Barbara B. O'Brien

Born 7.28.23 in Hartford, CT. Daughter of Robert Shelley and Gladys Jenny Hathaway Burnham. Her father owned a candy factory, Burnham Chocolates, and she enjoyed childhood joys of available candy for her and her friends, and her sisters, Dorothea and Nancy.

Barbara attended the University of Vermont during the Second World War, and sadly watched many of her classmates go off to war. She graduated in 1945 with a degree in Economics and a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Barbara was an excellent athlete, and during high school, she was part of a softball team that played in a tournament in the old Madison Square Garden in New York. Barbara was a Yankee fan until she moved to Maryland and discovered the Orioles. She also embraced the Colts and loved taking the Stoneleigh party bus to Colt football games. Eventually she converted to the Ravens and avidly enjoyed games on TV, usually with family members. Additionally, Barbara faithfully followed University of MD basketball, especially with her son and grandsons who are alumni.

Continuing her athleticism, she was known to intimidate neighbors who volunteered to catch as she burned in pitches to her children and neighborhood kids in Stoneleigh pick-up games.Barbara loved sports of all kinds, including her golfing at the Maryland Country Club.

Barbara grew up as a Congregationalist in New England and went on to drill several children in the Baltimore Catechism.

As her children left the nest, Barbara joined the staff of the Towson Library and happily worked there for 25 years, accumulating many friends along the way.

Barbara was a 50-year resident of Stoneleigh, which she felt was the best location for a family. Besides the Colt game bus trips, Barbara was a regular at Little League Baseball games and at Stoneleigh Pool swim meets where many O’Brien’s competed.

Barbara was married at 23 and she and her husband reared 10 children. As a young bride, Barbara welcomed three children from Ed's first marriage, and then they had seven of their own. There are now 29 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. All of these family members benefitted from her gentle manner and cheerful acceptance of all of the personalities to be found in such a large group. She was a loving, enthusiastic role model for all.

Barbara was the loving wife of the late Edward J. O’Brien; mother of children, Janet O’Brien Hauck and her husband Philip, Edward J. O’Brien III and his wife Sandra, Maureen O’Brien Mulligan and her late husband Martin, Robert T. O’Brien and his wife Sharon, Stephen B. O’Brien and his wife Patricia, John D. O’Brien and his wife Jolanda, Martin C. O’Brien and his wife Iris, Donald B. O’Brien and his wife Jo Anne, Amy O’Brien Hall and her husband John, Susan O’Brien Cox and her husband Kevin; cherished grandmother of 29, great-grandmother of 25! Dear sister of Dorothea Felber and Nancy Weber. Barbara is predeceased by her parents Robert S. and Gladys J. Burnham and her step-father Edward Garvin.