Barbara C. O'Brien

Barbara Frances O'Brien was born on February 9, 1941, to Mary and Denis Casey. She was one of seven children. Barbara is survived by her husband of forty-eight years Harry O'Brien Jr., her sister Margaret Baker and brother Denis Casey. She is pre-deceased by her sisters, Anna Connolly and Catherine Karp, and brothers, Reverend Kevin Casey and Thomas Casey. Barbara lived her early years on the upper west side of Manhattan with her parents and siblings. She excelled in school, played varsity basketball, and graduated from Cathedral High School in New York City. Barbara entered the Convent in 1958 where she remained an active member of the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of New York for 11 years. The Sisters of Charity "intertwined social ministry with education and faith formation in all the missions they undertook." They served the poor by providing education, and Barbara served in Saint Francis Xavier Convent in Nassau, Bahamas where she taught at St. Augustine's College. Barbara left the convent in 1969 and continued throughout her life as an avid Catholic dedicated to serving the poor. She also continued her pursuit of higher education and graduated from Manhattan College in 1972 with a Masters of Art. She was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education while at Manhattan College. Barbara married her dear husband, Harry O'Brien Jr. on May 24, 1975. They loved to travel and lived happily in the suburbs of Boston where she worked as a teacher and guidance counselor. Always interested in social action to facilitate positive change, Barbara and Harry joined the U.S. Peace Corps in 1986 where they were assigned to volunteer in Jamaica, West Indies and where Barbara taught math to elementary school children. After completing their assignment in the Peace Corps, Barbara and Harry moved south and spent several years living in Savannah, Georgia followed by Summerfield, Florida. In addition to teaching, she enjoyed traveling and playing golf. Barbara spent large amounts of time volunteering in both communities, including at her parish of St. James in Savannah and at the Inner City Night Shelter. She continued to be involved in international volunteer work, traveling with medical mission groups through Guatemala. Barbara and Harry moved to SeaBrook Village in Tinton Falls, NJ in 2015 where they enjoyed living closer to family and developing many friendships. She was active in her parish and served as a Eucharistic minister. In recent years, Barbara served as both wife and primary caregiver for Harry who had developed chronic health problems. She was diagnosed with cancer in July of 2023 and fought an uphill battle, always with a steadfast resolution to prolong her life in order to continue caring for those she loved. Barbara had deep and heartfelt loyalty to her family. She had tremendous devotion to her mother, and she loved her parents, siblings, and extended family. Barbara firmly believed that God had blessed the members of the Casey family with each other, to enjoy the good times and manage through tougher times with the support of one another. She had sincere gratitude for God's blessing of her family, the people who she loved, and the people that loved her. One of Barbara’s favorite quotes from the Victorian poet Robert Browning embodies her keen perspective on life and faith in God: Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. Our times are in His hand who said, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!

Barbara C. O'Brien

February 9, 1941 - January 1, 2024