Barbara Elizabeth O’Leary, 87, died Sept. 2 at the same family home in Beacon where she was born.
She was born April 9, 1937, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Burky) Murphy. On Oct. 25, 1958, she married John “Jack” O’Leary at St. Joachim Church in Beacon. He died in 1994.
She was a parishioner of St. Joachim-St. John the Evangelist. As a member of the St. Joachim Women’s Club, she managed the kitchen, among many other roles, at the annual rummage sale. At the parish school, she served on the PTO and assisted with many activities when her children were students.
She was a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, as well as being responsible for some of the largest cookie orders in the city’s history. She served on the Beacon Democratic Committee, was the Beacon Historical Society’s treasurer, volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and was an election poll worker.
With her husband, Barbara organized and managed many community events such as Spirit of Beacon Day, Beacon’s Diamond Jubilee, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Run and the Beacon Band on the Run 10K.
She was Jack’s assistant/supporter/worker for social and benevolent events at the Knights of Columbus such as the community Thanksgiving Day meal, 26 Week Club, Italian Night, St Patrick’s Nights and Octoberfest. At their home, Barbara and Jack hosted an annual New Year’s Day party.
Barbara was a caregiver and helper to many of all ages. She drove elderly friends to doctors’ visits and to errands. She provided childcare to a plethora of children, providing assurance to their working parents that their children were lovingly cared for and safe. Weekly, she would buy and donate items to food pantries.
She loved reading mysteries and was a certified “dissectologist” (puzzle aficionado).
Barbara is survived by her children: John O’Leary (Debbie) of Brewster, Massachusetts; Molly O’Leary (Jim Webster) of Beacon; Thomas O’Leary of Beacon; Pat O’Leary (Chrissie) of Newburgh; and Michael O’Leary (Darci) of Cary, North Carolina.
She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan O’Leary of Beacon; her sisters, Diane Murphy of Beacon, Linda Murphy of Tivoli, Kathleen Zimmer of Queensbury and Maureen McInnis of South Glens Falls; and her sister-in-law, Anne Sileno of Poughkeepsie. Her brother, Robert Murphy, died in 2020.
Family and friends will gather on Sept. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey, 2 Beekman St. in Beacon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at St. Joachim Church, 51 Leonard St., followed by interment at St. Joachim Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice (hvhospice.org), St Joachim’s (stjoachim-stjohn.org) or the St Vincent de Paul Society (ssvpusa.org), or any favorite charity.
