Barbara Carolyn Klare

1921 - 2014

Barbara Carolyn Wilder Klare, much beloved, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Westview Health Care Center at age 93. She was predeceased by her husband of many years Dr. Rudolph Klare and her son, Andrew Klare. She was born on January 14, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY. Her family moved to Teaneck, NJ where they operated a bakery out of their home during the Depression, featuring wedding cakes. As a youth Barbara developed Rheumatic Fever, which briefly limited her physical activities, but she determinedly overcame the condition, affecting her attitude for the rest of her life. She had a very sheltered childhood until she met Rudy at age 15 at a Seascout exhibition - a worldly young man who had already been to China. She wanted to be a teacher and graduated from Patterson State Teacher's College and taught elementary school. She was married in 1944 and supported Rudy through the end of WWII, occupation of Japan and eventual return to GI bill undergraduate and medical school education. They moved to Woodstock in 1955, the year of the hurricane and flood, and quickly became part of the local community. They later moved to Eastford, where she became a near-daily swimmer in the cool waters of Crystal Pond. Until very recently Barbara continued her active interest in local events, especially those concerning the East Woodstock Congregational Church, where she had been an organist and member of the choir for many years, assisted with the Fourth of July celebration, supported the Sunday School and helped found the Mission Committee. She loved music and playing the piano and had two pianos in the living room to play duets with friends. She helped establish some of the initial local efforts in Learning Disabilities, starting over 30 years ago when very little was known about the condition. Barbara helped establish a summer camp at Crystal Pond for children with learning disabilities. She maintained an interest in medical matters and was member of the Women's Board of Day Kimball Hospital and also participated in the Connecticut State Medical Society. She was avid supporter of public education and focused on Public Broadcasting. She supported multiple local charities, was an avid music, history and natural history enthusiast. No matter the venue, she was always willing to enter enthusiastically into a good conversation. She is survived by two sons, Ronald with his wife Joy and Steven Klare, and three Granddaughters, Heather Klare, Jennifer Klare and Whitney Klare. A Celebration of Barbara's Life will be Friday, April 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Road, East Woodstock. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the East Woodstock Congregational Church, PO Box 156, East Woodstock, CT 06244 or the Day Kimball Hospital Development Office, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. To share a memory with her family, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com.