AUBURN – Barbara Earnest Livingston’s life ended a few minutes before noon on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. But what a life it was!

A lifelong crusader for women’s rights and animal rights; a dedicated advocate for the arts and education; an abiding interest in spiritual philosophies; and most of all, a relentless commitment to her friends, her beloved animals and especially her family.

Ultimately, the end was marked by sheer courage. Those who weren’t able to experience her last days close up might not understand what real courage can be. Everyone has seen obituary notices of people who had fought a “courageous battle with cancer.” Now we know what that means.

She persevered daily, focusing enormous will on the simple process of living. Yet she knew right along that she would not; that as bad as she felt at any given moment, she was only going to feel consistently and significantly worse. She never gave up, regardless of the odds, regardless of the relentlessness of the disease that was eating her alive. It was the most astonishing affirmation of life one could ever be privileged to witness. She dealt with her disease with equanimity and dignity. She has been the very essence of courage.

She and her husband, Rich, moved to Auburn in 1992, from Washington, D.C., in order to provide a better quality of life for their son, Luke.

She is survived by Rich; her parents, Dave and Nancy Rehmeyer of South Carolina; daughter, Debbie Earnest and her son, Connor Wolk of Brookeville, Md.; son, H. Luke Livingston of Portland; stepson, Mike Livingston and his wife, Heather, of Silver Spring, Md.; sister, Dana Potter and her husband, Ray, of South Carolina; and sister, Lindsey Kluender, husband, Terry, and kids, Brian, Laura and Molly of Richmond, Va.

The family wishes to extend thanks to her wonderful medical team, including doctors Nickie Erickson, Sue Mandell and, particularly, Roger Austin and the compassionate and dedicated team at the Hospice House in Auburn, Bill Schecher and Denise Morin.