Barbara Rae Klar Hochrein, 54, died Sunday, March 30, 2008, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., after a sudden battle with cancer.

She was born Nov. 11, 1953, in Robbinsdale, Minn., and was raised in Glendora, Calif. Barbara was a graduate of the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, with a degree in ornamental horticulture.

She has been the town clerk in Webster, N.H., for the past 14 years and vice president of finances at Santa Cruz Gunlocks.

Barbara lived in Aspen with her sister Joanie Klar from 1981 to 1985 where she had her own plant business.

She also worked with architects Michael Fuller and Steve Conger and met her husband Joe Hochrein, who worked with Bill Poss as a landscape architect.

After their Aspen wedding, they lived at the Lauder home where their first daughter Rebecca was born.

Barbara will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her spunky personality, her newfound love of golf and her characteristic curly hair. She packed a whole lot of energy and strength in such a cute, petite frame.

She leaves behind her husband, Joe, of 25 years; and three daughters, Rebecca, Emily and Hannah. She is also survived by her parents, Robert and Joan Klar of Fallbrook, Calif.; sisters Joan Klar Bruce, Jeanne Burroughs and Beverly Sherman; and her brother, Scott Klar.

Memorial services were held at the Webster Congregational Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Therapy Dogs International Inc., 88 Bartley Road, Flanders, N.J., 07836 (tdi-dog.org).
A scholarship fund has been set up at Webster High School in her name.

“She was the laughter in the room.”