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Helen Ogden (Purves) Barnard

Helen Ogden (Purves) Barnard passed away peacefully on September 11th after a 4 year stay at the Huntington Common retirement community in Kennebunk, ME.

Hoppy, as she was known to her friends, was born in New York City, but lived her early childhood on the campus of Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), Hampton, VA. At the age of 10 Hoppy and her family moved to New York City, where she attended Chapin School, then graduated from Concord Academy in Concord, MA. Hoppy went on to study early childhood education at Bennett College and spent her life dedicated to the care and education of young children. Hoppy worked at St John’s Floating Hospital in NYC in a program for underprivileged children, and then finished her career at the Brooks School in Concord, MA, where she worked in reading programs and played the piano and banjo in music classes with her students. In 1953 she married John Barnard, with whom she had three children: John (Jay), Deborah and Natalie. The family resided in Lincoln, MA, until moving to Hollis, NH in 1970. Beyond her family, Hoppy carried a deep love for her horses and Great Danes.

Throughout her life, Hoppy summered at her family home in Kennebunkport, ME, where many of her lifelong friends would congregate. Hoppy never tired of sharing her love for wading through tidal pools, walking the rocks, playing tennis or enjoying the beach. A devoted mother, she bestowed her positive, cheerful view of life with every encounter and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Hoppy was predeceased by her husband, John, and two daughters, Deborah and Natalie.

She is survived by her brother, Alec; son, Jay; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.