Barbara Walsh Freehill of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, died of cancer on February 23, 2017, at home, in the care of Hospice of the Palm Beaches.
Born and raised in Riverdale, Bronx, she met her husband, George, at a St. Patrick’s Day dance at St. Gabriel’s Grammar School in March 1949. The two married in June 1959, following her graduation from Marymount College in Tarrytown. They raised four daughters in Scarsdale and Plandome, New York, and spent summers in Westhampton and, later, in Remsenburg. In 1982, Barbara and George moved the family to New York City, where she became a top real estate broker with the Barbara Corcoran Group, partnering with Edith Salton for 25 years.
Over the years, she took in several foster children and, whenever possible, volunteered her services for charitable causes. While she was known for relishing a good time, helping those less fortunate was far more important to her, survivors said.
Ms. Freehill is survived by four daughters, Kim Freehill Narayanan and husband Nari, Kelly Hoffman and husband Michael, Evan Clark and husband Jim, and Kendra Seth and husband Kevin; 10 grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately known as “Happy,” Devon, Riley and Brendan Hoffman, George, Chapin and Siobhan Clark, and Henry, Tucker, Ryan and Dylan Seth. She was predeceased by her brother, Thomas Walsh, who is survived by his wife Barbara and their three children.
A memorial service was held Saturday, March 4, at at St. Thomas More Church in Darien, Connecticut. A service will also be held Tuesday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Jupiter, Florida.
Memorial donations may be made to the MDS Center at Columbia University.
on Mar 1, 2017