Doreen Lynch Free, 90, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to all, left us on October 30, 2016, for an eternity of Happy Hour in Heaven. Born on July 7, 1926, she refused to give in to aging, continuing to tend her flower garden, feed her outdoor birds, and engage in political or social banter with anyone who would listen. Known best as “Nan”, her front door was always open to friends, relatives, and strangers who wandered in. She loved having people around her, as long as you didn’t expect her to extinguish her cigarettes. We teased her that her secret to longevity was plenty of vodka and smokes – it worked for her.
Doreen was fiercely independent and the acknowledged matriarch of the Free/Lynch clan. Next to her treasured Lynch Irish coat of arms were her signs “When the Queen is happy there is peace in the Kingdom” and “Peace! Love! Happy Hour!” She was born on Mauch Chunk Street in Easton, and lived downtown until she married at the age of 19. She loved Easton and reminisced about her childhood jumping from apartment roof to roof and playing in the alleys downtown. As a teen at Wolf Jr. High School, she was involved in cheerleading with her brother Bob, softball, school plays, girls chorus and May Day Queen’s Court. Chosen May Day Queen in 1940 for the following year, the celebration and her coronation were cancelled in 1941 due to the war.
Following graduation, Doreen worked at Madesco Tackle Block, where she met her husband, William Free and they married in 1946. They lived with her parents on Washington Street until Michael and Carol were born, then bought the home on Cattell Street where Doreen remained the rest of her life. When her children were small, she worked night shift at Binney and Smith, running a crayon wrapper machine, bringing home bags of rejected crayons for her kids. Having spent many teen years in Saylorsburg at her grandparent’s general store/barroom, she spent Saturday nights dancing at the Pavilion at Saylors Lake and daytimes waiting on bar room customers, as did the grandchildren in later years. Devoted to her family, she cared for both her mother and husband during their terminal illnesses in 1970, while maintaining a full time job at Lafayette College. In 1973 she became secretary to the City Clerk in Easton’s City Hall, until retirement at the age of 75. She also waitressed at the Elks Club on Packer Street for Thursday night dinners and wedding receptions, along with her sister Connie Snyder and her partner, Don Jarrell. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, was a member of the Jr. Order, Easton Historical Society and St. Bernards Catholic Church. She donated to many charities, including St. Judes; Good Shepherd, Indian Missions, and Smithsonian. She never missed a high school class reunion for Easton High School Class of 1944, which held its final reunion in September 2016.
She is survived by son: Michael Free and wife, Anna; daughter: Carol Free; brother: James Robert Lynch and partner Marge Arnold; sister: Mary Kathryn Lynch and wife Ann Frechette; 5 grandchildren; Kathryn and Constance Free; Amanda and Heather Free, Colette Wertz; and 2 great grandchildren, Jocelyn and Cecelia Hendrickson. She was predeceased by her husband of 24 years,: William Free; partner: Donald Jarrell; companion: Richard Gallagher; sisters: Constance Snyder, Margaret Lynch, and son-in –law: Ronald Apgar.
Calling hours are 9:30-11:30 AM Saturday (Nov. 5) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A graveside service will be held at Noon in Greenwood Cemetery, W. High St., Nazareth.
Contributions may be made to Chinese Children Adoption International or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.
Donna C – Allentown
November 2, 2016 at 6:11 am
To the Free / Lynch families : Doreen was fun and had an amazing and unique sense of humor. I am blessed to have been a small part of her life. She will be missed ! Hail to the Queen ! RIP Doreen !
Margaret and Tim Peters
November 2, 2016 at 10:43 am
Dear Carol and family,
We were so sorry to hear of the passing of your Mother, she was such a special lady and will be missed.
We’re here if you need us.
Love, Tim and Margaret
Ann Frechette
November 4, 2016 at 4:16 pm
A Farewell to Doreen
Sometimes life happens so softly. Yet when Doreen Lynch Free passed away late one evening at the end of October, she vanished with one of those whispered thunders, even more conspicuous in her absence than in her presence.
–The expanse of flowers in her back yard stopped blooming when the chill air of Fall reminded all living things that the days were growing shorter and daylight becoming scarce. For this season, gone are Doreen’s beloved zinnias, marigolds and red begonias. Gone are the Shasta daisies, red salvia, hardy hibiscus with their red plate- sized flowers, and her tomatoes. All will be quiet until Spring once again offers hope that what is planted will grow, what grows will be beautiful and what is beautiful will be admired by all.–
For sixty-five years, Doreen lived at 855 Cattell St., accumulating an encyclopedic collection of memories of family, friends, good times, and sad times. Undeterred by her aging home’s aches and pains, she went room to room, upstairs to the attic and down to the basement, outside to the backyard and out front to the porch. As she moved around within the confines of her home, she was sometimes a little sad, or wistful and always frustrated that the time for making additional memories was coming to an end. Still, in anticipation of the next visit by her great grandchildren, and anyone with a sweet tooth and sense of humor, she would set out dishes of candy, check to see if her animated stuffed animals still operated, and check her supply of soda. While Doreen loved all who passed through her doors, she especially favored the shortest members of her large clan. And always at hand for the taller members was a long ‘to-do’ list of household tasks. Those who knew her well say she was an amazing character, a force onto herself. Despite being thin and frail, she stood tall and mighty as the family matriarch, the anchor or safe haven in the storm for so many. With smiling eyes, and a hint of mischief, she was filled with good cheer — sharing funny stories, making people laugh, offering great conversation.
–On Sunday morning, a sister, a daughter and a granddaughter sit quietly, ever alert to the sound of a woman’s voice who would announce her arrival with the enthusiasm and respect typically reserved for heads of state or celebrity stars. Each footfall entering the house brings them a brief moment of interest and anticipation. But the footfalls fade and the voice is never heard.–
It happened October 29, when Doreen succumbed to an illness she never expected to end her life. Three months past her 90th birthday, she felt the breeze was right and it was time for the grace of her spirit to be scattered to the wind.
To Doreen’s family and friends, we offer our heartfelt condolences and a promise that she will always be remembered with much love and good cheer.
Ann, Amy and Zachary Frechette for their Mary
Pastor Sue Ruggles
November 10, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Mike and Carol and family,
Our thoughts and prayers will be with you all. You are both a reflection of your mom in so many ways. I met her once and she was so bubbly! Our prayers are with you as we reflect with our memories but also we find peace in knowing the hope of the resurrection!
Pastor Sue Ruggles