Barbara "Bobbi" Jo Belanger

West Bath – Barbara “Bobbi” Jo Belanger, 72, of West Bath, died peacefully with her family by her side at Mid Coast Hospital on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, after a brief illness. 

Born in Bath on September 16th, 1950, to John Edgar Belanger and Barbara Elizabeth Tasker.  She learned to knit and crochet from her Grammy Belanger, and how to sew from her mother.  She went to West Bath School, Bath Junior High, and was a proud, second-generation graduate of Morse High School in 1968.  She attended the University of Maine at Farmington and graduated in 1972 with a degree in Home Economics.  Her first teaching position was at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfboro, NH, where she taught for five years.  She continued a long family tradition of attending, then teaching, at cosmetology school.  In 1981, her only daughter, Anne “Annie” (Miller) Gilbertson, a 3rd-generation graduate of Morse High School in 2000, was born in Portsmouth, NH.  In 1986, they moved to Bath, ME to be closer to Bobbi’s family.  She taught at Wiscasset High School from 86’-97’ then at Brunswick High school from 97’-2007, where she retired after 35 years of teaching.  Bobbi knew the secret success of teaching, “Don’t smile at the children until Christmas.”   In July of 2007, her first granddaughter, Abigail, was born.  Emma would follow in 2011 and Charlee Belle in 2013, all three girls are future 4th-generation graduates of Morse High School in Bath.

Bobbi greatly enjoyed sewing, cooking, and baking.  In 2004, she purchased a long-arm quilting machine and would complete one, if not two or more, quilts for every member of her large, extended family.  Not to mention the numerous customers that she had.  Her most recent quilting project were quilts with matching pillowcases for her granddaughters at Christmas.  Her favorite places to quilt were at Mariner’s Compass Quilt Shop in Bath (now closed), with friends in Old Orchard Beach and with friends in Bath.

Bobbi was predeceased by her parents, John, and Barbara, two brothers-in-law, Benny Gilmore and Bob Bensing, and niece Christine Ducharme.  She leaves behind daughter, Anne, and her three daughters, Abigail, Emma, and Charlee Belle.  Brother Richard Belanger and his wife, Jule Ann of Arundel, ME; sister Susan Belanger and her husband John Colombraro, of Brunswick, ME; sister Janice “Bootsie” Bensing of West Bath, ME; sister Bette Gilmore of West Bath, ME; brother John F. Belanger and his wife, Karyn, of West Bath, ME; sister Mary Bean and her husband, Skip, of Rochester, NH; brother David Belanger and his wife Patti, of Farmington, ME; brother Norman Rich and his wife, Linda Rapson of Vancouver, BC; 16 nieces and nephews, 18 great nieces and nephews, 9 great-great nieces and nephews, several cousins, friends, classmates, and teaching buddies.  She also leaves behind her longtime companion, Rick Clarke.

Special thanks to Lois Leask for her long-time care with numerous members of our family.  Thank you to the Care Team members at Mid Coast Hospital for their kindness and compassion not only for Bobbi, but for our family as well.

Funeral arrangements are being made by David E. Desmond & Son Funeral Home in Bath.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 1:00pm at All Saints Parish, St. Mary’s Church, 144 Lincoln St., Bath, ME, 04530. A reception with light refreshments in the downstairs hall at St. Mary’s Church immediately following the mass.  All friends and family are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Bath Area Food Bank in Bobbi’s name.

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