WINTHROP - Barbara Cummins Rand, 85, died peacefully in her sleep on July 15, 2010, in Winthrop, after a long illness. Three words -- live, love, laugh -- wonderfully describe Barbara. She was born Barbara Elizabeth Cummins in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 4, 1924, five years before the Great Depression began. She and her older sister, Margaret 'Mardi', were fortunate to live a comfortable and privileged life. Her father, James Elmer Cummins, was a distinguished physician in the New York area, and her mother, Mary Miner Daniels, was a registered nurse. Her father, an amateur dahlia breeder, developed a red variety that he named for her, calling it 'Bobbie Liz.' Her aunt, Margaret Rabold, was an opera singer of some renown. As a child, Barbara remembered seeing her aunt break a glass with her voice. Barbara loved to sing, and always lamented that she didn't have the voice her aunt did. She had strong family ties to Connecticut and Baltimore. Barbara was a direct descendant of several Revolutionary War soldiers on both sides of her family and, at the age of 8, was granted membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution. After graduating from New York's Freeport High School in 1942, Barbara attended the University of Connecticut, Storrs. She developed an interest in radio and began working at a radio repair store in 1944. There, she hired Arnold Rand, a young radio instructor recently discharged from the Army. They were married on Dec. 27, 1945, and remained together for 64 years. They had eight children, and their house was always filled with noise and activity. Barbara truly loved young people. She was extremely active in the Girl Scouts of America and was a senior troop leader for many years. She enjoyed traveling with her Scouts, taking them on trips to Glen Spey, N.Y.; Expo '67 at the Montreal World's Fair; and Assateague Island, Va. A highlight of her Scouting experience was a trip to the 1964 Girl Scout Round-up on Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho. In 1977, she was presented the Elinor J. Ferdon award from the Bergen County Council. One of only five women to ever receive this award, it was in honor of her many years of service with the Girl Scouts. Barbara lived with her family in North Bellmore, N.Y.; and Rivervale and Woodcliff Lake, N.J. The family owned a summer home on Lower Narrows Pond in Winthrop and spent many happy times there. She loved to hear the sound of loons calling through the mist on the water. She worked for a number of years at Van Riper Farms and Dorchester School in Woodcliff Lake. When she and her husband, Arnold, retired, they began spending summers in Maine and winters in Florida. They enjoyed traveling, and visited England, Mexico, Canada and Alaska. Arnold died in March 2009. His passing left her broken-hearted. Barbara laughed with her family and friends as often as she could. She took great pleasure in parties, holidays, reunions and weddings when the whole family would gather. She always remembered birthdays and anniversaries. An avid shopper, Barbara endured good-natured teasing from her family about her time spent in stores, but they all benefited from her kindness and generosity. Her memory will be carried with love by her eight children, Janet Dixon, of Hewitt, N.J., Susan Phillips, of Monmouth, Nancy Bell, of North Fort Myers, Fla., Sheri Stevens, of Whitefield, Johanna Roe, of Willard, Wash., Alan Rand, of Bellvale, N.Y., Jim Rand, of Summit, N.J., and Amy Janisheski, of Hewitt; 22 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces; as well as her dearest friend of nearly 60 years, Grace O'Brien, of Sanford, Fla. Her life will be celebrated by her family and friends at a memorial service at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 22. Friends and family are invited to also visit at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening to offer their condolences and share their memories of Barbara. She will be buried alongside her husband at the new Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the Winthrop Manor Activities Fund or the Girl Scouts of America in Barbara's honor. The address is Winthrop Manor, Route 133, Winthrop, ME 04364. The address for the Girl Scouts of the USA, Fund Development is P.O. Box 19611A, Newark, NJ 07195-0611. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.khrfu neralhomes.com