Barbara Elizabeth Hamlin

Barbara E. Hamlin, of West Sand Lake, New York, passed away peacefully at her home during October of 2024. She was born and raised in Liberty, New York and had five siblings. Her family was very involved in the community and they knew everyone in town and everyone knew them. Her family was very close and would spend nights at the dining room table playing board games and card games, with a perpetual jigsaw puzzle on a side table being worked on. The family went to church every Sunday and at one point the family owned a Volkswagen Beetle. The two parents and six children would ride to church in that car and, for a while, Barbara had to sit in the front, in the middle, behind the stick shift. The family was at, or in, every parade in Liberty and Barbara went to parades her entire life. She loved her family very much and her mother was her best friend.
She graduated from St. Peter's Catholic School and transferred to Liberty High School where she graduated at the top of her class. Barbara was friends with everybody and remained friends with them until the end.
She got married, and she and her husband wandered around the United States in a van for a year as a honeymoon. Barbara was the navigator during the trip and only used back roads. She once mistook a county line on the map for a road, which took her deep into the wilderness. She made it out safely after two days and a long night. Sometimes, those who wander, get lost.
Monterey, California was a particularly special place for her during that trip and she went back with her adult children to share it with them. She continued to travel all over the place with them the rest of her life.
Her warm and welcoming spirit made her home a sanctuary for all of her children's friends. Everyone was welcome at all times and sometimes sleepovers were so crowded, that every inch of floor, couch or bed would be covered with kids.
Barbara loved growing flowers and once uprooted her flowers at her old home to plant at her new home far away. She swore that if she ever moved again, the plants were going with her.
Her home has always had board games and card games being played, with a perpetual jigsaw puzzle on a side table being worked on. Every Sunday was spent reading her favorite newspapers and doing the crossword puzzles. She took dance lessons for many years for the fun of it. She threw rowdy parties. She had an infinite capacity to listen. She made the best fried chicken and she could sew anything. There is so much more to tell.
A light in the world has gone out with her passing.
We will always miss her.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you tell your family and friends that you love them right away.
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