Barbara Joan Schenk

Barbara Bermingham Schenk departed this life on 6 June, 2011 at her home in Hampton. She was born in England on 31 May, 1923 at her family home and farm, Wolfdale, located in Rushton-Spencer, nr Leek, in Staffordshire. Barbara was the only child of Alice Yates Bermingham and Cyril Henry Bermingham. Her fondest times in England were spent in the countryside at Wolfdale, the moors, and across the lane at her aunts' home, Old Hill, beside Rudyard Lake and ancestral home, Cliffe Park Hall. She attended Westwood Hall School for Girls and later completed nurses' training. WW II shaped her life from caring for evacuees to her home, later joining the depleted work force by accepting a position at District Bank in Hanley, Staffs. from 1941-1944 then at the Leek Branch from 1944-1946. Next she worked as a nurse in London, where she resided during The Blitz. Barbara was a war bride who met her husband-to-be when he was training with the U.S. Army at Blackshaw Moor, Leek, in preparation for the D-Day Invasion at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. Their wedding story and photos were the subject of a 2005 Armistice Day anniversary piece printed in The Leek Post and Times. She sailed on The Saturnia on 24 May, 1946 from Southampton, England to join her husband in the United States. Not long after Barbara's arrival, her father suddenly died. Soon after, her mother left England to be with her daughter and family. They lived in various parts of New England until 1963 when they settled in Hampton. In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her first child, an infant daughter, in 1949, and by her husband, Richard W. Schenk, in 2001. She is survived by three daughters - Debra Schenk Moshier of Hampton, Judith Bird and her husband, Merritt, of Burlington, CT, Christine Schenk-Brangi and her husband, James of Killingworth, CT, and one son, also of Hampton, Richard M. Schenk and his wife, Judy Wilson. She also is survived by six grandchildren- Emily Barbara Moshier and her fiancAC., Alex Martineau, of Somerville, MA, Alex Moshier of Hampton, Tess Bermingham Bird of Providence, RI, Samuel Bird of Burlington, and Alyssa and Jillian Brangi of Killingworth. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, 25 June at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in the center of Brooklyn, CT, 7 Providence Rd at the junction of Rtes. 6&169. Please omit flowers. The family suggests memorial donations to either The Hampton Fire Department, c/o Dale DeMontigny, Secretary, 229 Station Road, Hampton, CT 06247 or to Hospice of Eastern CT, 34 Ledgebrook Drive, Mansfield Ctr., CT 06250. Arrangements through Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .