Barbara S. Stannard

Barbara (Stoltenfeldt) Stannard, 93, of Columbia, cherished and devoted wife, mother and friend, passed from this life on January 20, 2011. Barbara was born and raised in Manchester, CT, daughter of the late Carl and Helen (Lyman) Stoltenfeldt. Barbara spent her summers visiting relatives in Columbia, and moved there in 1940. Barbara joined the Columbia Congregational Church and was active in the Columbia community, serving in the PTA, Girl Scouts, Congregational Sunday School and Red Cross health programs. She served as Columbia correspondent for The Hartford Times and as Vice-Chair of the Columbia Democratic Town Committee. Barbara worked in the Actuarial Department of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and later at the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company, where she served as Supervisor of Reinsurance Service in the Actuarial and Accounting Department, and as a member of the Phoenix Affirmative Action Resource Committee. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, E. Malcolm Stannard - former editor of The Hartford Times and The Willimantic Chronicle - and by an infant son, Everett Malcolm Stannard, Jr. Barbara is survived by her daughters Susan (James) Shearer, Sara (Jerry) Cross, and Andrea (Fischer) Stannard-Bessi. She is also survived by her grandchildren Heidi (Michael) Tomick, Erika Grant, Sarai (Shem) Ledoux and Gregory (Catherine Pope) Warburton, and by her great-grandchildren Joelle and Jake Tomick and Bill and David Sarnik. Also surviving is Barbara's dear cousin Jean Peters. The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Joseph Living Center for their devoted and loving care of Barbara. There will be no calling hours and all services will be private with burial in Center Cemetery, Columbia. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara's name may be made to the Columbia Congregational Church, PO Box 177, Columbia, CT 06237. Arrangements through Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .