April Marie (Donovan) Barfield, 48, a kind, generous and loving woman, died on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

April was born in Presque Isle, Maine on October 13, 1974, the daughter of Fredrick and Margaret (MacWhinnie) Donovan.

She grew up in the Ashland/Portage area, graduating from Ashland High School in 1992. She was raised on her grandparents’ farm as they lived across the road from them, picking potatoes, strawberries, and blueberries. Some of her fondest memories were playing with her sister and cousins on the farm and riding their bikes.

One of her favorite things to do as a kid was go to the softball and baseball games that her dad umpired at, across Aroostook County. They would be gone from sun-up until sun-down doing tournaments in the summer and on the weekends. April loved when he umpired at the Presque Isle Ballfield because her dad would give her money to go across the street to the sandwich shop to get them both a sandwich and a soda.

April was an A+ student throughout school and was in the National Honors Society. She played basketball and softball and was a percussionist in the school’s band all four years of high school.

Upon graduating, she began her career in the medical field in 1992 working as a CNA at the nursing home her Aunt Nena worked. She met Raymond not long after, and they married 4 years later in 1996, moving to southern Maine. On Valentine’s Day, 2000, she found out she was pregnant, and in October, they had their only child, Alyssa.

April was an adventurer. She loved going to unfamiliar places and trying new things. She used to go on trips with her husband as he was a long-haul truck driver, traveling to places like the Carolinas, and Florida. In 2017, she and her dear friend Mary went to Arizona together and have many stories to tell and memories to keep. In 2019, she went with her mom, Mary, Alyssa, and Alyssa’s best friend Keegan to San Francisco, visiting the Redwood Forest, Pier 39, and Yosemite National Park.

April was loving, generous, and kind. She would give you the clothes off her back and gave the most thoughtful gifts. Her laugh was infectious, you could hear it a mile away. She was the best mom you could ever ask for, understanding, honest, and you could rely on her for anything. She always had your back.

Some of her hobbies and interests included playing volleyball for twenty plus years and most recently participating on a local bowling league. Ever the caregiver, she donated platelets every month with the Red Cross.

You could find April singing her favorite songs at Karaoke nights. She even had her own Karaoke machine with a microphone that she would play with Phil at home.

April was a consummate yard sale visitor and never missed a chance to shop at Marden’s. Her heart included her “fur babies” – her two dogs Tucker, Oliver, and cat, Meow.

We will miss her smile, her unconditional love and sense of adventure. Our hearts are heavy with grief, yet we know she will always be our guardian angel that keeps us moving forward.

She is lovingly survived by her mother, Margaret Irene (MacWhinnie) Donovan, of St. Agatha; separated husband Raymond Barfield Jr, of Waterboro; her daughter Alyssa Barfield and significant other Jason Boisvert of Parsonsfield; her sister Melodie Lavoie and Paul of Madawaska; her nephew AJ of Madawaska; her aunts: Nena and husband Charles of Madawaska; and her aunt Doretta Carney of Bangor; and April’s significate other Philip Smith.

Also, her best friends of many years who were like a second family to her: Angela Belk, Ruby Theriault, Mary MacIntyre and Patricia Collins, and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins.

April was predeceased by her father Frederick Wayne Donovan of St. Agatha; her paternal grandparents Jasper and Ernestine Donovan of Ashland; and maternal grandparents Donald and Myrtle MacWhinne of Madawaska; her in-laws Raymond, Sr., and Lorraine Barfield of Madawaska; and her two brothers-in law, Michael Barfield of Madawaska, and Danny Barfield of Mechanic Falls.

A Celebration of April’s life will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Free Baptist Church of East Waterboro, 213 Main Street, East Waterboro. Immediately following the service, please join the family in the church hall for a reception and to share your memories and stories together.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at April’s Book of Memories at www.bibbersautumngreen.com

Arrangements are respectfully being handled by Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak Street in Alfred.