Rosemary Barrett Dircks

Born Rosemarie Van Eycken Barrett in Zurich Switzerland in 1935 to an American father and British mother. Moved to Pelham Manor NY in May 1940 (in a hurry!). She graduated from Concord Academy in Massachusetts and attended Connecticut College.

She moved to Washington, DC when she married William J Dircks in 1966. She was a real estate broker and part owner of MGMB Realty and retired in 1987, when she moved to Austria for five years to accompany her husband when he became the deputy director general of the IAEA. She was an active community volunteer: past president of the Sumner Citizens Association and past president of the Kenwood Garden Club. She served as Treasurer of many charitable organizations such as the Junior League Christmas Shop and the Washington Antiques Show. She was a founding board member and treasurer of Housing Unlimited Inc., a Montgomery County organization that provides housing to the mentally ill.

She was a member of the Junior League of Washington and the Sulgrave Club.

Her marriage to Edward V Killeen III ended in divorce.

Her husband of 55 years, William Dircks, died in 2021. She is also predeceased by her son Barrett Killeen and her son-in-law Brian Neville.

She is survived by her daughters: Clare Killeen Neville of Boulder, Colorado and Elizabeth Dircks Harlow of Boston, son-in-law Oliver Harlow, three grandsons: Jack Neville (Dianne), Bill Neville (Kathryn Fox), Scott Neville and three great-grandchildren: Joanna Neville, Eliza Rosemary Neville, and Micah Neville.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Monday September 8 at Knollwood LifePlan Community, 6200 Oregon Ave NW, Washington DC. In lieu of flowers, donations to Housing Unlimited, Inc. would be most appreciated.