WATERVILLE — Barbara H. Fontaine, 84, of Mexico and Sun City Center, Fla., passed away on Monday, Jan. 9, at Oak Grove Center.

She was born in Mexico, March 21, 1927, the youngest of eight children to Stephen and Mary (Casey) McPhee.

Barbara attended Mexico schools and was a graduate of Mexico High School, Class of 1945. She played varsity basketball, where she earned a letter, and also played in the school band.

As a young woman, she and her friends enjoyed attending big band dances, which were very popular at that time. It was at a dance in Oquossoc, where she met her future husband, Leo Fontaine. Barbara and Leo were later married for more than 40 years and raised five children together. When they bought a camp on Worthley Pond in Peru, it became the central gathering place for family and friends and many wonderful lifelong memories were from there.

Barbara was employed by the Oxford Paper Co. and later worked for the high school as a librarian assistant. She and Leo retired in 1989, and bought a winter home in Pine Island, Fla., while maintaining their summer camp at Worthley Pond. It was at that time that Barbara developed her passion for golf and later achieved two registered “holes-in-one.” She also enjoyed knitting, card games with friends and watching football on weekends.

After her husband’s death in 1992, she moved to Sun City Center, Fla., where she connected with those she knew from the Rumford/ Mexico area and made many new friends.

She was a communicant of Parish of the Holy Savior in Rumford and Prince of Peace Church in Sun City Center.

Barbara was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Surviving are her children, Nancy Makin and husband, John, of Skowhegan, Sally Allard and husband, Robert, of Carrabassett Valley, Bruce S. Fontaine of Bath and companion, Rosey Wolfe, of Wilmington, Mass., Ann Fontaine-Fisher and husband, Gregory, of Portland and Janet F. Crowe and husband, Brendan, of Brunswick; a sister, Rita Wyman and husband, John, of Rumford; 10 grandchildren, Sara Eastup, Tina Marie Poulin, Margo Reis, Matthew Allard, Zachary Allard, Jonathan Fontaine, Danielle Fontaine, Mackenzie Fisher, Alison Crowe and Emily Crowe; and three great-grandchildren, Jake, Maddie and Tillie Rose.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Leo Fontaine in 1992; two brothers, Donald McPhee and Stephen McPhee; and three sisters, Mary Sciaraffa, Theresa Vatalaro and Geneva Ziko.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Sara Sylvester, her staff and volunteers at Oak Grove Center and to Bertha Morin, her co-workers and volunteers from HealthReach Hospice.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Fontaine family by visiting their guest book at www.SGThibaultFuneralHome.com.

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