Barbara Kellowan

Barbara "Dahta" "RaRa" Kellowan, age 71 of the Village of Maybrook, unexpectedly departed this life to be with our Lord, on New Year's Day. She was surrounded by family members at Garnet Health Medical Center, in Middletown, N.Y. She is survived by her siblings Jairam, Moreen, Jairag, Claude, Dana, Ann, Roy, along with many nieces, nephews and very close friends. 

The first daughter of James and Mahroon Kellowan, Barbara was the second sibling of eight children. She was born in Wales Estate, Guyana. As a teenager, while her mother and father hustled tirelessly to provide for the family, Barbara immediately acquired the role as a parental figure to her younger siblings. After exhibiting her unwavering value to her family, just before her father passed, he stated that, "She is the "cornerstone" of the family". A title and role Barbara continued to exemplify by tirelessly supporting her family throughout most of her lifetime. Altogether, family was the most important part of her life.

With the love of her family serving as inspiration, she became very motivated to better her life. When opportunity presented itself, Barbara took complete advantage. In her early twenties, she migrated to the wonderful paradise isle of Trinidad & Tobago, and it is where she flourished the most. Barbara was offered a payroll position for Trinidad's premiere jeweler known as Y De Lima & Company Limited. Over the years, through sheer perseverance and her natural talent for accounting, the company offered her a promotion as a bookkeeper for the Accounts Receivable Department. With this position came more responsibility; however, she excelled and gained much notoriety throughout the company. Barbara's meticulousness and disciplined work ethic as an employee garnered much respect and admiration among her coworkers, and especially so, with the owner. Y De Lima & Co. Ltd. proved to be very lucrative. It afforded her the chance to continue supporting her immediate family with their future endeavors, enabling several opportunities to improve their own quality of life. In addition to helping her family, Barbara was also gifted with many talents. One such talent that she utilized to help further her support structure was her ability as an entrepreneur. During the 25 years, while working at Y De Lima & Co. Ltd., she also founded and ran a successful side business as a clothing designer from her home. The company was called Bar Randy, which was inspired by her closest and dearest nephew Randy. 

As well as her natural entrepreneurship, another talent that Barbara honed throughout her lifetime was her tremendous cooking and baking skills. She received many compliments with regards to the quality of her meals and baked goods. All of her family and friends insisted that she could have another lucrative business; however, Barbara steadily refused, because it always brought more joy sharing her meals and goods. Cooking and baking for family and friends continued until the very last moment of her life. 

In addition to her foundational role, Barbara's personality consisted of genuine magnetism that oftentimes attracted a vast network of close family and friends that spanned several countries. Coupled with uncanny witticism and an infectious sense of humor, anyone fortunate enough to encounter her always left with an everlasting impression. Whether you loathed or loved her, Barbara always made you feel that you mattered to this world. 

After retiring from Y De Lima & Co. Ltd, Barbara moved permanently to the United States of America to remain closer to her immediate family, and especially so, to be closer to her mother. In her remaining years as a retiree, she forged a special bond with her housing community at Maybrook Gardens. They contributed a great deal to her happiness, even to the very end. 

In this life, there are only two kinds of people, givers and takers. Barbara Kellowan was undoubtedly a giver, and it's the givers who make this world a joy to be in. 

Visitation will be Saturday, January 8, 2022, from 10am-11am, at Goodwill Church, 2135 Route 208, Montgomery, NY 12549.

A funeral service will follow at 11am, at the church.

Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Corwall, NY.

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