Montpelier, VT Lois Keidel Baren passed away on August 13, 2013 after a lengthy battle with heart disease, complicated by diabetes, with her family and her loyal dog present. She was born February 21, 1933 in Nyack, NY. She grew up on a farm in Congers NY until she went to college, and helped with the chickens and other assorted animals her father raised on the farm. She graduated from Columbia University in NY, and Lenox Hill Hospital School of Nursing, where she became a Registered Nurse. Her passion was for psychiatric nursing, which she did most of her career, retiring from the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. She met her husband Carl while at Columbia University. He was a student teacher there, and came over to fix a stereo for her. It was love at first sight, and they were married on May 25th, 1963. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family, and was one of the things Lois mentioned she wanted to live long enough for. The other was going to the beach in Maine one last time, which they did in June 2013. Her interests included knitting sweaters and taking care of her hanging flowers on the porch of her First Avenue home. She also loved all of her animals, including her beloved Springer Spaniels: Angie, Rosie and Daisy May. There was never a skinny animal in the Baren household, as she fed them as well as she fed her family, not believing that an animal should be thin. The neighbors' animals were also included in this theory, and she cherished all of the dogs that would visit. She is survived by: Her Husband of 50 years Carl Baren; her Sisters Helen Harper of New City, NY, Wilma Keidel of Fort Myers, FL; Daughter Alicia Brady, and husband Robert; Daughter Claudia Brousseau, and husband Peter; beloved Grandchildren Lauren, with fiancée Michael; and Carl; Sisters-in-Law Dolores Grant and Ann Baren of Lynbrook NY; Nephews Terry Harper, and wife Mary, son James, and daughter Elizabeth; and Larry Harper. Lois was predeceased by her parents, Frederick and Marguerite Keidel; and brothers-in-law Gary Harper, and Al Grant. Services will be held at 11am on August 16th at Saint Augustine's Church in Montpelier, VT with a reception to follow at 7 First Avenue in Montpelier. Visiting hours will be 6-8pm at the Guare & Sons Funeral Home on School Street in Montpelier. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in her name to the Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601.