Barbara Freeland

Barbara Anne (Jack) Freeland, the third child of the late Robert D. Jack, Sr., and the late Alberta V. Jack Scott, was born January 25, 1943, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Barbara was loving, artistic, intelligent, kind and very thoughtful. Her family and all who knew her loved her. Barbara realized her gifts of art and music early in life. Her creativity through art was expressed through early drawings and later through an ability to change ordinary baskets and flowers into extra-ordinary and innovative creations. Barbara played the French horn in William Penn High School’s marching band. Her diligent practice earned her a spot in the Harrisburg High School All City Orchestra.

Barbara was educated in Harrisburg public schools. She graduated from William Penn Senior High School. After high school she completed the Harrisburg Hospital School of Nursing program and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and worked at the Harrisburg Hospital. An injury caused Barbara to leave her beloved nursing career and she landed at Bell Telephone of PA, where she worked as a Directory Assistance Operator. Later, Barbara’s artistic abilities allowed her to become a draftsman at Bell Telephone where engineers used her drawings to lay telephone cable lines. Barbara excelled as a draftsman but wanted more so; she enrolled in Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) earning an associate's degree (A.A.) in Social Science with a concentration in Psychology and graduating with honors. She continued her education at The Pennsylvania State University and earning a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Marketing and Economics. After graduating, Barbara worked for Digital Equipment Corporation where she dispatched engineers to trouble calls. She was promoted to Service Center Administrator but, downsizing led Barbara to Empire Medical Services where she worked as floor manager in the Medicare customer service department. Barbara retired from Empire and returned to her love of creating flower baskets and wreaths.

Barbara’s community affiliations include Community Service Chairperson for the Urban League Guild of Metropolitan Harrisburg. She was Project Chairperson in a cooperative effort with the Harrisburg School District to educate students in the 8th through 10th grade on sex education. Barbara also attended annual Urban League Conferences. Barbara learned through a friend of the needs of children who were potential heart transplant recipients and established the Pediatric Heart Transplant Foundation in 2003. The purpose of the nonprofit corporation was to develop specialized support programs and to provide quality mental health services.

Barbara loved and cherished her immediate and extended family and relished the time spent during get-togethers with her siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchild. She also enjoyed spending time with her cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is survived by her sister, Gloria E. Jack, Fairburn, Georgia, and brothers, Wayne S. Jack, Atlanta, Georgia and Michael S. Jack, College Park, Georgia. She is also survived by her son Craig Stephen Freeland and his wife Cynthia Daye Freeland, grandchildren, Corrine Daye Freeland, Cierra Daye Freeland, Camryn Daye Freeland and Terahje Quin Gratkowski (Ruve) and great grandchild Thoren, six nieces, three nephews, three great nieces and two great nephews. She is also survived by a host of cherished cousins including her sister-cousin Shirley Fitzhugh. Barbara’s two oldest brothers, Robert D. Jack, Jr., and Lawrence E. Jack and younger sister Sheila L. Jack preceded her in transitioning into eternal life.

Barbara also valued the friendships of her friends. She touched the lives of many people with her innate ability to engage in interesting conversations which could range from discussing relevant topics and politics to Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Hooper Memorial Home, Inc., 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17109. The service will be live streamed. Please refer to www.hooperfuneral.com.