PEMBROKE – Barbara M. Owen, 92, passed away peacefully July 17, 2011, at Eastport Memorial Nursing Home. She was born April 7, 1919, in Pembroke, the daughter of Frank M. and Susan (Kelley) Mahar.
Barbara grew up in Pembroke and graduated from Pembroke High School, class of 1937. June 10 of the same year, she married Philip R. Owen, 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 Pembroke Historical Society and Rebekah’s Lodge, Pembroke. She was part of Happy Gang Senior Citizens group of Calais and Seniority Program of Calais Regional Hospital, and was also a lifelong member of Pembroke United Methodist Church. Barbara worked at several local companies throughout the years, including Sunset Packing Co., Pembroke; Guilford Mill, Eastport; and Ware Knitters, 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 American Legion Hall, 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 and Dennis L. Owen and his wife, Nancy, of Calais; a stepdaughter, Gwen Owen of Biddeford; 15 grandchildren, many great-grand-children, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graveside service will be held 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 24, in Barbara’s family lot at Clarkside Cemetery with Lori Lynch officiating. After the graveside service there will be an informal celebration of life at 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 American Cancer Society, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086 or www.cancer.org. Arrangements are in the care of Mays Funeral Home, Calais and Eastport. Condolences and memories may be shared at
www.maysfuneralhome.com.