Barbara Chain

SUFFIELD – Barbara Hosler Folmsbee Chain, 85, of Boston Neck Road, Suffield, CT, died Monday, June 13, 2016, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA, after a long illness. She was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, James H. Chain who died in 2008. She is survived by seven children: Nancy Denis and her husband Charles of Wheat Ridge, CO, Alan Folmsbee of Haiku, HI, David Folmsbee Sr. and his wife Stephanie of Uxbridge,MA, Jeffrey Folmsbee and his wife Rei Hayashi of N.Y., N.Y., Elizabeth Hodgson and her husband Steve White of Northridge, CA; two stepdaughters, Rebecca Spear of Exton, PA and Barbara Fox of CT; 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and many beloved nephews and nieces; a brother, Dr. Charles L. Hosler Jr. of State College, PA. She was predeceased by her sister, Suzanne Mitchell. She was born in Honey Brook, PA, daughter of the late Charles L. and Miriam D. (Stauffer) Hosler, and lived in Suffield for over 50 years. She graduated from Honey Brook High School as Valedictorian and attended Penn State University.

Mrs. Chain was born during the Great Depression and carried the experience into adulthood with her thrifty ways, working her whole life in service to her family and her community. She sold blueberries and collected cans and tin foil during World War II to help her family and the war effort. In high school she was the captain of her basketball team, a cheerleader, and she was a member of the swim team and the synchronized swimming team during her time at Penn State University where she took pre-med courses. She taught swimming classes, Lifesaving classes, and was a certified Lifeguard, teaching Lifeguard certification classes as well. She prided herself on her knowledge of plants, trees, birds and ecology. She had an insatiable passion for learning and loved to share it in all areas of her life. She enjoyed writing poetry, limericks, and songs, often sharing them with her family, and also had articles published in the Suffield Observer.

Mrs. Chain was a laboratory technician for many years and worked for Grimshaw Tree Company as a certified arborist. She owned and operated her own laboratory in Holyoke for 7 years. Previously, she was a phlebotomist and a pharmaceutical sales representative. As a young mother, she was a saleswoman for Avon, working with photographers in both New Jersey and New York State. Later in life she worked for the State of Connecticut in the area of accounting.

She was very active in Suffield town politics, serving as 2nd selectman in town as well as on various committees including Wetlands, and the Planning and Zoning Board. She was superintendent of Public Works. In addition, she ran as the Republican candidate for the Connecticut House of Representatives and helped run many political campaigns over the years, including the successful campaign to elect Gov. Lowell Weicker.

Mrs. Chain was a Girl Scout Leader for over 20 years, driven by her strong love of the outdoors, and was involved with the Boy Scouts when her sons were young. She served as president of many PTO organizations. She was an active member and generous supporter of the West Suffield Congregational Church, serving on several committees, singing in the choir, and leading and participating in numerous fund raising and charitable projects. She was a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Red Hat Society, and active with the League of Women Voters. She was also an avid and devoted fan of UCONN Huskie Women basketball.

Barbara Chain is remembered as a generous, passionate, hardworking and courageous woman, and will be greatly missed by those who knew her well.

A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, July 23 ,2016, at the West Suffield Congregational Church, 1408 Mountain Rd., West Suffield, CT, 06093. There will be occasion to share your thoughts, readings or personal stories. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Suffield Congregational Church or The Suffield Historical Society. Paradis-Givner Funeral Home in Oxford, Massachusetts, is directing the arrangements. Barbara Chain’s memorial website may be found at paradisfuneralhome.com.