Obituary for Arvilla T Calef (Twombly)
"Arvilla T Calef of Barrington, passed away on December 28, 2023, after a period of declining health. She was born on January 30, 1942, in Dover, to Villa and Merton Twombly.
A Barrington native, she attended Barrington and Dover schools. After high school she worked at Davidson Rubber Company as an inspector. She married her husband George in 1961 and when her kids were of school-age she re-entered the workforce at Calef's Country Gifts.
Together with George, they opened George Calef Fine Foods in 1978, known affectionately to friends and family as "the store." Arvilla continued to also work at Calef's Country Gifts until her father-in-law sold the business. At the store she worked nearly every day alongside her husband to make the business a success. There wasn't much she didn't do there.
Her children, and eventually even her grandchildren, all worked alongside her. After retiring she returned to the store part time, working for Jim and Becky when they took over.
When she wasn't working, she liked to go on day trips with her daughter and granddaughter where they would "car talk" for hours on end. She and George liked to travel to the coast of Maine and get in some much-deserved relaxation.
Arvilla was intelligent, kind and selfless. She had a passion for helping others and especially loved children. She volunteered at the Barrington elementary school teaching kids to read. She was also a den mother and chaperoned most every field trip.
She loved her home and when the elementary school was built next door, she enjoyed sitting on the porch listening to the kids play outside at recess. She enjoyed Tuesday night dinners with her grandchildren and hosting the holidays. She was an excellent cook even though she never used a timer.
When Arvilla's own children were younger the yard became a place where neighborhood kids gathered, rode bikes, played and she would be there with homemade cookies and Kool-Aid.
Even as her children grew up, they had friends who, to this day, still referred to her lovingly as "Ma!"
She loved flowers, particularly lady slippers, and gardening. When her arthritis became too bad, she enjoyed watching the birds that would come visit her multitude of always full bird feeders.
She could regularly be found curled up on the couch next to her beloved dog with a book, a cup of coffee or tea, a half-finished puzzle on the dining room table and the radio on.
Arvilla was soft spoken, rarely ever had a bad thing to say about anyone. She often said “Above all, always be a lady.”
Arvilla was predeceased by her brother-in-law Paul Calef.
Arvilla is survived by her husband of 62 years, George Calef, her brother Charlie Twombly and his wife Marcia, her sister Lucille Simpson, all of Barrington, her sister-in-law Valorie Calef of Manchester, her son Jim Calef and his wife Becky, her daughter Karen Plummer and her husband Rick, all of Barrington. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Amie Knight and her husband Eric of Rollinsford, Austin Plummer of Dover, and Rayce Calef and his wife Christina of Barrington and her great-grandchildren, James Calef and Maeve Arvilla Knight.
The funeral will be a private ceremony with only close friends and family present.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society Cocheco Valley and make a batch of cookies to share with your family."
A Barrington native, she attended Barrington and Dover schools. After high school she worked at Davidson Rubber Company as an inspector. She married her husband George in 1961 and when her kids were of school-age she re-entered the workforce at Calef's Country Gifts.
Together with George, they opened George Calef Fine Foods in 1978, known affectionately to friends and family as "the store." Arvilla continued to also work at Calef's Country Gifts until her father-in-law sold the business. At the store she worked nearly every day alongside her husband to make the business a success. There wasn't much she didn't do there.
Her children, and eventually even her grandchildren, all worked alongside her. After retiring she returned to the store part time, working for Jim and Becky when they took over.
When she wasn't working, she liked to go on day trips with her daughter and granddaughter where they would "car talk" for hours on end. She and George liked to travel to the coast of Maine and get in some much-deserved relaxation.
Arvilla was intelligent, kind and selfless. She had a passion for helping others and especially loved children. She volunteered at the Barrington elementary school teaching kids to read. She was also a den mother and chaperoned most every field trip.
She loved her home and when the elementary school was built next door, she enjoyed sitting on the porch listening to the kids play outside at recess. She enjoyed Tuesday night dinners with her grandchildren and hosting the holidays. She was an excellent cook even though she never used a timer.
When Arvilla's own children were younger the yard became a place where neighborhood kids gathered, rode bikes, played and she would be there with homemade cookies and Kool-Aid.
Even as her children grew up, they had friends who, to this day, still referred to her lovingly as "Ma!"
She loved flowers, particularly lady slippers, and gardening. When her arthritis became too bad, she enjoyed watching the birds that would come visit her multitude of always full bird feeders.
She could regularly be found curled up on the couch next to her beloved dog with a book, a cup of coffee or tea, a half-finished puzzle on the dining room table and the radio on.
Arvilla was soft spoken, rarely ever had a bad thing to say about anyone. She often said “Above all, always be a lady.”
Arvilla was predeceased by her brother-in-law Paul Calef.
Arvilla is survived by her husband of 62 years, George Calef, her brother Charlie Twombly and his wife Marcia, her sister Lucille Simpson, all of Barrington, her sister-in-law Valorie Calef of Manchester, her son Jim Calef and his wife Becky, her daughter Karen Plummer and her husband Rick, all of Barrington. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Amie Knight and her husband Eric of Rollinsford, Austin Plummer of Dover, and Rayce Calef and his wife Christina of Barrington and her great-grandchildren, James Calef and Maeve Arvilla Knight.
The funeral will be a private ceremony with only close friends and family present.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society Cocheco Valley and make a batch of cookies to share with your family."