Barbara Marie (Hanley) McLean died peacefully on April 13, 2018 at 92 years of age. She was born on May 10, 1925 in Holyoke, MA and was raised by her parents, Marguerite (Bresette) and George Hanley. She was an only child.
Barbara attended local public schools in Holyoke. She was a cheerleader at the Holyoke High School where she was elected vice president of her senior class. Barbara met her future husband, Dan McLean, when they were students and both became close friends. After high school, both were separated when her husband enlisted in the Marines during World War II. Dan was stationed on the USS Hancock in the South Pacific, while Barbara attended college at Mass State where she majored in Business Administration.
After the war, they married on June 25, 1948 and had two children, Bonnie and Dan. The family lived in Holyoke for many years, where her husband worked in the insurance business. After their children left home, Barbara and Dan moved to South Hadley, MA where they spent their early retirement years together. They later moved to Palm Harbor, FL where they played golf regularly and spent time with their grandchildren and friends. Her husband died on January 3, 2015 after an extended illness at the age of 89, and Barbara lived independently until she moved to Princeton Village in Largo, FL.
Barbara was a loving wife, mother and daughter, a creative artist and a sports enthusiast. She enjoyed painting and sketching portraits and she loved playing golf. Barbara played in numerous golf tournaments but she mostly played for fun. She had many good friends and loved socializing and entertaining. She loved spending summers in Quonochontaug, RI where the family built a cottage near the shore.
Barbara is survived by her son, Dan and his wife Rachael, of Amherst, MA; her daughter, Bonnie and her husband, Paul McKinley of Clearwater, FL; her four grandchildren, Abigail, Caroline, Lauren and Scott; and her two great-grandchildren, Lilly and Celine.
Barbara was an intelligent, sensitive and loving woman who adored her family and enjoyed life. She will be missed by all those who loved her.
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