Lois Barbara Yohans Wogrin (“Barbara”), 94, died on June 12, 2024, surrounded by her family.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1929, the daughter of Carl and Irene Phillips Yohans, she graduated from Hillhouse High School and received an associate degree from Larson College. She later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Massachusetts Amherst and spent a career as a speech and language pathologist in the Chicopee public schools.
Barbara met her husband Conrad (“Connie”) working at Yale, where he was a graduate student. They married in 1951 and lived in Cheshire, Connecticut, where they had three daughters. In 1967, they moved to Amherst, where they lived for 50 years.
Always involved in her community, in Cheshire Barbara was President of the local League of Women Voters (LWV) and was a dedicated member of Saint Peter’s Church. In Amherst, she remained active with the LWV and served as president of Helen Mitchell Family Outreach. She also worked as a docent at the Smith Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, volunteered at the Hospice Shop of Amherst, and was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Her greatest happiness was in her family and friends. Known for her good nature and sense of humor, her competitive streak came shining through when playing tennis or even board games with her grandchildren. She and Connie loved to travel and together saw much of the world. Barbara had many talents: she was an accomplished pianist and seamstress; loved bridge, tennis, skiing, and swimming; and took up golf in retirement.
Married for 66 years, Connie’s death in 2017 motivated her move to Concord to be closer to her daughters. She resided at Newbury Court and then the Gardens. Her family will remain forever grateful for the care from the Gardens’ staff during her final years.
She is survived by her three daughters, Sandy Warren and husband Bob of Wellesley, Carol Wogrin of Arlington, Nancy Confrey and husband Tony of Concord; and her brother, Carl Yohans of New Haven, as well as seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A family service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the “Conrad Wogrin Undergraduate Scholarship in Computer Science” at cics.umass.edu/support or to The Gardens at New England Deaconess at nedeaconess.org/giving-payment/donation.htm by including “Gardens” in the memo field.
Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Concord. To share a memory or offer a condolence visit: www.concordfuneral.com.
