Barbara S. CHAPMAN

CHAPMAN, Barbara S.

Barbara Sanborn Chapman, 89 of Whippoorwill Hollow Road, East Hampton, CT died peacefully Wednesday (July 13, 2011) at Middlesex Hospital Hospice Care Unit after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Frederick C. Chapman. She was born on March 24, 1922, a daughter of the late F. Leslie and Bertha Sanborn. She was a lifelong Portland resident, except for the last few years of her life when she lived with her daughter's family in East Hampton. She was a graduate of Portland High School and the Morse School of Business. She had been employed in the Purchasing Department of Middlesex Hospital and before that at Strickland Farms in Portland as a bookkeeper. She was a parishioner of the Church of Saint Mary in Portland and a member of the Ladies Guild. She was a Golden Sheaf member of Hemlock Grange #182 which she joined in 1937. She served as secretary of the Grange for many years. She had a gift for sewing and volunteered her talents to charity. She sewed hundreds of quilts to benefit children of AIDS in Africa and was an active member of the Lutheran Quilting group. She also made cancer patient pillows and head scarfs for several years. She was a poll worker for many years. Barbara grew up as the oldest of seven during the depression. She was a master at recycling and reusing before it was "green". She was a trusted friend and a person that could always be relied upon. She will be remembered most for her quick wit and clear high laugh that could be heard at any gathering. Her sense of humor was never dimmed and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her children, Timothy Chapman of Lake Worth, FL, Mark Chapman of Middletown, Stephen Chapman of Branford, CT, Matthew and his wife Robin Chapman of San Mateo, CA and Amy and her husband William Biegaj of East Hampton, CT. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Amanda and her husband Brandon Novak, Robert Chapman, Timothy Chapman, Michelle Chapman, Rosemary Biegaj and Joseph Biegaj and two great grandchildren, Max and Ava Novak. She is also survived by her brothers Frank and his wife Lorraine Sanborn and William and his wife Harriett Sanborn of Portland and her sisters Lorraine and her husband Joseph Rizzo of Niantic and Constance Berggren of Portland. She is predeceased by her sisters Elizabeth Cunningham and Rosemary Wilson. Also numerous nieces, nephews and friends that were blessed to know her.
Family and friends can help celebrate her life at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home at 231 Main Street, Portland on Friday July 15, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Church of Saint Mary, 51 Freestone Avenue Portland. Interment will be at Portland Center Cemetery. For directions, or to leave a online expression of sympathy, kindly visit www.portlandmemorialfh.net.