Barbara Geary

Barbara D. Geary of Stafford Springs, entered into eternal life at the age of 72 on Wednesday (June 25, 2014) at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Born in Hartford on April 12, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Anthony F. and Clotilde (Camba) D’Anzi. She attended Hartford Elementary School through 8th grade and graduated summa cum laude from St. Anthony Parochial School. She attended St. Bonaventure University from 1960-1964, graduating cum laude with a BA degree in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. Her continued graduate education included computer science courses, as well graduate course work in marine biology and criminology. She was married for 32 years to the late Bruce E. Geary, who was employed as the assistant personnel manager for the City of Hartford and she lived in Wethersfield up until 13 years ago. Barbara had a long and diversified work experience in city government with positions as Public Assistance case worker, Town of Glastonbury; Senior Administrative Analyst, Hartford Police Department; Senior Development Specialist, Hartford Economic Development Corporation; Economic Development Director, Town of Berlin; Chief Staff Planner, Hartford Planning Department; Deputy Director, Hartford Development Commission; Senior Planner, Hartford Redevelopment Agency; Social Worker, Hartford Department of Social Services and Caseworker for the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services in Olean, NY. She also served as a Hospice volunteer at St. Francis Hospital. Barbara was a longtime member of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, where she worked for a time in the evenings as a bookkeeper. Her down time interests included computers, healing modalities, fitness, yoga, reading and furniture refinishing. Barbara loved cooking and experimenting with various recipes. She also enjoyed basketing and produced many and varied baskets. She loved gardening, as is attested by the beautiful flower gardens around her house in Stafford Springs. Barbara had a deep compassion for all abused and misused animals and generously provided support to many humane societies and organizations throughout the U.S. She also was a supporter of Heifer International with generous gifts of animals to those in need at Christmas. Barbara will be very much loved and missed by her partner of 13 years, Douglas L. Fassett. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law by marriage, Ann Marie Schwartz of Napa, CA and Eileen Geary of West Hartford; her nephew, Augustus Edward Samuel; niece, Alexis Samuel and many cousins and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday (July 9) at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church St., Hartford. Inurnment at Cedar Hill Cemetery will be private and there are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd., Newington, CT 06111 to be utilized as its Board of Directors deem most appropriate for defense of animals in need of home and shelter. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield is assisting the family with arrangements. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.