Barbara M Owen

PEMBROKE – Barbara M. Owen, 92, passed away peacefully at the Eastport Memorial Nursing Home on July 17, 2011. She was born in Pembroke on April 7, 1919, the daughter of Frank M. and Susan (Kelley) Mahar. Barbara grew up in Pembroke and graduated from Pembroke High School, class of 1937. She married Philip R. Owen on June tenth of the same year, and together they raised their six children until his death in 1978. Barbara was devoted to her community throughout the years serving as a member of the Pembroke Historical Society and the Rebekah’s Lodge of Pembroke. She was part of the Happy Gang Senior Citizens group of Calais and the Seniority Program of Calais Regional Hospital, and was also a lifelong member of the Pembroke United Methodist Church. Barbara worked at several local companies over the years, including Sunset Packing Company in Pembroke, both the Guilford Mill in Eastport and Ware Knitters of Calais, from which she retired. She devoted herself to family and spent many winters working in her family’s Christmas tree and wreath business. Barbara spent countless hours assembling and decorating wreaths, processing orders and helping ship trees and wreaths all over the country. She loved knitting most of her life, especially mittens and gloves as gifts to her family members. Later in life Barbara enjoyed playing bingo. She played at the American Legion Hall in Pembroke among other places. She had the unique opportunity to join an art class for older adults in Pembroke with Elliott Moore. She and Elliott spent many pleasurable hours painting together, resulting in pieces of art for their families to treasure. Barbara will be remembered for her compassionate demeanor toward people and her love for her family; her detailed recollections of people and events have left her children with an indelible living memory of her life and times. Time spent with family was most important to Barbara, and she was particularly fond of the annual Owen family reunions that have been going strong since 1975. Barbara was predeceased by her first husband, Philip R. Owen, her second husband, Ronald Owen, her son Richard Owen, two grandsons, Robbie and Trevor Owen, a brother, Carroll R. Mahar, and sisters, Edith A. Lund, Minnie Blanche Leighton and Elaine Fox. She is survived by five children, Marvin E. Owen and his wife Mary Lou, Robert A. Owen and his wife Ruth, all of Pembroke, John M. Owen and his wife Patricia of Robbinston, Marilyn R. Sawyer and her husband, Robert of Pembroke, Dennis L. Owen and his wife, Nancy of Calais, and a step-daughter, Gwen Owen of Biddeford; also surviving are fifteen grandchildren, many great grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside service will be held at Barbara’s family lot at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 24th at Clarkside Cemetery with Lori Lynch officiating. Following the graveside service there will be an informal celebration of life at the Pembroke Elementary School and all are welcome and encouraged to bring pictures and stories of Barbara to share. Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1 Main St. #300, Topsham, ME 04086 or at www.cancer.org. Arrangements are in the care of Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.