Obituary of Barbara A. Owens

BARBARA A. OWENS Latham- Barbara A. (Meixell) Owens, 79 of Latham, beloved wife of John P. Owens, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at Community Hospice At Saratoga Hospital, in Saratoga Springs with her loving family by her side. Born May 24, 1935 at home in Watervliet N.Y. to Marcella (Clay) and Clyde Meixell. She graduated from Cohoes High School in 1952 and married John Paul Owens of Watervliet on September 4, 1954. They raised their family in Latham before moving to Glens Falls in 1979. As a young mother Barb was involved in the PTA and Girl Scouts. She was an avid reader and passed this love on to her children. Barb had a talent for creating beauty in her home and garden, she had a green thumb with flowers indoors and out. She dressed with style and enjoyed life most when she was out for dinner with her husband and friends. Her beautifully coiffed white hair was her signature feature, for which she received endless compliments. She was a long time member of the Glens Falls Country Club where her husband spent many days while she tolerated his addiction to golf with grace. John and Barbara loved to travel in the US and abroad. They would often hop in the car to make short trips all over New England to visit friends and family. Barb raised her six children, five boys John Jr., Daniel, Gary, David, Peter and daughter Nancy, with love. This large family meant cooking, cleaning, and watching over it all which she did with unbounded energy for many years. When the youngest was off to school Barb began her career in banking, first as a teller, before moving into the trust department at the Glens Falls National Bank and later a branch manager. She retired in 1998 from the Glens Falls law firm of LaPan, Reardon, FitzGerald, Morris and Firth where she worked as the financial manager. Barbara will be remembered with love by her large family: husband John and children John Jr. and partner Dawne Steenrod, Daniel and his wife Kate, Gary and his wife Uli, David, Nancy and her husband Donal, and Peter and his wife Lisa. She had twelve grandchildren Thomas and his wife Tory, John III and his wife Anisa, Patrick, Kelly, Lillian, Margaret, Conor, Morgan, Miles and Malcolm Dugan and Jenna and Ashley Owens and one great granddaughter Evelyn. She is survived by her sister Pat Hull of New Port Richey Florida and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother and father and her brothers Kenneth and Richard and her sister Dorothy Whalen. A memorial gathering will take place on Friday October 10, 2014 from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Rd., Latham. A celebration of Barbara's life will take place at 6:00 pm at the conclusion of the gathering at the funeral home. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.