Barbara M. Dempsey (Specht & Halleran)

Barbara Madeline Dempsey “Curley” passed away at the age of 83. A life-long South-Ender, save for a year or so residing in Ireland, a graduate of St. Mary’s South 1955. A depression-era baby, she survived a fierce bout of scarlet fever when she was a child. Retired from Ohio Bell/AT&T, where she was a Pioneer, a company organization dedicated to volunteerism, a hallmark of Barbara’s life. She took great pride in her Irish heritage, and was a member of the Shamrock Club of Columbus and other Hibernian organizations in Central Ohio. Barbara was a community organizer with the Hungarian Village Society, ensuring positive neighborhood-improvement activities, and her energetic optimism will be sorely missed by the residents. She was also very active in AA, offering support and rides to her fellow members. Barbara was compassionate and was always willing to give a hand to those in need, both humans and animals. She was an avid gardener and a collector of people and things that struck her fancy. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and enjoyed spending time and helping out at her son’s restaurant, Dempsey’s Food & Spirits. She was a bad-ass, with a heart as big as all outdoors.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Lenora Dempsey,spouses Terrence Specht and James Halleran, and children Daniel, David, Timothy and Shelly Specht. She is survived by son Mark (Megan) Dempsey; brothers James (Diane) Dempsey and Gerald (Shelly) Dempsey, and sister Mary Dempsey; grandchildren Daniel Edstrom, David Specht, Allison (Brady) Overholt, Celia (Geff) Kinzel, Conor Dempsey, Michaela Dempsey, and Mary Katherine Dempsey; and great-grandchildren Brie Edstrom, Ava, Norah, Hadley and Marek Overholt; and Rowan and Logan Kinzel. Daughter-in-law Penne Specht and her step-sons Scott, Robert, and Charles Halleran. Loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Barb’s wonderful Hungarian Village neighbors for their friendship.

Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at EGAN- FUNERAL  HOME 403 EAST BROAD STREET. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Holy Cross Church, 204 S. Fifth Street. In lieu of flowers, painfully generous donations may be made to The Shamrock Club of Columbus, 60 W. Castle Road, Columbus 43207. 

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