Barbara Rodman Lyons, 91, passed away on July 22 after a brief illness. She was the wife of 68 years to the late William C. Lyons. She was born in Branford on May 29, 1931, to the late Matthew and Mary Iflovic Rodman. A 1950 graduate of Branford High School, she worked as a secretary at the Flexible Tubing Corp. in Guilford, where she met her husband, Bill.

Barbara was a longtime member of the Branford Garden Club, the Branford Historical Society, and the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross Blood Mobile for many years and a Friend of the Blackstone Library. Barbara was a former Trustee of St. Therese Church, a member of the St. Therese Parish Council and Ladies Guild. She was a voracious reader, loved her gardens and flowers and playing bridge with friends. Her family shared many happy summer Sunday cook-outs full of good food and swimming at the old house. She was always active, and those who knew her will remember her boundless energy and enthusiasm for fun. Although Barbara and Bill traveled widely, she loved her life in Branford, especially the Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corp. She considered her greatest accomplishment her long and loving marriage to her husband Bill, with whom she was proud to have raised six children.

Barbara was grateful for her angels Maureen Gercken, Barbara Dunham, and Marcy Sandella for their love and thoughtfulness and her niece Mary Samson and great-niece Annie Samson.

Barbara is survived by her children, William (Karen) Lyons, Kathleen Lyons Serio, Anne (Jim) Miller, and Thomas Lyons; daughter-in-law Kathleen Moss Lyons; brothers-in-law, Robert Lyons, and David Hopper; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband William; her son Timothy Lyons; daughter Christina Lyons; grandchild Michael Lyons; and sister Verne Rodman Hopper.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Therese Church, Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Branford Community Dining Room, 30 Harrison Ave., Branford, or to the Branford Community Foundation, PO Box 462, Branford, CT 06405. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.