Obituary: Kelly Barrett, 85, Of Fairfield

From the Barrett family:

Kelly Barrett, 85, of Fairfield and Savannah, Georgia, passed away, Jan. 10, 2022, with family by her side. Our bastion in tumultuous seas. Our guiding light in the darkest nights. Her legacy spans generations, and her love shines eternal.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 12, 1936, Kelly graduated from Shaler High School and received a degree in early childhood development from Pine Manor College (class of 1957) in Massachusetts. A few months later, she married the love of her life, Brooks Barrett of Fairfield, with whom she celebrated 64 wondrous years.

Kelly was the heartbeat of her family and truly the essence of effervescent positivity. A backbone of wisdom and generosity, her brilliant, joy-filled, loving light shined on everyone she touched. Nonjudgmental, she never had an unkind word to say about anyone. Her support for family and friends was endless with her gentle voice saying, “You can do it.”

Grammy was energy in motion and happily attended countless musicals, plays, art shows, horse shows, tennis matches, diving competitions, lacrosse games, soccer and baseball games, and more. Her home, always warm and welcoming to everyone, was filled with kindness and her joyous lilting laughter.

Kelly began her career teaching at Greenfield Hill Church Nursery School and followed her love of books to Fairfield Public Library — and her love of flowers to co-found Special Arrangements Floral Design.

A role model to many young girls, Kelly was a lifelong advocate for women’s issues, an active member of the United Congregational Church in Bridgeport, and a steadfast community leader, having served on boards and volunteered for multiple nonprofits in Connecticut, including nOURish Bridgeport, Bridgeport YWCA (now the Center for Family Justice), Bridgeport Ladies Charitable, and Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival. She was equally active in Savannah, volunteering her time and love to the Social Apostolate, Memorial Hospital, Skidaway Village Library, and her revered P.E.O. Sisterhood, among others.

Those of us who now get to carry her legacy forward in the way we show up for people, celebrate them as they are, and leave our elbows off the table while we eat include her children, Wynne (Joanne) Barrett of Woodbridge, Paige (Todd) Fischer of Newtown, and Julie (David) O’Brien of Concord, Massachusetts; grandchildren Tucker (Nicole) Barrett, Casey (Robbie) Kreowski, Jesse Hine, Leslie Barrett, Christopher Jennings, Riley Hine, Abby (Cody) Haumann, Sam Rice, Katherine Jennings, Carter O’Brien, Brooks Fischer; and six great-grandchildren. She was the loving sister of Marlou Newkirk of Fairfield, brother Bill (Karen) Jahn of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and sister-in-law to Betsey (Chuck) Phillips of Bethlehem, New Hampshire; and fave aunt to Laurie (Vincent Legg) Newkirk, Lindsay (Gary) Kessler, Robert (Kara) Jahn, Callie (Dave) Pecunies, Susannah (Brian) Woodruff.

Memorial services will be held at Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah, Georgia, on April 30 and the United Congregational Church in Bridgeport on June 11. Details will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online to nOURrish Bridgeport, www.nourishbpt.org, or by sending a check made payable to P.E.O. Chapter L to PEO Chapter L, 268 Catharine’s View, Richmond Hill, GA 31324.