WESTBROOK - Barbara A. (Moore) Bellefontaine, 82, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Throughout her long journey with Alzheimer's, she never lost her feisty spirit and sense of humor. Barbara was born in North Conway, N.H. on August 29, 1935, the daughter of Etta (Jackson) and Aime Bernier.
Barbara attended Portland Schools and was a graduate of Portland High School, class of 1953. After high school, Barbara attended University of Maine Orono campus, receiving her Bachelor's degree in education. After receiving her Bachelor's degree, she taught at Westbrook Junior College from 1957-1959, teaching physical education. In 1959, Barbara moved to Connecticut, where she worked at Canton High School teaching physical education until 1963. That same year, she completed the Master's program at University of Hartford receiving her Master's in Education. After her completion of her Master's degree, she got a job at Bloomfield High School in Connecticut where she "found a home." She was always greeted by her staff with the friendly gesture of "Hi Mrs. B," and her students would greet her to start her day by saying, "Hey Mrs. B!" She worked at Bloomfield High until she retired in 1991.
Barbara was a devoted physical education teacher who took great pride in her teaching and her coaching. She coached basketball, field hockey and her favorite sport, softball, which she coached for 19 years. She once said "softball was a great part of my day. I worked with a wonderful bunch of kids. Sometimes we didn't do much winning, but we had a lot of fun."
Barbara is survived by her sister, Marie Moore Bellefontaine of South Portland; her stepson, Todd Bellefontaine and his wife Sheila; grandchildren, Bryan, Breanna and her husband Brandon Kupski; her great-grandson, Gabriel Kupski; special cousins, Patricia Bolduc of Manchester, N.H. and Florance Alan of North Conway, N.H.; and many nieces, nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and many great-great nieces and nephews. Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Etta (Jackson) and Aime Bernier; her husband, Andrew Bellefontaine; her brothers, Elwin Goldthwaite, William Goldthwaite and Herbert Moore.
Friends may call at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland, on June 10, 2018, from 4:30-7:30. A Celebration of Barbara's life will be held on Monday, June 11, 2018 at 11 a.m. with interment will immediately follow at New Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.
The family of Barbara would like to thank the kind and compassionate staff at Avita of Stroudwater where Barbara resided the last three years as her Alzheimer's progressed. When she could no longer live with her nephew and niece (Dan and Debra Tanguay) who cared for her throughout the progression of her disease, Avita became her home. The staff truly helped Barbara feel at home, not only for her, but her family as well. The family would like to also thank Compassus Hospice for providing supportive end of life care these last few months.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara's name to the:
Alzheimer's Association
Maine Chapter
383 US Route One #2C
Scarborough, ME 04074
