Barbara M. Krause

Barbara Mildred (Hooper) Krause, age 88, of Biddeford, Maine passed away peacefully on

Thursday, January 15, 2026, in her home after a complicated battle with Alzheimer's

Disease. She was the loving wife of Barry G. Krause of Allentown, Pennsylvania who had

passed away in May of 2021. Born in Portsmouth, NH on July 19, 1937, Barbara was the

daughter of the late Howard Everett Hooper and Hester May (Williams) Hooper of Saco,

Maine.

After graduating from Thornton Academy in 1955, Barbara attended the Gorham State

Teacher's College (now the University of Southern Maine) and earned her bachelor's

degree in education. During her summers, she worked in Old Orchard Beach at the old

Reed's Refreshments. Her never-ending stories of those days express just how much she

enjoyed those summers. Barbara taught primarily 1st grade in Saco at the Young School

and in Quincy, MA before marrying Barry and moving to Allentown, Pennsylvania where

she would eventually retire as a teacher in the early 2000's. They had met in Portsmouth,

NH one weekend when she was out for an evening of dancing with some of her friends and

Barry was at the same club during a weekend liberty from his USMC post at the Kittery

Naval/Marine Base where he was a guard. They dated then married in 1965, and would

move to Allentown, PA.

Barbara had many interests including playing the violin, playing her organ, ceramics, going

out for her weekly BINGO night, playing cards, watching baseball with Barry and evening

coffee time. She was a 1st grade teacher most of her career and loved all of her students.

Barbara was also a lifetime member of the Annette Chapter of the Order of the Eastern

Star in Saco.

Her biggest love was always family. She and her family travelled to Saco every Christmas

break and almost every summer. Just a couple of weeks ago, Christmas 2025, her entire

family travelled to Maine to celebrate together. Barbara is survived by; brother Robert

Hooper ( and his wife Eloyd) of Falmouth, ME, sons James and Robert of Biddeford,

daughter Cindy (wife of David Mitman Jr.) of Princeton, NJ, granddaughters Kayla Mitman

Melendez of West Bend, WI and Krista Mitman (fiancé to Aaron Robair) of Bristol, CT.

Arrangements are being made through Hope Memorial Chapel and Funeral Services of

Biddeford. A Celebration of Life will be planned for July of this year in Maine. Our family

wants to thank everyone for all of the thoughts and prayers over these last few years and

for helping Barbara, helping our Mom, to enjoy her final years in Maine, just as she did so

many years ago.