Barbara Spence

"Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine brightly through your lives. In that way all those who come in contact with you will discover the Loving Kindness of God." - St. John Paul II, Pope

Funeral Services for Barb will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 11:30 am at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church located at 4112 SW 6th Avenue in Portland, Oregon followed by a celebration of her life at the Town Club located in Portland's West Hills.

Barb grew up in a family of six (Luann, Denny, Barb, Vicki Jeanne and Rich) who were spread out over a range of nineteen years. The last, brother Rich, arrived on the scene when Barb was ten years old providing the opportunity to have a real life baby to cuddle, feed and nurture. Great fun this... certainly beat a baby doll! She was a fine scholar and voracious reader throughout her life.

Barb was introduced to her husband of thirty eight years, Steve Spence, by mutual friend Patsy Berner in 1986. Along with Steve came his two young sons Tim and Chris... an immediate family of five! While it took a little while to sort things out Barb simply loved them all up and a family was born!

Those who knew Barb will long remember her for her infectious smile, cheerfulness and a passion for her husband, sons, their wives and six grandchildren not to mention a legion of great friends both in Portland and in the San Juan Islands of Washington state. She was energetic a great hostess, loved giving dinner parties providing an opportunity for many, many friends to come together. Among her other joys in life were supporting education (St. Mary's Academy where she served as a trustee for many years and De La Salle North Catholic High School), her vintage 1989 BMW Z-3 two seat roadster which she still owned and loved driving (top down) at her passing, her two Shelty pet dogs Slider and Skeezer and especially what she referred to as her "Deer Garden" on Orcas which was so named for keeping the deer outside of the fence as opposed to consuming her roses inside. (Whoa be the fellow who left the gate open!)

Rest in peace Barbara for a life so remarkably well lived. You will be truly missed by the many whose lives you generously enriched.