DEXTER and SANGERVILLE – Barbara (Hill) Nelson Ronco, 94 years young, died Dec. 16, 2009, at the home of her daughter, Betty Bridges. She was born March 15, 1915, in Garland, the daughter of Harold and Hazel (Colbath) Hill. She was the oldest of eight children. Barbara was a remarkable woman who loved and cared for her entire family. Barbara was involved in many community activities. She was an active member of the Grange and held many positions and offices in the Penobscot, Piscataquis and South Sangerville granges. She was an officer for the state and county cooperative extension, was involved with 4-H Club, and was a Girl Scout leader and cook for the Girl Scout camp. Barbara played piano for grange and in the Community Band, and she was in the original “rug hookers” club, and many family members have rugs that she hooked or braided. Barbara was a loving mother, wife and a homemaker of the finest kind. She was a very capable woman who raised six children, worked in the family bakery, was a caterer, bus driver, made butter, altered clothes, and knit thousands of mittens for children and always gave each grandchild and great-grandchild mittens for Christmas. After her children were grown, she and her husband, Francis, spent many wonderful years of retirement in Florida, where they had many friends and enjoyed playing music. Mother loved to travel, visit with family and friends, and was happiest when she was on the go and in the middle of everything! She enjoyed many excursions with her family and was the life of the party! She is survived by five children, Nancy Burgoyne, Ellen King and her husband, Darrell, Betty Bridges, Douglas Ronco and his wife, Connie, and Dana Ronco and his wife, Barbara; sisters, Hazel Joyce Hews and Rachel Howard and her husband, Douglas; 17 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis Ronco; her daughter, Barbara Avis Davis; her sons-in-law, Neilan Robichaud, Roger Burgoyne and Earl Bridges; her sisters, Alice Ronco and Clara Thomas; and brothers, Norman Hill, Robert Hill and Harold Elmer Hill. The family wishes to thank all of the caregivers and nurses from Community Health and Counseling Hospice for the wonderful care that they gave to Barbara during the past eight months. Friends may call 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Crosby & Neal, 21 Oak St., Guilford, with services beginning 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to the Oliver Hill Reunion Group, care of Nancy Towle, 175 Oliver Hill Road, Garland, ME 04939; Community Health and Counseling Hospice, 42 Cedar St., Bangor, ME 04401; or a charity of one’s choice. For an online guest register, go to www.CrosbyNeal.com.
BARBARA (HILL) NELSON RONCO
