Barbara (Kost) Baer

Barbara Ann (Kost) Baer, 89, of Harwinton passed away peacefully Sunday, May 10th at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.  She was the widow of the love of her life, her husband, the late John L. Baer.

Barbara was born in Torrington, CT on October 26, 1930, a daughter of the late Mary (Baca) and Nicholas Kost.  She grew up in Burlington and graduated from Canton High School, class of 1948.  After having a family, Barbara became a Real Estate Broker, first with her husband, then on her own, and finally with Bay-Mar Realty in Bristol.  She then fulfilled her life long dream of attending college and graduated from CCSU with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.  She then taught as a substitute teacher at the HarBur and Lewis S. Mills Schools.

But her greatest passion was writing.  Stories and poems, mostly for herself and her family.  In 1997, Barbara received the Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the National Library of Poetry and was published in their anthology, Tracing Shadows.

Barbara was a true lover of nature.  Flowers, trees, birds, sunsets, the sounds of the peepers in the evening, watching deer in the meadow, and playing with her favorite friend, her cat Tommy.  Barbara had a warm and generous heart and welcomed anyone needing a place into her home.

She is survived by her two sons, Jack Baer and fiancée Coleen O’Connor, and Jim Baer and wife Karen, both of Harwinton.  Grandchildren, Sarah and Matt Baer, Kelly and Ryan Baer and well as many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by a sister, Eunice Chu and brothers, Bernard, James, and Edward Kost.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the many caregivers who graciously assisted Barbara over the past several years.

Burial Services at East Cemetery in Harwinton are private.  Memorial Contributions can be made to the Harwinton Congregational Church, 1 Litchfield Road, Harwinton, CT  06791.

Online memorials www.phalenfuneral.com

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