Barbara Kneeland

Barbara Jordan Lees Kneeland, 92, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025, with her children by her side. Born November 15, 1932, in New Haven, Connecticut, Barbara was the eleventh of twelve children of Charles and Helen Clay Jordan. She grew up in Lincoln, Maine, where she flourished amidst the close bonds of her large family. A woman with quiet grace, Barbara found joy in the simple pleasures of life, like spending time visiting with friends and family, doing puzzles, and playing cards. Her quick wit and strategic mind made her a formidable yet fun-loving opponent at the game table. After graduation from Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln, and several summers nannying, Barbara embarked on an adventure in New York City to attend the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School, where she honed her skills and laid the foundation for her professional life. It was there that she met her first husband, Ralph Lees, Jr. They married in 1954 and raised their young family in the New Jersey suburbs. In 1965, Barbara moved with her children to Ithaca, New York, working for 20 years as the office manager for Cornell University Office of Religious Affairs, where her organizational skills, patience, and warm spirit made a lasting impact on colleagues and the community. After retiring from Cornell in 1985, Barbara moved to Gainesville, Florida, to be near her sister Lois and family. Years later, Barbara reconnected with her school friend Doug Kneeland. They married in 1997 and shared a wonderful life together in their hometown of Lincoln, Maine. After Doug's passing in 2007, Barbara moved to Williston, Vermont, to be near her daughter, Carole, and her family, and later relocated to Ithaca, New York, to be close to her sons, Ralph and Peter, and their families. In her final years, Barbara resided at The Lodge senior living in Lewes, Delaware near Carole, surrounded by wonderful friends and neighbors. Barbara was deeply grateful for her close-knit family and for the friendships she cultivated across the country, which enriched her life with joy and connection. She also held a special appreciation for all the staff at The Lodge, whose dedication and care filled her days with fun and brought her great comfort. Barbara was the proud and loving mother of three children: Carole Lees Whitaker and her daughter Lily; Ralph Lees III and his children Caroline James (Mike) and grandchildren Ava and Amelia, Casey Shipman (Aaron) and grandchildren Jayden and Brielle, and their mother Laurie; and his children Jordan, Brennan, and Abigail, and their mother Rebecca; and Peter Lees and his sweetheart Lene Tyler and her children Ilene, Travis, and Casey (Meg). Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her eleven siblings and their spouses, husbands Ralph Lees, Jr. and Douglas Kneeland, and her son-in-law David Whitaker. Barbara's legacy of kindness, patience, and love lives on through her family, including more than 100 nieces, nephews, cousins, and more in the Jordan family. She especially cherished summers at The Narrows in Lincoln, Maine, where she found peace and joy surrounded by the natural beauty and the people she loved. A celebration of Barbara's life will be held daily, in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be laid to rest in the family plot in Lincoln, Maine, where her loved ones will honor her later this year. Contributions in her memory can be made to the First Congregational Church, 19 School Street, Lincoln, ME 04457, or to the Kneeland Journalism Scholarship Fund, University of Maine Foundation, ATT: Sarah McPartland-Good, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469.