MANCHESTER -- Barbara Ann (Duplessis) Jackson, 57, of Manchester, passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. Barbara had a year-long fight with pancreatic cancer. She was born on Oct. 31, 1953 in Old Town and graduated from Winthrop High School in 1974. She was married to Brian D. Jackson of Manchester on June 22, 1974, and had a loving marriage of 37 years. After graduating from high school, she worked at Key Bank in Augusta. She had a childcare business at her home while her children were young before working at the Manchester Elementary School in kitchen services. Barbara spent more than 20 years as a teacher's aide before she left in 2010. She enjoyed spending her days with the children and helping the teachers. She was the "Queen of the Playground" and always enjoyed being outside at recess with the children. Barbara was a spirited, outgoing woman who had a tell it like it is and can do attitude that her friends loved and appreciated. She will be greatly missed by all. She was a devoted mother and is survived by her daughters, Melissa J. (Jackson) Hickey of Merrimack, N.H. and Katie L. Jackson of Manchester and, she was a loving and adored Memere and leaves behind three grandchildren, Cameron, Gavin and Seamus. She is survived by her father Maurice Duplessis (Old Town), her siblings: Albert Duplessis (Old Town), James Duplessis (Orrington), Leda Theriault (Old Town) and Gene Duplessis (Winthrop) and their spouses as well as dozens of nieces and nephews who she was fondly referred to as "Aunt Barbie."Family and friends are invited to visit from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church St., Augusta, where a celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Manchester Forks Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the Barbara A. Jackson Memorial Bench fund at Trademark Federal Credit Union in Augusta. Contributions will be used to place a bench and garden at the Manchester playground in her memory. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.Memories, words of condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.