Barbara Laughlin Brooks

On Tuesday, June 26, 2018, Barbara Laughlin Brooks of Silver Spring, Maryland. Barbara, wife of the late James V. Brooks, was born in Lewiston, Maine on July 6, 1928 to Emmet J. and Margaret Laughlin.  She had an older brother, Mick, (died 2007) and a younger sister, Dorothy Castellon.

Barbara grew up in Philadelphia where she attended Little Flower Catholic Girls High School.  She married Jim in 1952 and had three children; Jayne Clement (Robert), Melanie Coleman and James Brooks Jr. (Kathy).  She has 5 grandchildren; Ryan Meadows (Becca), Katy Meadows-Crutchley (Matt) and Lindsay Romich (Randy), Patrick and Maggie Brooks.  She has two great-grandchildren; Beau Meadows and William Crutchley, with twin girls and another baby expected in the Fall.  Barbara lived with her family in Timonium, MD and Charleston, WV before moving to Manor Country Club in 1971.  She pursued a college degree at Morris Harvey College in Charleston and finished an Associates Degree at Montgomery College in Rockville.  She worked at General Electric as an Executive Assistant until she retired.

Barbara was actively involved in Our Lady of Grace Church both as a member and a volunteer.  She leaves behind a special friend, Vito Sabia, and many other friends who were a wonderful part of her life.  She was loved and will be missed by all.

The family would like to thank Holy Cross Hospice, especially Mary Ellen Murphy, and Barbara’s loving caregivers Bernadette Gbaza and Zenab Cisse.  A special “thank you” to Barbara Conners who was a great help to the family and an amazing friend to Barbara.

Visitation will be at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 15663 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD 20906 on Friday, June 29, 2018 from 10:30am until 11:00 am with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Interment private.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara's memory to Holy Cross Home Care and Hospice, 10720 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901 or to Little Flower Catholic High School., Philadelphia, PA http://www.littleflowerhighschool.org/