Karin J. (Friberg) Barlow

Karin June (Friberg) Barlow, 91, a former longtime resident of Torrington, died May 23, 2023, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan from natural causes. She was the beloved wife of the late Ted W. Barlow.

Karin was born April 4, 1932, in Shreveport, La., one of twin daughters born to Oscar and Norma (Carlson) Friberg, and grew up proud of her Swedish heritage.

During World War II, the family spent four years in Panama, where her father built military barracks. It was an experience she and her sisters never forgot.

After the war, her family moved back to Pasadena, Calif. While in sixth grade, Karin had to stay home from school because of rheumatic fever. During this time, she read the Sue Barton series of novels about a young student nurse, which inspired her.

She graduated from Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College and was accepted into the nursing school at Stanford University.

While she was living in San Francisco, one Sunday morning at church she met a young Marine from New York state named Ted Barlow. She first saw him as he knelt to talk to a small child and thought to herself, “What a kind man.”

She was never more correct. They wed Jan. 15, 1955, in Pasadena and were happily married for 67 years until Ted’s death last year.

After receiving her degree from Stanford, Karin embarked on a career of more than 40 years as a hospital nurse, visiting nurse and school nurse. In Litchfield County, she worked at, among other places, Winsted Memorial Hospital, Brooker Memorial, Foothills VNA, Torrington’s Forbes School and New Hartford’s Ann Antolini School, where she loved to make the little kids’ bumps and bruises feel better.

Along with Ted, she was an active volunteer in Torrington for the Operation Overflow homeless shelter, FISH, Center Congregational Church, the North End Community Association, Habitat for Humanity and the Beautification Committee.

She had a beautiful singing voice from a young age, loved to sing in church choirs and often was a soloist in Sunday worship services.

Karin began attending church as a girl and developed a deep Christian faith that guided her life. She had a limitless capacity to forgive and an endless supply of love for others.

Karin enjoyed going on long bicycle rides with Ted, even pedaling all the way to Maryland while in her 60s to visit her twin sister, Libby.

She was especially proud of her family, delighting in her children’s and grandchildren’s successes. A tremendous cook, she selflessly made macaroni and cheese for her grandchildren’s visits because it was their favorite; only later did they learn she didn’t like cheese herself.

Karin is survived by her children, Bill (Inger), of Oberlin, Ohio; Steve, of Torrington; Wayne (Christine) of Fairlee, Vt.; Greta (Doug) Passeri, of Pine Plains, N.Y., and Nancy, of Vernon; grandchildren Anna (William), Kristen, Ryan (Alex), Samantha (Bismark), Kaitlyn (Danny) and Tanner; great grandchildren Will, Oliver, Lena and Theo;  sisters Libby of Virginia and Greta of Colorado, and 15 nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.

Memorial donations are suggested to FISH, 332 S. Main St., or the Operation Overflow homeless shelter, c/o Trinity Episcopal Church, 220 Prospect St., both in Torrington.

A memorial service to celebrate Karin’s life is being planned for Aug. 12 at Camp Trinita in New Hartford. Online condolences can be made at www.kelsocorneliusfh.com.

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