It is with profound sadness but uplifting memories that the family of Rosalie Preble Barden of Gorham announces her passing on 29 July, 2023, at age 96. Rosalie lived an active life, cherished her family, loved people and animals, and she always felt blessed.

Rosalie was born in Bath, Maine, on September 22, 1926 to Clarence Appleton Preble and Grace Gertrude Shea Preble. She attended Day’s Ferry school then Morse High School in Bath. She left high school during World War II to attend the Quoddy trade school to learn drafting. Returning to the Bath Iron Works she worked in the Hull Drawing Room as an Apprentice Draftsman at age 16. During this time, she took flying lessons. After the War, she finished high school and then attended Stephen’s College in Colombia, Missouri. Later she transferred to Gorham State Teachers College in Gorham and received her BA in Biology.

She married Richard Thomas Barden on September 4, 1949, at the First Parish Congregational church in Gorham. They were married 70 years. Richard passed in 2019, shortly after this remarkable anniversary. When first married they opened and operated the Standish Pharmacy and Restaurant. Rosalie became a member of the Dawn of Hope Chapter of Eastern Star and Secretary of Maine Vacation Dog Club training obedience and showing American Cocker Spaniels while they lived there.

When Richard’s father needed to retire, Dick returned to Gorham to operate Barden Drug Company. Gray Road was the first home for their three children Michael, Terrilynn and Gregory. In 1959 they moved to Deep Cover Shores on Sebago Lake in Raymond, Maine. When the Bardens moved back to Gorham a few years later they kept the cottage on the lake. Dick eventually purchased the pharmacy from his father and opened Gorham Pharmacy with his former competitor, then partner, Bill Rickards. Dick’s mother deeded her childhood home in Kingfield to him, which was used as a skiing vacation camp. While their children grew, their activities kept the whole family busy. They also hosted a high school exchange student, Patricia Palma from Ecuador, who became a member of the family to this day.

Rosalie, being multi-talented, created the architectural design for the home they built on Flaggy Meadow Road. She also initiated an art program and taught art in the Gorham Public Schools. One summer she presented art workshops on the cruise ship the S.S. Rotterdam. She was Vice President of Maine Women in the Arts, a member of the Art Guild of the Kennebunks, the Maine Art Gallery in Wiscasset, and Associate Member of the American Society of Marine Artists. She created art in several media, from oil to sculpture in wood and bronze, but eventually she focused on watercolor as her preferred medium. She won numerous awards and sold over 600 watercolor paintings. After receiving her self-designed Master’s Degree in Education, she became an Associate Professor at USM and Associate Professor at St. Joseph’s College.

Rosalie was an active member of the First Parish Congregational UCC Church in Gorham since 1949. She served on several committees, most importantly the Building Committee for the large extension that was added to the church. She was a deacon for seven years and she enjoyed attending Bible classes there. Rosalie and Dick both sang in the church choir and often sang duets during the morning service. While they were members, the First Parish Choir released a Christmas CD “What Sweeter Music” and traveled together to North Carolina and throughout Europe in Choir Festivals. Rosalie sang in the choir for 60 years.

Dick and Rosalie loved to travel and visited 21 countries, 8 large islands and a good part of the United States. Rosalie’s favorite personal trip was to Jerusalem and Israel. She was a member of several clubs but felt the most worthy activity was being a volunteer for 10 years in Hospice which at that time worked out of two churches before there was a central facility. Interesting fact is that Rosalie was a distant niece of Commodore Edward Preble whose flagship at Tripoli during the First Barbary War of 1803 was “Old Ironsides”, the U.S.S. Constitution.

Rosalie enjoyed people, art, music, dancing, water and snow skiing, cooking, reading, cartoons, sports, and was an avid Celtics fan. She was beloved and respected by all who knew her.

Rosalie was predeceased by her parents, her older sister Grace Louise, a nephew Daniel Sawyer, and her loving husband of 70 years, Richard T. Barden. She is survived by her three children, Michael Barden, Terrilynn Barden Dubreuil, Gregory Barden, her half-sister Grace Ellen Preble Sawyer and her husband Gerald Sawyer, her half-brother Clarence A. Preble (“Chip”) and wife Judy Hill, along with ten grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, five nephews and four nieces. 

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