A New Year’s baby, Barbara Ellen Doan was born to Charlotte and Louis Doan in New York City in the early 30’s, the middle child between two brothers, Herby and Buddy Doan. She was a vivacious and happy child who loved romance and singing-and-dancing movies, and her favorite star was ice-skating movie queen Sonja Henie. She tap-danced on the family’s front stoop, hoping to be ‘discovered’, and aspired to be a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, though she turned out to be a few inches too short. Barbara was an excellent student and the lead in her high school plays and continued to enjoy performing in amateur theater throughout her life, choreographing school pageants and directing Strolling Players productions.
Barbara met Tom Faughnan when he interviewed for a job at General Motors; she was executive secretary to his boss. She told her boss not to hire him because he was too young for any of the girls. Fortunately, the boss knew a good man and did hire him, and their love story began. They had a marvelous time dating in New York City and married a year later. The family came along quickly – Maura, Patricia, C.C. and Johnny – and in 1964, Tom’s career in purchasing for GM took them to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Faughnans enjoyed a wonderful overseas life in Argentina and Brazil, where they raised their children with a strong Catholic foundation and respect for learning, fun, and music. They built strong friendships with the Garcias, Mackays, Pardeys and many more families that survive to this day. The families would pile into their big GM station wagons for long summer beach days down the mountain in Guarujá, enjoying caipirinhas and shrimp skewers. Ever busy, Barbara loved nothing more than finding a new house to rent every few years and planning the décor and the move, drawing schematics of the next house and where she would place each piece of furniture and art. Barbara befriended some well-known Brazilian artists and was a force behind the American community’s art shows and fundraisers. Barbara was one of the best hostesses in Sao Paulo -- the Faughnans threw legendary parties and were founders of a ‘welcome newcomers’ party express that lasted for years.
Every two years the family would descend on their U.S. relatives the Doans, Faughnans, Greenes and Lowes for much-anticipated homeleave. Wanting to own a place in the U.S., Tom and Barbara bought a condominium in Boca Raton, Florida at Boca Bayou, which years later became their retirement home. GM transferred them from Brazil to Michigan in the late 70’s and they enjoyed their years there and put their kids through college. They had five more overseas years in Venezuela, where they continued to work, act in theater productions and enjoy an active social life. In the early 90’s, Tom retired and they began a wonderful life in Boca Raton, where some of their friends had also moved. They were a big part of their grandchildren’s childhoods: John’s son Joe and C.C.’s daughter Amy had enthusiastic grandparents in the stands or audience for their childhood sports or dance recitals, and the family gathered most Christmases in Florida. Barbara and Tom enjoyed road trips to New York, trips to Europe, cruise-tours of Alaska and Hawaii, and time with their family and friends around the country. Tom became Commodore of the Boca Bayou Yacht Club and Barbara was its social chairman. The group took countless cruises together and organized everything from Superbowl parties to ice cream socials at home. Barbara was happiest when everyone was having fun.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents and brother Herby and his wife Dolores, and by Tom who passed away in 2012, and son John in 2013. She is survived by her brother Bob and his wife Mimi, daughters Maura (Richard) Allen, Patricia Parmenter, and Cecilia Nevitt and her daughter Amy, as well as her grandson Joseph and many dear nieces and nephews. All of us will miss her tremendously. Her memory may have weakened but her love and recognition of family and friends survived till the end.
Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 5, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Ambrose Church, Deerfield Beach, with interment following at Boca Raton Cemetery.
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