Barbara “Bunny” Fairbank

       Barbara “Bunny” (Stankatis) Fairbank died on Monday, March 19, 2012 at Saints Medical Center in Lowell after a long illness.
       She was the beloved wife of Robert Fairbank with whom she celebrated 30 years of marriage in May of 2011.
       Born on December 3, 1959 to the late Anthony and the late Yvette (Morrissette) Stankatis, Barbara was raised in Lowell where she received her early education.
       After graduating from Wayland High School in 1977, Barbara worked as a goldsmith for Peter Wittman, where she met her husband Robert.
      Barbara was a devoted wife and mother who worked enthusiastically within the neighborhood to organize social groups for young children and their parents.  As her daughters grew older, Barbara worked for thirteen years as a paraprofessional at the Daley  Junior High School to continue her energetic nurturing of children at work and play.  All the while, Barbara maintained a keen passion for interior design, cleverly teasing the natural and simple warmth and beauty from the spaces that she inhabited with her family.
      Besides her loving husband Robert, Barbara is survived by her three daughters, Ashley R. Fairbank of Somerville, Kristin L. Fairbank of Austin, TX and Casey M. Fairbank of Waltham; by seven siblings, June Gallagher of Virginia Beach, VA, Phyllis and her husband Frederick Ward Reynolds of Wake Forest, NC, Sharon Coleman and her husband Warren Baker of Bristol, VT, Monica and her husband Robert Kanellas of Lowell, MA, Kate Himberg of Weymouth, MA, Brian Stankatis of Quincy, MA, and Robert Stankatis of Seabrook, NH, along with many brothers and sisters in law, nieces and nephews.

FAIRBANK – In Lowell, March 19, 2012, at Saints Medical, Barbara “Bunny” (Stankatis) Fairbank of Lowell, beloved wife of Robert R. Fairbank. Friends may call for a Memorial Visitation at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 8 P.M. Friday. Committal Services will be private. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to Lowell General Hospital, c/o Philanthropy Office, Cancer Care Center, 295 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854. E-condolences/directions at odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Directors John W. Crane and James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978 or 866) 458-8768.