Barbara Ann (Bakstran) Penfield

Barbara (Bakstran) Penfield, 76, of Middletown passed away peacefully with family by her side on July 14, 2023.  Born on January 11, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Arnold and Mary (Leone) Bakstran.

Barbara was born and raised in Fitchburg, MA and had lived in Middletown for the past 52 years. She was a graduate of St. Bernard’s High School and Stevens College. She was employed by Aetna until her retirement in 2012.

Barbara enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling with her sisters, UCONN games with some of her closest friends and many adventures with her children and grandchildren.  Every June, you could find them in Newport.  She was an avid sports fan and loved the Red Sox, Patriots, and of course UCONN.  She enjoyed being active playing many different sports, but tennis was her first passion.  She loved music and dancing and became known as the dancing queen.

Barbara was a member of St. Pius X church where she was a Eucharistic-minister and religion teacher. Barbara was a kindhearted and loving woman who was always willing to help others. Her passion for life was contagious. She shared this as a youth mentor and in many other ways. Her door was always open not just to her family and friends but also to friends of her children and grandchildren. She was affectionally known as mom or Grammy to many of them.

Barbara leaves behind two daughters, Kym Ciccia and her husband Guy, Heather Dawes and her husband Anthony both of Middletown; two grandchildren Antonio Ortiz of New Britain and Vincent Ciccia of Middletown; two sisters Marion Tomasello and her husband Peter and Gail Hebert and her husband George both of Westminster, MA and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Along with her parents, Barbara is predeceased by a sister Marilyn Smith and her grandson Anthony Freeman, Jr.

Funeral services will be Monday, July 24, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 310 Westfield Street, Middletown, CT. Burial will be at Miner Cemetery.

Calling hours will be Sunday, July 23, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown, CT. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Barbara’s memory may be sent to either the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or a children’s charity of your choosing. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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