PARSONSFIELD- Barbara Conover, age 83, longtime attorney and wife of David, passed away peacefully at Maine Medical Center on Aug. 11, 2020.
Barbara Conover
Succumbing to increasing physical frailties - often attendant with age - Barbara Conover passed away on August 11th 2020, at Maine Medical Center, Portland. Kathy, her daughter was at her bedside at the time of passing. Barbara was 83.
Born in Auburn, NY on November 13, 1936, her family soon moved to Jackson Heights and then to Yonkers, NY, where she grew up to be a delightful, strong young woman. Barbara had many interests and an engaging mind. Her first job was a reporter for the city paper, and as such, obtained state approval to travel to Russia. This was during the time of the Cold War, Barbara was in her twenties. Going on to school, she attended Smith College, graduating magnum cum laude.
As a young mother, Barbara accompanied her first husband to Cali, Colombia where she witnessed the work of American church missionaries aiding young Colombian mothers and fathers with health, nutrition and family-planning issues. This experience had a profound impact on Barbara. It lasted throughout her life.
Upon returning to the US, always a talented artist, Barbara took a little time for herself by studying painting at the school of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. But she had more to do. Her passionate sense of justice, engagement and compassion necessitated that. So while her kids were still in grade school, Barbara somehow managed to go to law school - and always be home when they got out of school, cook dinner and do her homework after they were asleep. She graduated with high honors and the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence.
She used her law degree primarily to try to make sure that less advantaged people have access to reasonable housing and needed legal representation. She served her community as Director of Housing, Model Cities, Boston.
Barbara always loved young children. After moving to Maine, she opened a toy store in Cornish and spent most of her energy ensuring that every child left happy. She loved the trees, forests, hills, wildlife and people of the Ossipee Valley; studied at UNH, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking.
She loved traveling, spoke Russian, Spanish and Italian; played the piano and violin. Barbara was proud of her children.
Along with her warm, engaging eyes & smile and gentle manner she will be greatly missed by family and friends who loved and admired her.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 34 years, David W. Conover of Parsonsfield, ME; two children, David Brower of Somerville, MA, and Katherine Brower of Killington, VT.; a brother-in-law, Charles Schulz & Claire Taylor of Palo Alto CA; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Barker of So. Jordan, UT, and Rosemary Conover & her husband Luckey Heath of Ogden, UT; three cousins, Patricia & Thomas Murphy of Ambler, PA, Mary Brane & Robert Barker of Gainesville, FL, and Jack & Bonnie McGoldrick of Seattle, WA. She had many nieces and nephews on the Conover side of the family whom she cherished as much as her sister's children, Charles & Amy Schulz of Campbell, CA, Edward Schulz & Shirleen Hall of Napa, CA and Al Swalla of SanDiego, CA; one grand nephew, Matthew Schulz; one great goddaughter, Ella Kate Aieta.
She is predeceased by her parents, Charles M. and Virginia (McGoldrick) Brane; sister, Virginia Schulz and brother-in-law, Desmond Barker; niece Virginia Knight.
A private service was held by her family.
Burial will be at the Dearborn-Foss Cemetery in Parsonsfield.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com