WASHBURN AND ORONO, Maine – Janette Alice (Rand) Barker, 86, passed away peacefully at her apartment in Orono on October 10, 2017, with her daughter by her side. She was born in Chapman, April 10, 1931, the daughter of the late Wallace and Lucy Rand.
Janette worked at Tater State in Washburn, before becoming a mother, and later as a housekeeper for several Washburn families, while also returning to Tater State in 1966, until retiring October 20, 1982.
Janette is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Lucas and her husband, David; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, Kassidy Madden and her husband, Christopher and their children, Dylan, Colin and Haylie, of Greenbush, Holly Holmes and her husband, Will Klechka, and their children Sydney and Ryley, of Salado, TX, Laura Turcotte and her husband, Rodney and their children, Zachary, Caitlin, Rodney and Dakota of Fort Fairfield, Robert Barker and wife and children, Jackson, Aiden and baby of Dedham, and Kent Holmes of Orono.
She is also survived by brothers, Harold Rand, Gary Rand; and sisters, Marie Wandrey, Gail Bull, Margaret Turner, and Edwina Stairs; many nieces and nephews.
Janette delighted in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, each visit was precious and memorable for her. Her summer was full of their visits even from Holly and her precious girls all the way from Texas. She enjoyed our beautiful summer weather, her many rides each day especially those with Kent, her flowers around her apartment that we planted, her walks with Kassidy and the comfort of her new little place surrounded by family. We had to keep the freezer full of ice cream and snacks for Dylan, Colin and Haylie and aka Nana. All good memories and precious times shared. We squeezed in many lunches and the children’s baseball and soccer games that she watched from the car.
Janette was a lifelong member of the Lidstone Memorial United Methodist church in Washburn and often talked about all her memories of her church life.
Besides her parents, Janette was predeceased by her beloved son, Robert “Bobby” Thomas Barker in 1995, and her husband, Thomas Sherman Barker in 1982; brothers, Weldon, Max, Alex, Robert Rand; and sisters, Ellen Lewin, Sarah Knox and Shirley Rand.
A private graveside service will be held in Washburn at a later date. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
