Barbara M. Bolf's Obituary
Barbara M. Bolf
Barbara M. Bolf of St. Helens died Sept. 6, 2010, at a hospice care center in Longview, Wash. She was 63.
Barbara M. Preston was born Oct. 14, 1946, in Vanport to John and Sylvia Oliver Preston.
Raised on a large farm property in Clackamas with her two sisters and parents, she graduated from Clackamas High School in 1964.
After marrying her first husband, Jim Duzan, she moved to New Jersey where he was based while in the U.S. Navy.
Eventually she moved back to Oregon where she worked at several jobs. Her husband died in an automobile accident leaving her to fend for herself and three daughters.
Remarried to Spiro Macheras, he left her after a short time to return to Greece, again leaving her to fend for herself and with two more children.
While working at various jobs, she attended nursing school and raised her children. As a home health caretaker, she worked with two quadriplegics, and often took her children to homes with her as she was unable to afford childcare.
She got a job at the Portland Veterans Medical Center as a phlebotomist, while still caring for her quadriplegic friends, and met her third husband to be, Larry. While working at the hospital she opened her home to several of the liver transplant patients. This was done so the veterans would have some place that would feel like home as most of them were from Texas and Arizona with no family to look after them.
Loving Greek music, food, and culture, she learned to speak Greek at the local Greek Church and from her friends. She loved to cook Greek dishes and was happy to offer food and shelter to anyone who was in need. It was not unusual to find four or five people staying at her home.
On July 10, 2000, she married Larry Bolf in Vancouver, Wash. After their marriage she was finally able to buy her first home in St. Helens. She also took up flower arranging and mastered the art of cutting up pinecones and rearranging and painting them to resemble flowers which she would use in her flower arrangements.
After 13 years at the veteran s hospital she retired on Sept. 14, 2007, and enjoyed her hobbies at home.
After two years of retirement, she suffered from three strokes over a period of five years that led to her having to quit her favorite hobbies of cooking and flower arranging. Her final time was spent enjoying reading books and watching travel programs on television. She has always dreamed of getting to see Greece in person.
She is survived by her husband of 10 years, Larry Bolf of St. Helens; children, Bridgett Duzan of San Diego, Calif., Jamie Duzan of Canby, Stephanie Preston of Longview, Wash., Michele Macheras of Tacoma, Wash., Adam Macheras of St. Helens, and from the blending of families, Rebecca Young of Portland, and Michael Bolf of St. Helens; 14 grandchildren; and sisters, Ann Preston of Portland, and Linda Preston of Longview, Wash.
A celebration of life service was held Sept. 10 at the Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.columbiafh.com.
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