Barbara L. Tanguay

Westbrook- Barbara Irene Tanguay, 74, formerly of Bridge Street, died on August 11, 2012 surrounded by her family, at Maine Medical Center following a lengthy illness. She was born in Westbrook, a daughter of Harley and Ruth Annis. Barbara was a graduate of Westbrook High School. She married Maurice Tanguay in 1959. Her husband was drafted soon after marrying, separating the newlyweds for over two years before he returned. They soon began raising a family, having their first child in 1963. Their first home was on Elmwood Ave in Westbrook. They later purchased a working dairy farm in Cornish, affectionately known as, â€œThe Tanguay Farmâ€. They made many lifelong memories for themselves but also for many extended family members and friends that would visit weekly. Barbara would subsequently have six more children, losing an infant son soon after birth. In 1974, she and Maurice sold the farm and moved to Gorham where she raised her six children, tending to the day-to-day needs of her family. Barbara was very spiritual and dedicated to her faith. She would insist on having all her children attend weekly mass with her, seeing them through all the sacraments. She looked forward to her yearly trips to St. Anne de Beaupreâ€™ , eventually taking her daughters. She always had an artistic side that she expressed in many different ways throughout her life. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, painting and quilting. She designed two specific types of winter floral arrangements in the basement of her Gorham home for Brooklawn Cemetery and coordinated a group of women every November to make them. She coordinated every detail of this yearly endeavor for more than 25 years. Under her supervision, the group made countless arrangements that would withstand the winter season. Her design is still in use today. In addition to all the cooking she did over the years, she especially enjoyed baking. As her children became adults and began their own families, she enjoyed the many milestones of their lives, notably her grandchildren. Barbara never missed the birth of a grandchild, often spending hours in the waiting room anxiously awaiting the arrival of a newborn. In 2000, she and her husband moved to Bridge Street in Westbrook where they enjoyed frequent visits from their family and friends. In 2006, four months after her husband died, she was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant meningioma, which slowly began to diminish her ability to live independently. She was pre-deceased by an infant son, John and her husband, Maurice Tanguay. She is survived by six children, June Lentz and her husband Michael, Jeannette Tanguay, Joanne Curtis and her husband Kevin, Jennifer Lentz and her husband Dan, John Tanguay and his wife Sharon, Judy Jensen and her husband Todd; grandchildren, Danielle Lentz and her fiancÃ© Abraham Bates, Darci and Daley Lentz, Natisha Eaton and her fiancÃ© Jonathan Manocchia, Derek Eaton and his fiancÃ© Amelia Nguyen, Jami, John and JT Maurice Curtis, Marisa and Elizabeth Lentz, Courtney and Catherine Carlson, Charles Tanguay, Abigail and Adelia Jensen; two sisters, Dolores Goozey and her husband Raymond, Patricia Waite and her husband Richard. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and was especially close to her niece, Cindy Smith. Visiting hours will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at Blais & Hay Funeral Home, 35 Church St. Westbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will celebrated at 10 AM on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Brown Street, Westbrook. The family would like acknowledge the exceptional care they received from Sarah Burrill, the staff at the Barron Center and staff at PC3D at Maine Medical Center.