Patricia Barbour Plummer

Falmouth – Patricia made her entrance to this world on Monday December 29, 1952 in Portland. She left behind all that she cherished on May 23, 2016 surrounded by her loving family after living and embracing the last six years with ovarian cancer.

Patty grew up in Yarmouth, the younger daughter of George and Hazel Barbour. She graduated from Yarmouth High School in 1970 and the University of New Hampshire in 1975 with a BS in Occupational Therapy.

Patty began her forty-year career as an occupational therapist at Maine Medical Center initially as a student intern and she went on to became the Rehabilitation Manager. After 21 years at MMC, Patty joined the staff at New England Rehabilitation Hospital as a manager and Clinical Leader of Occupational Therapy. She was a highly respected clinician who made an impact assisting her patients back to health. Patty was an exemplary supervisor and mentor to many colleagues in the field. Pat was a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and active as an officer in the Maine OT Association during her career. She received the State Leadership Award for her practice, innovation and superior leadership skills in developing the multi-disciplinary therapy unit at Maine Medical Center. Patty retired from practice in July 2015.

In recent years, Pat enthusiastically raised funds with her Warriors of Teal Team to support the Cancer Community Center at their annual Fight Back Festival. She loved attending events at the Center and created many supportive friendships.

Patty’s greatest commitment and joy was as the proud mother of her beloved Kathryn and her loving husband of thirty-five years, Lew. Together they spent many wonderful years at their camp on Mooselookmeguntic, enjoying the lakeside glorious sunsets. Pat found much beauty in life particularly in nature and the family loved camping, hiking, fishing and sailing together. She was the consummate “Betty Crocker” homemaker and cook loving to entertain her many friends and family. In the last six years Pat lived very intentionally and traveled with Lew to New York City, Washington DC, North Carolina, Bermuda, San Francisco, Vancouver, Quebec, Alaska, Las Vegas, Chicago, the Southwest including Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon National Parks.

The language of Patricia’s soul was in her caring, her laughter, decades of meaningful work, and her unfailing love of family and friends. Her gifts to those around her were her generosity, her positivity and lightness of spirit. This remarkable woman mattered and will be missed by many. She will, in fact, always be among us.

Patty is survived by her devoted husband Lew of Falmouth and cherished daughter Kathryn L. of Durham, North Carolina: her parents George and Hazel Barbour of Brunswick, sister Paula Barbour her husband John Brennan of Tallahassee Florida, brother Donald Barbour of Alfred, sister in law Joanne and her husband Jim Nickerson of Kingfield, niece Ashley her husband Chris Brochu of Enfield, five great nieces and nephews, nephew Seth Nickerson of Kingfield, aunt Theodora Leighton of South Portland, uncle Richard Winchenbach of Freeport and many cousins.

Pat, Lew and Kathryn are sincerely grateful for the years of care and support provided by Dr. Jason LaChance and his staff, Hans Bowder and Jill Hobert, and all the staff at the MMC Cancer Institute. The family also recognizes the wonderful care of the MMC Gibson staff. Over the last months Patty was supported at home by the compassionate caregivers of Hospice of Southern Maine and in her final weeks at Gosnell Hospice House.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Saturday, May 28 at Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane in Yarmouth from 1 to 5 pm.

The Turning the Tide Retreat for woman who have ovarian cancer was a central support in Patty’s life making it her choice for remembrances in her memory at www.bethwrightcancercenter.org/ovarian-cancer-retreat. Memorial donations can also be made to the Cancer Community Center, 778 Main Street in South Portland or www.cancercommunitycenter.org.