MOUNT DESERT
Barbara Jean Gilfillan passed away on Aug. 9, 2018, peacefully amongst her loving family and her closest companion these past six years, Holly, her beloved Corgi.
Born Jan. 9, 1933, to Fred and Nettie Blanchard on Beech Hill, Somesville, she recounted many memories about what life was like in simpler times. In 1954, she met her future husband, Robert Lawrence Gilfillan. Together they had four children, Bonnie Lee Gilfillan, James Michael Gilfillan, Karen Ann Gilfillan-Eno and Sandra Gilfillan. Raising her children kept her busy. Once they had grown and in school, she joined Robert to manage the family business, West End Drug Co.
In January 2005, she retired to pursue her passion for gardening. Her green thumb was evident everywhere you looked in her yard and she would remark that her work was never done. There was so much more she wanted to plant and see grow. Into her later years she continued her love of gardening by growing orchids and many other plants at her home. Remarkably, the day of her passing, an amaryllis that she had given Bonnie came into full bloom. Her struggles in later years with back pain made many things more difficult but she continued to the best of her abilities and treasured the closeness of her caring family.
She will be missed by her children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Private graveside services will be held in her memory by her family. In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the Somesville Village Improvement Society and the Jesup Memorial Library.
A private graveside service will be held 11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, at Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.