Mary Louise (Frink) Barnum, 85, of Great Barrington, passed away as a result of Lewy body dementia on November 20, 2024, at Fairview Commons, where she resided for the last two years. She was born on January 17, 1939, to Arleigh Milan Frink and Harriet Elizabeth Cummings at Sharon Hospital and grew up in Millerton, N.Y. She was a graduate of Webutuck High School in Amenia, N.Y.
Mary Lou is predeceased by her husband David Russell Barnum, whom she married on June 20, 1959, and who passed away on December 31, 2014. She is also predeceased by her son-in-law David Spaniol.
She leaves behind three children: Glenn D. Barnum of Suffolk, Va., and his wife Dale; Jacqueline M. Spaniol of Great Barrington; and Lisa J. Taikowski of Warrensburg, N.Y., and her husband Scot. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Glenn Barnum, Amanda Anderson, Scot Taikowski, Megan Spaniol, Michael Barnum, and Matthew Spaniol, and four great-grandchildren, Sierra Glaszcz, Bella Barnum, Brandi Glaszcz, and Scot Taikowski.
Mary Lou worked at Becton Dickinson in Canaan, Conn., for over 20 years and was the treasurer of the United Methodist Church in Great Barrington for many years. When she was younger, Mary Lou and her husband David used to love to square dance. She loved cooking for the holidays for her family and baking with her grandchildren. Taking care of her family was very important to her, and she especially loved doting on her grandkids. They all called her “Mimi,” and she was known for chasing them around with a spoon for “one more bite!” Mary Lou’s favorite color was pink, and she had a passion for sweets, specifically strawberry shortcake, pie, and any kind of chocolate or fudge. She didn’t discriminate when it came to her sweets; you always had to have dessert with dinner at her house.
The funeral service for Mary Lou Barnum will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1 p.m., at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary Lou’s name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association through Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to her family, please visit the funeral home’s website.
