Obituary
Barbara Ilene Cohen Paronett (Bobbi) lost her battle with cancer in her Daytona Beach, Florida home on December 25, 2021, with loving daughter Elizabeth and husband John by her side. She was born in Brooklyn, NY August 15, 1949, to Louis and Selma (Feldman) Cohen. She was predeceased by her parents, as well as stepfather, Milton Prager and uncle, Melvin Feldman.
Barbara is survived by her devoted husband of 45 years, John, daughter, Elizabeth, brother, Charles “Chuck” Cohen (Mary Beth Paquette), aunt, Gloria Feldman, stepsisters, Judith Prager (John O’Brien), and Marjorie Prager (Kevin Burke), sisters in law, Vicki Paronett Durshimer and Denise Paronett Hill, brother-in-law, Ron Paronett (Sharon), cousins, Steve (Janice) and Peter (Andrea) Feldman, nieces, Sage and Hope Paquette-Cohen, nephews, Nick (Christine) and Sam (Emily) Burke, Matt (Nicole) and Michael Durshimer, Brent (Kimberly) and Lance Hill.
Bobbi graduated from Brooklyn’s Erasmus Hall High School (1967) and SUNY Cortland College (1971) with a BA in English and NYS teacher certification. She completed post graduate studies at SUNY Oswego. She taught English and Advanced Reading in Phoenix, NY School District from 1973 until retiring in 2004. In a yearbook dedication she was remembered as “an exceptional teacher to all that entered her room. Her classroom was always a warm and friendly place for those freshmen just arriving.” She challenged her students to never stop learning and enjoyed knowing them all! Phoenix Central Schools presented her a Certificate of Merit “with sincere appreciation and gratitude for 29 years of dedicated service to the children of this community.” She was Teacher of the Year (Class of 2006). She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa.
Bobbi and John met while attending Cortland and were married in 1976. Their beloved daughter Elizabeth was born in 1982. They resided in Liverpool, NY until retirement. They were snowbirds from 2004 to 2020 when they sold their NY home and moved year-round to Latitude Margaritaville in Daytona Beach.
Bobbi was an SU basketball fan (season ticket holder many seasons), a charter member of the Selkirk Yacht Club, an avid reader and member of several book clubs. She enjoyed summers, shopping, traveling, exercising, collecting kaleidoscopes, walking on the beach, having fun, and celebrating life. Her sense of humor endeared her to everyone who knew her.
A shiva minyan was held December 29 (on Zoom) by Temple Beth El, Augusta, Maine, presided over by Rabbi Erica Asch and was attended by a number of family members and friends. A brief service and burial will be Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 2:00 pm in Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at John’s home afterwards.
Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society, Ormond Beach, Florida is handling final arrangements. The family requests donations be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida-Volusia Branch, 320 North Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
John
We were a fabulous four. Sadly, we’re now a trio of long time friends. RIP Bobbi! We love you and will miss you.
She will be missed ❤️
We hope you, John and Elizabeth, will be comforted by your wonderful memories.
Love, Ann and Marty
“Roommates”
Those were are the days our friends, we thought they’d never end.
We are sending our love to Dear Sweet Bobbi. May she rest in peace until we all meet again.
Pictured
Front Row Left to Right
Barbara C. ((Bobbi) , Patty N. , Donna P.
Back Row
Ann D. , Sharon S. , Aleta H. , Ann L.
( Not pictured, Evelyn N. , Nancy H. )