Barbara F. (Kimball) Finnemore

Obituary

Barbara Francis Finnemore was an amazing woman. Born on the Nubble Lighthouse, she was brought into this world to be a light for everyone she came into contact with. And that is exactly what she did. Her family shared many fond memories with Barbara and they will be held by her family forever.

Last Christmas, we took Barbara for a ride through York. At 94 years old, she still knew every road in the town, often telling us, well before the next intersection, to turn right here, or keep going straight there. We were joy riding to see the Christmas lights around town. We’d slow down near a decorated home, admiring the bright white lights, the red lights, the greens and blues, the lights that came from the inflatable Santa Clauses and reindeer, the icicle lights dangling from eves, and the spotlights on Christmas wreaths on the door. To know Barbara meant to know joy in doing things with loved ones. And she had plenty of loved ones to go around.

She is survived by her 3 children, Norma, Joan, and Debbie. Barbara was blessed with 11 grandchildren, Vicki, David, Dale, Tara, Aaron and Curtis as well as Christina, Nicholas, Jeffery, and Julia. From which came her 11 great grandchildren, Tashia, Dylan, Abby F, Julia, Rachel, Aubrie, Lance, Kendall, Abby B, Ella, and Emerson. Barbara even had 6 great great-grandchildren, Ava, Dylan, Nicole, Savannah, Teddy, and Josephine. Barbara is predeceased by her husband Lewis W. Finnemore, daughter Kathy and her grandson Ralph. Even with her abundance of family members, Barbara will also be missed by her abundance of friends that she has made over her 95 years of life.

For many, the clearest memories of Barbara will forever be of her in the kitchen at Norma's restaurant, a white apron around her waist, a smile on her face, moving seamlessly from task to task. She was the unspoken but universally accepted boss of the operation. Working with Barbara meant working hard. Employees used to show up for their waitressing shifts around 6:30 am, bleary-eyed and barely awake, to be greeted with a hug and cup of coffee by Barbara, already three hours and countless pounds of peeled potatoes into her shift. But working with Barbara also meant having fun, never taking time together for granted, and developing deep, lasting relationships with both co-workers and patrons alike.

There was a reason she was "Gram" to almost everyone she met there, with her way of making each of us feel like to her, for that moment, we were the most important person in the room. She will be remembered as the hardworking, joyful community builder who touched countless lives. Barbara also loved get-togethers, or “pah-ties,” as she called them. At her granddaughter’s 22nd birthday party, she sat in the same place for hours, talking with all the guests, most of whom were college kids! Many asked about her life or shared a little about theirs. Throughout the ensuing years, she’d ask how this or that person from the party was doing.

She had an amazing ability to remember details about others, which was all the more amazing given the number of people she met and the lives she touched during her 95 years of life. She had infinite appreciation for her relationships with those she loved. She cherished others deeply, and made us all feel loved at all times, no matter what. From being a mother to four amazing daughters, to a grandmother to her grandchildren, and to being a wonderful great grandmother to her great grandchildren and to her great great grandchildren.

Her kindness did not stop there however, as she touched many other lives throughout her 95 years. Barbara was an amazing nanny to four lovely children. She was widely loved for this kindness and even more for her sense of humor. Many a time having her family crying of laughter from a story she told or something she had said. Barbara did so many things and is loved by so many. She will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

A bench is being made in memory of Barbara to be placed at the Nubble Lighthouse in York.

Memorial Donations may be made to: The Barbara (Gram) Finnemore Memorial Fund c/o Kennebunk Savings Bank 2 Hannaford Drive, York, Maine, 03909

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