AUBURN — Lois Barr passed Friday, Feb. 3, at her home in Auburn, surrounded by her husband, Benjamin, her sons Peter, Larry, Michael and Adam, and her adoring but ever-demanding cat, Maggie.

Lois was born in Portland, on Feb. 27, 1928, one of seven children of Samuel and Freida Jacobson. After graduating from Portland High, she attended Westbrook College, earning her associate degree in 1948. She fell in love with Benjamin Barr, married and moved to Auburn, where she worked as a medical assistant before joining the Jewish Community Center as an administrative assistant.

As she and Ben raised their family, Lois’ involvement in the community deepened. For nearly 25 years at the JCC, and another 25 years at Pathways Inc., she worked tirelessly serving area children, the elderly, families, and mentally and physically handicapped adults. It was work that energized and fulfilled her. Even in retirement, she continued that service, volunteering at Central Maine Medical Center. It was in honor of her lifelong work that her sons established the Lois Barr Community Service Scholarship at Lewiston Regional Technical Center 10 years ago. Lois loved to cook (chicken cacciatore, hot dogs and peppers, coffee chiffon pie), she loved to travel (Europe, Israel, China, cruises), and she loved music (big band, violin and piano, Broadway musicals). Over her lifetime, she hosted dinner parties, played bridge with her many dear friends, went on ski vacations, read voraciously, spent summers at Popham and Old Orchard beaches, and fed anyone who came to visit. But most of all, she loved her family. They were her absolute pride and joy, and she never tired of looking through the thousands of photographs that Ben took over the years.

Lois is survived by her beloved husband, Benjamin; her sons and daughters-in-law, Peter and Connie Barr of Portland, Larry and Vicki Barr of Dallas, Michael and Juliet Barr of Ramsey, N.J., and Adam and Sherri Barr of Los Angeles, Calif.; as well as eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her sister, SaraJean; and brothers, Ronald, Harvey and Arthur.

Condolences and donations may be accessed at www.Albert-Burpee.com.

Lois Barr

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