Obituary of Irene Barnhart

Irene O?Keefe Barnhart of Lew Beach died July 8, 2011. She was born in Livingston Manor, May 17, 1932, the daughter of Francis J. and Elizabeth Harvey O?Keefe. She was the widow of H. Robert Barnhart who died December 22, 2005. Irene and her husband owned and operated a dairy farm in Lew Beach for many years. Irene was a charter member and officer of the former Beaverkill Valley Ladies Auxiliary, a charter member of the Livingston Manor Ambulance Corps, former Fire Commissioner of the Beaverkill Valley Fire Department, a longtime member of the Helping Hands, and for many years Historian of the Town of Hardenburg. In 1999 she co-authored with friend, Joan Powell, a history book, ?Beaverkill Valley A Journey Through Time?. Irene will be remembered for her loving and caring nature and devotion to family and friends. She was predeceased by a brother, F. Allen O?Keefe, and sisters, Evelyn O?Keefe Schwartz, Jeanne O?Keefe Sturdevant, and grandson Jeffrey Robert. Survivors include six children, Dawn Laurenzo and her husband, Richard, of Richfield Springs, NY, Dale Wade and her husband, Eric, of Clifton Park, NY, Denise Carroll and her husband Paul, of Binghamton, NY, Steven Barnhart and his wife, Maria, of Cedar City, Utah, Diane Featherall and her husband, Ronald, of Jermyn, PA, and Richard Barnhart and his wife, Nancy, of Livingston Manor, NY; 12 grandchildren: Christopher Laurenzo and his wife Kerri, Keri Stenta and her husband Antonio Jr., Brian and Jason Wade, Joshua and Devin Carroll, Clifton and Laura Barnhart, Joseph and Jill Featherall, Emmet and Rachel Barnhart; 4 great-grandchildren: Owen, Piper and Harper Laurenzo, Landon Stenta, and many dearly loved nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends on Sunday, July 10, 2011 from 5-8 pm at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor, NY. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 11, 2011 at 10:30 am in the funeral home with internment at the Lew Beach Cemetery, Lew Beach, NY. A gathering will follow to celebrate her life at the Beaverkill Valley Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to a charity of one?s choice. Arrangements were under the direction of Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, for further information please call 845-439-4343 or visit our website at www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.