Barbara Lucine Donagher

Barbara Lucine (Robitaille) Donagher
Barbara Lucine (Robitaille) Donagher, 84, of Windsor Locks, beloved wife of Hugh J. Donagher, entered her eternal rest on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born and raised in Hartford, daughter of the late John Leo and Lucine Barbara (Janschewitz) Robitaille.
A graduate of Weaver High School in Hartford, Barbara earned an Associate's Degree from Hillyer College, winning the Underwood Award for fastest typist in her class. She went on to work as a secretary in the legal field and the insurance industry, ultimately retiring from the Connecticut General Assembly's Legislative Commissioners' Office, where she served as Executive Secretary and Office Manager.
Barbara met her best friend and love of her life, Hugh J., through Young Dems in Hartford. They began a courtship volunteering together on the Ribicoff campaign, rooting their partnership in a shared commitment to service that would follow Barbara throughout her life. They married in 1964 and moved to Windsor Locks in 1966.
She lived the remainder of her life in the home, where she raised her family. Barbara was deeply involved in the community and always dedicated to serving others. From organizing neighborhood coffee klatches to participating in PTA, Cub Scouts, and Brownies; from Vice Chair of the town Democratic Committee to broader public service; and through more than 30 years of service with the Windsor Locks Lions Club, Barbara truly embodied the ideal of service above self. The Windsor Locks Journal recognized this when they named her Mother of the Year in 1976. Barbara especially cherished her many years as program chair of the Lions Club, enriching meetings with thoughtful programming and humor, ever the gracious host and life of the party.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, Hugh J.; son, Hugh and his husband, Brian; daughter, Krista O'Shea; grandchildren, Katherine, Thomas and Griffin O'Shea; brother-in-law, John Donagher (Carole); sister-in-law, Sheila (Donagher) O'Connell (John); sister-in-law, Sandra Donagher; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Besides her parents, Barbara was predeceased by son-in-law, Brendan O'Shea; brother-in-law, Thomas Donagher; brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Irene Donagher; and beloved aunts and uncles, especially Natalie Janschewitz, Sister Therese Eugene Robitaille and Father Eugene Robitaille.
Family and friends are invited to Visitation on Wednesday, January 28th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring Street, Windsor Locks. On Thursday, January 29th, family and friends are invited to meet directly at St. Mary Church, 42 Spring Street, Windsor Locks, at 11:00 a.m., for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will take place at St. Mary Cemetery, Windsor Locks.
The family would like to thank the wonderful professionals who helped care for Mom in recent years, including her home health aide (and beloved friend), Jane, and the staff of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and Suffield House in Suffield.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Windsor Locks Lions Ambulance, P.O. Box 105, Windsor Locks, CT 06096, or Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 653, Windsor Locks, CT 06096.
For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com .