Agnes Frost O'Keefe

O'KEEFE Agnes Frost O'Keefe, died at 96 years of age on August 15, 2007. Agnes greeted each day with a sense of wonder, as if it were the first day of creation, and all things were new and beautiful. She lived a full, caring and joyful life that will be remembered and treasured by all who knew and loved her. She was born in 1911, the daughter of Lloyd Albinus and Agnes Goerwitz Frost in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She grew up in Cambridge, MA and graduated from Radcliffe College in 1932. She completed her Nursing Degree at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical College in 1935. She was employed as the School Nurse, from 1953-1976, by the Westerville, Ohio Public School System. She served on the Westerville Board of Education from 1949-1953. Agnes was active in the community including Eastern Star, The Westerville Historical Society, and American Association of University Women. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels, The Respite Care Center and the Radio Reading Service for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Ohio. In the 1980's, Agnes worked on legislation for retiree representation on the Board of the School Employees Retirement System (SERS) of Ohio. She was the first retiree elected to this position and served on the board from 1984-1992. She was elected President in 1991. Her husband Tom was the first Executive Director of SERS from 1937-1947 and the SERS O'Keefe Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio is named in his honor. She loved the outdoors and spent many summers on Cape Cod and at the Swedenborgian Summer Church Assembly in Fryeburg, Maine. She was active in the Episcopal Church and played in a church bridge club for 50+ years. She loved nursing, literature, poetry, and traveling with family and friends to see new places and meet new people. Agnes was wonderfully accomplished, but most of all she was fun to be with. With her nursing, volunteer activities in the community and good times with family and friends, she especially treasured the sea, lighthouses, horses, cats, dogs, soft breezes on the screen porch, the warm flicker of a fireplace and walking in the countryside. Trips to Reid State Park to walk the beach, lobster rolls at Robinson's Wharf in Southport and the Kent's Hill Apple Orchard were three of her favorite Maine traditions. On September 6, 1936, she married Thomas George O'Keefe, her life-long love. They raised their four children in Westerville, Ohio. Her love of life and caring for others is passed onto her three sons, Dr. Dennis O'Keefe of Massachusetts, Rev. Lloyd O'Keefe, his wife, Roberta of Ohio, Dr. Terrence O'Keefe, his fiancee, Barbara Dzuro of Oregon/Australia; her daughter, Carolyn Bebee and Russ Hazzard of Maine; her five grandchildren, Patrick Thomas O'Keefe, his wife, Renee of Oregon, Dr. Kim O'Keefe Beck, her husband, Douglas of California, Dr. David O'Keefe, his wife, Dr. Laura O'Keefe of Washington, Kathy NiKeefe of New Mexico, Andrew O'Keefe of California; her three great-grandchildren, Alex O'Keefe of Oregon, Thomas Deluca Beck and Sophia Carolyn Beck of California. A special gift and joy for Agnes this summer was visits from the whole family. She was predeceased by her husband Thomas O'Keefe in 1979 and her sister Evelyn Buck. The family continues to share adventures with her sister's children and grandchildren. The family thanks all of her friends and caregivers in sharing life's joy with special thanks for the love and care from her new friends at the Alzheimer Center in Gardiner. There will be a celebration of her life in Westerville, Ohio at a future time. In her memory and honor on September 6th, please do something special to enjoy the wonder and beauty of this earth and share time with family and friends in a way that is special for you. Agnes held this day dear as it is the day she and Tom were married so many years ago. For her children, they are together again, as they are in our hearts. Those who wish to make donations in memory of Agnes may do so to the Alzheimer's Care Center, c/o Joyce Hemeon, 154 Dresden Ave., Gardiner, ME 04345 to benefit the comfort and activities of residents. Arrangements are by the ROBERTS FUNERAL HOME, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, ME 04364. Notes to family may be sent to the www.KHRfuneralhomes.com or Carolyn Bebee, 6 Lower Narrows Ln., Winthrop, ME 04364. "Sign the online guestbook at www.dispatch.com/obituaries"