PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – Barbara Jean Leclerc, 91, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully on Aug. 10, 2023, at Atria Aquidneck Place. Born at home in Barrington, N.H., on Aug. 24, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Margaret (McDonald) Brown. She was the youngest of seven children and the only one to graduate from High School (Spaulding High School 1949). She met her husband Donald in a dance club in Rochester, N.H. They became engaged a year later when Donald proposed at the Nubble Lighthouse in York Beach, Maine. She and Donald and their six children would spend each summer vacation at York Beach and would eventually retire there. They were able to purchase a waterfront home on their beloved York Beach where they spent 30-plus years in retirement.

Barbara spent the greater part of her life devoted to being a homemaker and mother. She was a cross between that generation’s Donna Reed and Mary Tyler Moore. Once her children were grown, she became a makeup representative for Estee Lauder. Barbara loved being outside in nature. She knew the names of all the local wildflowers, plants, and birds and taught them to her children. She was an avid power walker clocking in three-plus miles each day. And she loved to plant flowers. Her container gardens in front of her beach home were admired by all passers-by.

Barbara is survived by her children: Penny (Leclerc) Carrier and her husband Andre Carrier, of Portsmouth, RI, Donald Leclerc Jr., and his wife Joline (Jacques) Leclerc, of Auburn, Thomas Leclerc, of Sauk Rapids, Minn., Barbara Leclerc, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Christoper Leclerc and his wife Laura Leclerc, of Greensboro, N.C. Grandchildren: Laura Leclerc, Lindsey (Leclerc) Cates, Alexis Leclerc, Kayleigh Leclerc, McKenna Leclerc, Connor Leclerc, Matthew Carrier, Ariel Leclerc, Landon Leclerc, Sofia Leclerc, Zebulon Brimhtet, Stephanie (Dumais) DeWildt, Brady Salo; 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara is preceded in death by father, Edward Brown, mother, Margaret (McDonald) Brown, spouse, Donald Leclerc, daughter, Kathleen (Leclerc) Dumais, brothers, Richard Brown, Robert Brown, and Oscar Brown, and sisters, Elizabeth (Brown) Wells, Florence (Brown) Morgan, and Alberta Brown.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, October 6, at 11 a.m., at St. Christopher’s Church, 4 Barrell Lane, York. A Celebration of Life Luncheon will follow the funeral mass from 1-4 p.m., at the York Harbor Inn.

Additional information at http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=830719&fr_id=1060&pg=fund

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