Barbara Casey

Sacramento, California - An enthusiastic traveler, with a penchant for a well-planned itinerary, Barbara Casey departed on her final journey in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, 2025 at the age of 94.

Barbara was fiercely independent and strong-minded, with an incredibly compassionate and generous spirit. Always curious, Barbara lived a life of learning and sharing knowledge. She loved to laugh, though never at things cold or coarse or cruel. She truly cared about people, especially her family and friends, and thought deeply about the complexities of life.

The first child of Bernice and Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, Barbara was born on July 13, 1931. She was a third-generation San Franciscan and life-long Californian, residing in the Bay Area and in Sacramento.

Barbara attended school in San Francisco. It was at Convent of the Sacred Heart during her high school years that a love of learning fully blossomed. She often said that despite having just two electives-French and Latin-she had terrific teachers and challenging classes that prepared her for life.

Barbara made her way across the bay to UC Berkeley, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1953. After her two sons were grown, she returned to school at California State University, Sacramento, for a master's degree in counseling. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in family psychology from the California Graduate School of Marital and Family Therapy.

Putting her journalism degree to good use, Barbara began her career in 1953 as an assistant news editor for the Archdiocese of San Francisco's newspaper, The Monitor. A whirlwind romance and marriage to Pat Casey the following year paused Barbara's work life for two decades. She relished the return to work after raising her sons Charlie and John.

While working toward a graduate degree in counseling, Barbara taught English and journalism at Sacramento's Encina High School in the early 1970s. She went on to work as a counselor-administrator for a foster youth program in the San Juan Unified School District.

She became a counselor at Mira Loma High School and eventually chaired the counseling department. In 1998, Barbara started her marriage and family therapy practice, helping clients in Sacramento and Marin counties.

The years working and living in Sacramento gave her life-long friendships. She and Pat enjoyed getaways with friends to the mountains of Lake Tahoe and the beaches of Santa Cruz, as well as weekend sailing on San Francisco Bay.

Barbara returned to the Bay Area following Pat's sudden passing in 1988. She found a sun-filled home nestled among oak trees in Sausalito, where she could glimpse the bay and begin the next phase of her life.

Happiness and joy came rushing back when Barbara reconnected with an occasional date from her college years, Dick Siggins. Their marriage and life together for more than 20 years included joyful family gatherings and travels around the world.

Barbara was dedicated to the communities in which she lived, tirelessly working to help those less fortunate. She and Dick spent many volunteer hours in Marin and Sacramento counties providing tutoring and other assistance to students and families in need. She embraced the mission of St. Vincent de Paul with enthusiasm. Family and friends fondly recall her emphasis on the need to share one's good fortune to help others.

Barbara's final years were happily spent at Eskaton Village in Carmichael, where she renewed old friendships and made many new ones. She served on several resident committees, especially enjoying groups focused on welcoming new residents and on emergency planning.

Closely following politics and world affairs, she helped organize a voter information forum for her fellow residents, as well as a seminar series on end-of-life considerations and planning. A dining-improvement committee gave Barbara endless-but always-dashed-hope for tastier, more nutritious food.

In addition to her hands-on volunteer work, Barbara served on boards that included the Marin City Tutoring Program, Friends of Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, and the Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program of Sacramento. She also was a member of Sausalito Friends of the Library and the Sausalito Historical Society.

Barbara was preceded in death by the loves of her life Charles E. Casey and Richard J. Siggins; her parents; and her sister and brother-in-law, Cynthia and Joseph Kelly. She is survived by her brother Edmund G. Brown, Jr. (Anne Gust) and sister Kathleen Brown (Van Gordon Sauter). Barbara is also survived by her son Charles (Joen Traeger-Casey), and grandchildren Katherine and Edmund; her son John; and Richard's three children and grandson, as well as cousins and numerous adoring and devoted nieces and nephews.

Services will be held in San Francisco on Monday, Sept 15. Contact charliecasey@comcast.net for details.

In lieu of flowers, the Casey family asks that donations be made to a local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or to a charity of one's choice. Better yet, volunteer a few hours in your community helping others. It's a great way to embody the generous spirit of Barbara Casey!