Obituary for Barbara Diane Souther
CAMDEN………….Barbara Dianne Souther, nee Gervase, of Camden, was called home by the Lord on Wednesday, May 25. She was 75.
Barbara was the loving wife of Bob for more than 52 years; proud mother of daughters Bethany Zell (James) and Barbara “B.J.” Kopishke (Matthew); and adoring Nana to her grandchildren Christina, Elizabeth and Emily Zell, and Tanner and Abigail Kopishke. She is also survived by her brother William Gervase (Bobbi), as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Elmont and Massapequa, NY, Barbara was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth and William Gervase. She was a graduate of Massapequa High School, and Ricker College in Houlton, ME, where she received a B.A. in Education. She later earned an M.S. in Education from the University of New England. While at Ricker, she was a member of Phi Omega Chi sorority. Following her marriage, she and her husband both worked as teachers, living briefly in Eastport and Limestone, ME, before moving to Caribou, ME, where they lived for more than 48 years. She taught English in both the Caribou Junior and Senior High Schools before retiring in 2011 and moving to Camden in 2021. During her years in Caribou, she served multiple times as class advisor, and with a fellow teacher, put on an annual performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with their students.
Barbara, whose greatest joy was her grandchildren, will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, as a woman of strong faith who believed that God put people on earth to serve, and as a loyal friend, who was always available to listen, laugh and care. Throughout her life, she was a devout communicant at Holy Rosary R.C. Church, Caribou, and Our Lady of Hope R.C. Church, Camden. She will also be remembered as an active member of the Kappa Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International, a community service focused organization for women. Family, students and friends will especially remember how she delighted in ushering in every season and holiday with decorative flair both at home and school.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Good Hope R.C. Church, 7 Union Street, Camden, on Saturday, June 4, at 11:00 a.m.
Visiting will be held at Lancaster Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover Street, Caribou, on Wednesday, July 6, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Interment will be private.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sussman House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport 04856; NET (Neuroendocrine Tumor) Research Foundation https://netrf.org/get-involved/give-now/ or Maine Cancer Foundation https://www.mainecancer.org/donate-now .
The family thanks the staffs at the Cancer Care Center at Pen Bay Medical Center, Sussman House Hospice and Camden Area District Nurses Association for their professional and compassionate care during this difficult journey.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.
Barbara was the loving wife of Bob for more than 52 years; proud mother of daughters Bethany Zell (James) and Barbara “B.J.” Kopishke (Matthew); and adoring Nana to her grandchildren Christina, Elizabeth and Emily Zell, and Tanner and Abigail Kopishke. She is also survived by her brother William Gervase (Bobbi), as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Elmont and Massapequa, NY, Barbara was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth and William Gervase. She was a graduate of Massapequa High School, and Ricker College in Houlton, ME, where she received a B.A. in Education. She later earned an M.S. in Education from the University of New England. While at Ricker, she was a member of Phi Omega Chi sorority. Following her marriage, she and her husband both worked as teachers, living briefly in Eastport and Limestone, ME, before moving to Caribou, ME, where they lived for more than 48 years. She taught English in both the Caribou Junior and Senior High Schools before retiring in 2011 and moving to Camden in 2021. During her years in Caribou, she served multiple times as class advisor, and with a fellow teacher, put on an annual performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with their students.
Barbara, whose greatest joy was her grandchildren, will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, as a woman of strong faith who believed that God put people on earth to serve, and as a loyal friend, who was always available to listen, laugh and care. Throughout her life, she was a devout communicant at Holy Rosary R.C. Church, Caribou, and Our Lady of Hope R.C. Church, Camden. She will also be remembered as an active member of the Kappa Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International, a community service focused organization for women. Family, students and friends will especially remember how she delighted in ushering in every season and holiday with decorative flair both at home and school.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Good Hope R.C. Church, 7 Union Street, Camden, on Saturday, June 4, at 11:00 a.m.
Visiting will be held at Lancaster Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover Street, Caribou, on Wednesday, July 6, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Interment will be private.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sussman House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport 04856; NET (Neuroendocrine Tumor) Research Foundation https://netrf.org/get-involved/give-now/ or Maine Cancer Foundation https://www.mainecancer.org/donate-now .
The family thanks the staffs at the Cancer Care Center at Pen Bay Medical Center, Sussman House Hospice and Camden Area District Nurses Association for their professional and compassionate care during this difficult journey.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.