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Freshwater, McDonald & Vernon Funeral Home - North Lewisburg

57 West Maple Street

North Lewisburg, Ohio

Carol O'Brien Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Apr. 19 to Apr. 20, 2017.

NORTH LEWISBURG - Carol Ann Freshwater O'Brien, 74, of North Lewisburg, OH, passed away Monday, April 10, 2017 in Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, as a result of a brain hemorrhage.

She was born September 30, 1942 in Coshocton, OH to the late Kathleen Call (Freshwater) Kitchen and James Freshwater. Carol was a graduate of Urbana High School and the Ohio State University, where she earned her Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral Degrees. Carol served as teacher, counselor and gifted program educator with the Columbus Public Schools. She operated a private practice in Clinical Psychology, the Freshwater Clinic, where she used pioneering neurofeedback techniques among other successful therapies.

In 1966, she purchased 120 acres near Middleburg, OH that became Wildflower Farm. With help of staff from many organizations, two permanent conservation reserves for wildlife and waterfowl were established over the years. As a volunteer with the Ohio Wildlife Center, she donated many hours and resources to infant waterfowl rescue and release, saving hundreds. Also an avid horsewoman, she rode many Midwest and western trails on her Rocky Mountain Mare, Ribbon. She loved her gardens, cooking, and having family and friends around the table overlooking the ponds on many memorable occasions.

She is survived by her beloved spouse of 22 years, Alice M. O'Brien, whom she married in Canada in 2005. She also is survived by five first cousins and many special friends, including Julia and Dennis Watson and Betsey and John Sidorenko, whose support during her final days was immeasurable.

She is preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, Jeannine, husband, Crosby Manchester III, maternal aunts, Anna M. Ruland and Elberta Wooley, and step-father, Arthur Kitchen.

Special thanks to the caregivers with N.E. Champaign County Fire District, Memorial Hospital of Union County E.R., MedFlight, and the RMH Neurosurgical and Palliative Care/Hospice units for their professional and compassionate care.

An informal gathering to celebrate Carol's life will be held 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Wildflower Farm, 6322 County Road 158, Middleburg (East Liberty), OH 43319.

Donations in Carol's memory may be made to the Ohio Wildlife Center, 6131 Cook Rd., Powell, OH 43065, the Human Rights Campaign, PO Box 98098, Washington, D.C, 20077-7081, or to the N.E. Champaign County Fire District, 60 Maple St., North Lewisburg, OH 43060.

Services are entrusted to FRESHWATER, McDONALD & VERNON FUNERAL HOME, North Lewisburg.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.vernonfh.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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3 Entries

April 18, 2017

KELLEY

MAY THE THOUGHT OF KNOWING THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF BRING THE FAMILY A MEASURE OF COMFORT.PLEASE READ PROV 17:17

April 16, 2017

dennis day

I enjoyed working with her. She will be missed.

April 13, 2017

Tracy Coakley

My condolences to Carol's family and friends...I knew her through her generous service with the Ohio Wildlfe Center.

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To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Freshwater, McDonald & Vernon Funeral Home - North Lewisburg

57 West Maple Street, North Lewisburg, OH 43060

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