Mrs. Barbara W. Wheeler Johannessen

Barbara "Bobbie" (Wheeler) Johannessen, 85, beloved wife of Neil Johannessen, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2010. Born February 7, 1925 in Baltimore, Maryland She lived in Poland from 1927-1931, when her family returned to the U.S. so that she and her brother could attend school. She grew up in New York and New Jersey where she attended Teaneck High school (grades 7 - 12) and met her wonderful future husband, Neil. Barbara earned a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from Rutgers University. While in training at NY Hospital at Cornell Nursing School she met her first husband Dr. Harold Wilbur (Bill) Schell. They lived and raised their two children, Kent Schell and Anne (Schell) Novak in Norwich, CT. Bill passed away in 1989. In 1997 Barbara attended a Teaneck High School reunion, where she reunited with her old friend, Neil. They were married in 2000 and lived together on Block Island, RI and in Middletown, CT. She is survived by her loving husband, Neil Johannessen; a son, Kent Schell and his wife Denise; a daughter, Anne Novak and her husband Patrick; her brother, George Wheeler and his wife Clare Weiner; three grandchildren, Kristen Novak, Adam and Tyler Schell and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Masonicare Partners, Home Health and Hospice, 111 Founders Plaza, Suite 200, East Hartford, CT 06108 or Block Island Health Services, Box 919, Block Island, RI 02807.