Cover photo for Barbara Osborne's Obituary
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1929 Barbara 2020

Barbara Osborne

April 14, 1929 — July 23, 2020

Barbara Marie (Murphy) Osborne, 91, of Greenbelt, Maryland, passed away in Delaware on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Barbara was born on April 14, 1929 to Raphael and Barbara (Naughton) Murphy and grew up amidst the Great Depression with her seven siblings, Raphael (Cathy) Murphy, Ed (Pat) Murphy, Eileen (Tom) Madden, Jackie Murphy, Harold Murphy, Eleanor (Chuck) O’Brien, and Joan (Joe) Rousseau.

During her school years, Barbara enjoyed working summers at the boathouse in Norumbega Park and at the Totem Pole in Auburndale, MA where she also pursued her lifelong passions for Big Band Music, horseback riding, and canoeing.  After graduating in 1947 from Newton North High School in Newtonville, MA, where she wrote for the school newspaper, she completed Carney Hospital Training School for Nurses at Labouré College sponsored by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul in South Boston in 1950 and went on to Boston College, class of 1952.

Her career took her to Washington, DC as a registered nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital where she cared for her many patients with great compassion and empathy. Through her experiences and the encouragement of colleagues, she achieved her nursing certification in forensic psychiatry. She soon met the love of her life, William F. “Sonny” Osborne, and they married on June 25, 1955.  They lived in Washington, DC, moved to Berwyn Heights and settled in Greenbelt, MD in 1965 as original residents of Boxwood Village/Country Estates.

Barbara and Sonny raised their growing family in the parish of St. Hugh’s and delighted in many activities including serving lunches for the school, working Bingo, chaperoning teen club dances and trips and attending dances themselves in Grenoble Hall.  Barbara was a member of both the Ladies of Charity and Sodality of Our Lady.

If there was a carpool, Barbara was driving it and she loved every minute behind the wheel. She enjoyed her years serving as Den Mother with the Cub Scouts, on the Board for the Greenbelt Boys and Girls Club, Rainbow Bus Trips, and Greenbelt Golden Age Club.  Her indominable spirit led her to ride a zipline on her 85th birthday.

“Mrs. Oz” could frequently be seen in the bleachers on Braden Field, the benches at the Youth Center, or the hill at Greenbelt Pool and beyond cheering on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was an avid fan of both youth sports and professional football and worked for many years as a nurse at RFK Stadium for the legacy Washington Football Team.

She was an amazing mother to Bill (Eileen), Ed, Bridget, Beth, Michael, Patty Ann Osborne,  and Cindy (Jeff) Donn; Grandma to Nicole, Jenny, Tessa, Christy, Vincent, (Star), Erin, Lisa, and Kyle ; “GiGi” to Wesley, Tony, Bianca, Jay, Jaden, Riley, Madison, Andres, Alex, Isaac, Israella, and Destiny,  great-great grandmother to Selena; and Aunt Barbara to her many nieces and nephews.

Any weather meant a beautiful day and somehow a nice breeze would always find her.

The Osborne Family is looking forward to welcoming friends and family again to rejoice and remember Barbara at a future event to be determined.

Friends may call at Gasch’s Funeral Home, P.A., 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD on Sunday, August 2, 2020 from 2 to 6pm. A service will be held on Monday, August 3, 2020 at 10am at St. Hugh of Grenoble, 135 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD. Interment to follow at Crownsville Veteran’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to www.Boystown.org or by giving blood.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Osborne, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

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Visitation

Sunday, August 2, 2020

2:00 - 6:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Monday, August 3, 2020

Starts at 10:00 am (Eastern time)

St. Hugh of Grenoble (Crescent Road, Greenbelt, Crownsville)

MD

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