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.
