, and their families, Mary's Daughter becomes a trusted member of the client's personal support network. Some of the services offered are opening and sorting mail, bill paying, banking, budgeting, organizing legal and medical documents, advocating on behalf of clients, and partnering with clients' financial planners, accountants, and service providers.
Barbara's mother passed away on February 26, 2014. In July of 2016,
Barbara retired from Journey to focus on her work with Mary's Daughter (http://marysdaughterllc.com). She is currently the Wisconsin Regional Coordinator for the American Association of Money Managers (
AADMM
)
, which is the national association for the daily money management industry, as well as a service provider with Sharing Active Independent Lives (
SAIL
), which dovetails nicely with her business.
For the past eleven years, Barbara has been happily married to David, aka Bo. Their wonderful blended family includes four adult children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and their 6-year-old German Shepherd Smoke.