Obituaries

Barbara Sabo, a lifelong resident of Scranton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday at the Elan Skilled Nursing Center in Scranton while also in the care of Compassionate Care Hospice.

Born in Scranton on April 9, 1952, and daughter of the late Michael and Isabel (Robinson) Sabo, Barbara attended Scranton Public Schools and was a graduate of the former Scranton Central High School where she achieved a perfect score in the math portion of her SAT. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from Marywood University before obtaining a master’s degree in speech pathology from Bloomsburg University. Also at Bloomsburg University, she continued her education with post graduate coursework.

From 1974 to 2007, Barbara served as the Scranton School District speech pathologist before a well-deserved retirement after over three decades of service to the district. She was patient, kind and genuinely caring in her teaching, and her students undoubtedly loved her just as much as she loved them. She was formerly an active member of both the Scranton Frederation of Teachers and the Scranton Women Teacher’s Club.

Unquestionably brilliant, her dream of becoming a physician was dashed at an early age when she selflessly helped to take care of both her ill brother and mother, inevitably doing so for many years. Humble to her core, she would leave work nightly to perform portable dialysis on her mother, while caring for her at home.

She loved reading of all kinds. An expert on Agatha Christie novels as well as other obscure British crime novelists, she was also a huge fan of acclaimed food writer, M.K. Fisher.

Barbara loved traveling, especially to London with her best friend Fran, where in a walking tour they re-traced the steps of Jack the Ripper’s path of horror. For several weeks every summer, she vacationed in Canada, and she also adored New York City, N.Y., visiting her friend’s daughters there for nearly twenty years.

Barbara had an undeniable love for animals, especially her friend’s six Scottish Terriers and three Beagles. Her pets adored Barbara’s gentleness. She was also interested in cinema, especially the classic movies. She knew the actors’ names and was well-versed on the histories of each film.

She is survived by her her cousins, Colleen Valett, Frank Durkin, Clifford Durkin and Keith Durkin; her longtime best friend of fifty years, Francine Douaihy, whom she shared both a special friendship as well as a priceless family-esque bond, and Francine’s husband, Thomas Douaihy, CPA, of Dunmore; and her extended family, Lenore Mills, Gina Douaihy, Dr. Margot Douaihy, Bri Hermanson, Atty. Christa Douaihy and wife Atty. Sienna Baskin, all of Northhamton, MA.; and her special little friends, Lina Jasper Douaihy and Angel Marie, Fran’s lemon beagle.

Barbara’s loved ones would like to acknowledge and thank the entire staffs of both Elan Skilled Nursing Center as well as Compassionate Care Hospice for the amazing care provided to Barbara throughout illness.

A private blessing service will be from the Kevin K. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 N. Main Ave., Scranton, with burial alongside her family at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow. A celebration of Barbara’s life with memorial mass at Saint Ann Maronite Church, West Scranton, will be scheduled.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s name to the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter c/o 967 Griffin Pond Rd., S. Abington Twp., Pa. 18411.