Barbara Dwyer

Bangor, Brunswick, and Otis - Barbara (Foley) Dwyer, age 92, passed away on October 15, 2015, at her home on Beech Hill Pond in Otis, Maine. Barbara was born November 27, 1922 in Bangor, the eldest child of J. Edward Foley and Freda (Weston) Foley. She graduated from Bangor High School (class of 1940) and Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. During World War II she worked at Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1946 Barbara married Curtis “Pat” Patterson, a pilot with the Army Air Corps. She and Pat lived in Bangor, France, Germany, Portland, Newfoundland, and Brunswick during his service career. They had two children and were living in Brunswick at the time of Pat’s death in 1962. Barbara then began to work as a substitute teacher at Brunswick High School and Coffin School and was active in several community organizations, among them The American Cancer Society and the Cancer Crusade Capers. In 1970 she married George “Smokey” Dwyer. They lived in Brunswick and Otis until his death in 1984. For many years Barbara enjoyed being at her home at Beech Hill as well as traveling and visiting with her family. She was an avid reader and had a great interest in history; in her 70s she studied history at the University of Southern Maine. Barbara was loving, kind, generous, joyful, and a wonderful story teller. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her son and daughter, James Patterson of Ellsworth and Ann Patterson of Otis. Other survivors are: her two grandchildren: Amy Patterson of Atlanta, Georgia and Jed Patterson of Richmond, Virginia and their spouses: Fodie Maguiraga and Hillary Patterson; her daughter-in-law, Nancy Patterson; her great-granddaughter, Caroline Patterson; her thirteen nieces and nephews: James Foley, Diana Rose, Mark Foley, Melissa Foley, Jane Dineen, Martha Wales, Louisa Attenborough, Jessica Dineen, J.K. Dineen, David Foley, Mary Jo Foley, Adam Foley, and Jonathan Foley; her step-children: John Patterson, Kirk Dwyer, Blair Dwyer, Thad Dwyer, Hugh Dwyer, Dane Dwyer, and Wendy Roy; spouses of nieces, nephews and step-children; her sisters-in-law: Beatrice Tibbetts and Virginia Anderson; her brother-in-law, John Dineen; several cousins; and special friends: Priscilla Smith and Elizabeth Baratta. She was predeceased by her siblings: John Edward Foley, Carolyn Dineen and Howard Foley. The family gives special thanks to Beacon Hospice, especially caregiver, Pam Macarthur, and to Loving Touch In-Home Care, especially Melinda Asch. Those wishing to make a contribution in Barbara’s name may donate to Loaves and Fishes, 119 Bucksport Rd., Ellsworth, Maine 04605. A memorial service will be held 3pm Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor immediately following the service Saturday. Condolences to the family can be expressed at www. BrookingsSmith.com.