Barbara Louise Hemenway

Barbara Louise Hemenway – Loving and beloved Mom, Mum, Grandma

Barbara (Strand) Hemenway passed away and went to be with the Lord on February 17 in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the age of 93. She was born in 1930 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to Helene (Gulbrandson) and Harold Strand, and the family later moved to St. James, Minnesota. She graduated with honors from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and sang in the St. Olaf Choir. After teaching elementary school music for two years, she attended the University of Oslo summer school and remained for a year in Norway to teach music at the American School for NATO & Embassy Children (later known as the Oslo American School).

For two years, she taught 3rd grade in Colorado, where she met her husband, Nate, in an adult education class. They married in 1957 and had four children. The family lived in Connecticut, California, and Colorado. Barbara was for many years a member of the Colorado Historical Society and Sons of Norway and worked as a library assistant at Castlewood Public Library in Englewood, Colorado, for 14 years. She also taught piano in her home and played the pipe organ for many different churches.

Music was a special joy to Barbara, and she was exceptionally talented, able to draw others to the piano for an impromptu sing-along. She could play almost any piano piece by ear and do so in her distinctive and charming style. She loved many kinds of music including big band music and popular songs from the 1940s and 1950s, ragtime, hymns, and classical. Bella Notte, from Lady and the Tramp, was a recent favorite. She and Nate enjoyed Colorado Symphony events when they lived near Denver.

Barbara enjoyed reading, raking leaves, history, politics, gardening, knitting, and needlework. Her Christian faith was intensely important to her, and she treasured family and friends. She was caring, gracious, and kind throughout her life, even when she faced difficulties of her own. No matter what, Barbara—Mom—continued to appreciate the small and lovely moments in life--a sunny day, a joke, or a cup of tea and a cookie (make that two cookies).

She leaves beautiful memories to daughter Gayle Hemenway (Gary Amato), sons Jim Hemenway (Paula) and David Hemenway (Carol), her grandchildren Shannon, Patrick, Cameron, Dalton, Victor, Nathan, and Keith, sister-in-law Donna, and dear friends. Her husband, daughter Susan, and brothers Bud and Paul Strand predeceased her. The family wishes to express deep appreciation for the attentions of Pathways Hospice staff over the past few months and for the incredibly loving care given to Barbara in the Reflections Unit of Morningstar Assisted Living for the past three years.

A service is planned for Friday, March 10, 11:15 am, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Collins.