Elizabeth J. Barker (Liz)

PORTLAND - Elizabeth J. Barker (Liz), 66, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2014, surrounded by her loved ones, including her dog, Oscar. She was born June 29, 1948 in Flushing, NY to Ronald and Constance (Lawrence) Gagne. When she was seven years of age, she moved with her family to Pelham, NH where she graduated from Mount St. Mary's in Nashua, NH. Growing up, Liz spent summers in England with her mother's sisters, Nancy, Pam, and Shirley and their families, whom she adored greatly. Her family then moved to Maine where she attended college and graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Education. Liz had a long and distinguished career in education in South Portland and Westbrook. Known for her advocacy of students, she put their needs first and treated them with compassion, dignity and respect. She had a great affinity for all students, especially for those with special needs. Liz supported students in Special Olympics. She launched a fundraiser to create and landscape a peace garden at Congin School. On a Fullbright Exchange, Liz shared her teaching talents in England, a country close to her heart, her mother's beloved homeland. About teaching, she always said, I love what I do. Liz served as Vice President of the teachers' union in Westbrook up until her recent retirement. She received the Catherine Sullivan Award for her contributions to WEA. During her tenure in Westbrook she was also nominated for Maine State Teacher of the Year. Liz's colleagues will love and remember her for her infectious laughter and outrageously funny pranks during professional settings. Her humor and passion for life uplifted us all. Her interests included gardening, reading, knitting, watching the Patriots and Red Sox games, and camping at Sebago Lake. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren Isabelle, Jack, Ryan, Catherine, Maxwell, Carson and another one on the way. Joy and mischief filled the house when Grammie was with her grandkids. Liz is survived by her brothers, David Gagne and wife Pamela of Henniker, NH, and their children Mary and James, and Peter Gagne and wife Cheryl of Cumberland, ME, and their children Joe and his wife Caitlin, and Erica. She was also survived by her extended family throughout England and New England. She had an extremely close relationship with her five loving children, Christopher Thombs and his partner Dana Rivers of Portland, OR; Anne Harvey and her husband Bob of Westbrook, ME and their four children; Stephen Thombs and his wife Jennifer of Andover, MA; Patrick Thombs and his wife Joella of Wethersfield, CT and their expected child; and Sarah Gibbons and her husband Scott of South Portland, ME and their two children. She will be deeply missed by many, many close friends and her Westbrook School Department Family. The family would also like to thank Dr. Matthew "Lucky" Dugan, Marcie and all the staff at Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, as well as the entire staff and facilities at the Gosnell House of Scarborough, ME. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 9:15am followed by a 10:00am Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland. Burial will be private in Evergreen Cemetery. Those who wish may make donations in Liz memory to: Maine Cancer Foundation, 170 US Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105 or the Gosnell Hospice House, 180 US Route 1 STE 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.Online condolences may be expressed below.