Barbara (Shumway) Jenks passed away peacefully on October 10, 2024 at the age of 97.

Barbara was the daughter of the late Leon and Grace (Eddy) Shumway and a 1945 graduate of Amherst High School where she was Captain of the cheerleading squad. After her graduation she worked for the New England Telephone Company as a switchboard operator.

       On October 10, 1947 Barbara married Kenneth Jenks and they started their lives together in Belchertown before moving to Amherst in 1970. Barbara and Ken had two children,

Karen and Dennis. While focusing on being a wife and mother, Barbara worked from home as a bookkeeper for her father’s electrical company, Shumway Electrical.

      In 1957 Barbara started working at Amherst Jr. High School where over the years she was secretary to 3 principals, Bill Marden, Leo Casagrande, and John Burruto.

      In 1988, Barbara retired to spend more time with her family and extensive list of friends including long time friends, Earl and Nancy Fay and friends and neighbors Betty and Herb Holden.

Over the years Barb and Ken enjoyed spending time with their family and friends in Amherst,

Vermont, and at their beach home on Plum Island. They were always the happiest wherever their friends and family were.

       When her husband passed away in 1993 Barbara felt that retirement wasn’t for her, so she  continued her extensive years of employment by joining the Yankee Candle Company first as a seasonal employee and then a full time sales associate. During her time at Yankee Candle Barbara received numerous awards, Employee of the year, Howdy Hospitality Award and was also pictured on the back of the Yankee Candle Delivery Trucks. Barbara enjoyed her 17 years with Yankee Candle, where she met so many wonderful fellow employees who became friends and the many returning guests who remembered her beautiful smile and kindness and always looked for her during their next visit.

     In 2009, Barbara was invited to again join the Kittredge family at their new candle shop, Kringle Candle in Bernardston where she worked until she was 92 and the COVID shutdown forced her into retirement again.

      Barbara will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by the many wonderful people who’s lives she touched over her 97 years. Barbara is survived by her Daughter,  Karen Isabelle,  Daughter-in-law,  Donna Jenks, Grandchildren, Laura (Isabelle) Skowronek and husband Steve Skowronek, Mindy Isabelle and husband Lamar Newsome, Mike Isabelle, Randy Jenks and family Cristy (Jenks) Jones and family, Great Grandchildren, Jill Skowronek and partner Jeff Judge, Stephanie Skowronek and fiancé Craig Bell, Nicholas Skowronek and fiancé Hannah Griswold, Brittini Benton, Courtney-Shea Newsome and fiancé Aidan Connelly, Alexis Isabelle,    Travis Isabelle and Great Great Grandchildren, Kylee Benton and AJ Bell. Barbara also leaves her 103 yr. old friend Helen Baj of Hadley and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

Barbara was pre deceased by her Husband Ken(1993), Son Dennis(2018),

and Son-in-law Ken Isabelle(2023)

 

Barbara Jenks – The woman with the beautiful smile!

The most wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great-Great Grandmother (GG) any family could have been blessed with.

 

Calling hours will be at Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst,  Sunday October 27, 2024 from 12pm-2pm.

 

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her name  to The Fisher Home of Amherst.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com