Barbara F. Nerreau (nee Fitzgerald) of Trumbull, Ct. passed away on October 16 at the age of 94. Barbara was the wife of the late John C. Nerreau. Born in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of John F.  and Sally Olszewski Fitzgerald of Hamden, CT.

Barbara spent her lifetime dedicated to her family, the arts and social justice activities. She earned a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Skidmore College and continued her studies throughout her life at Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, and UConn Stamford. After graduating from Skidmore, she worked in advertising and fashion illustration at the Edw. Malley Co. in New Haven, the Mussler-Liebeskind Co. in Waterbury, and then as  Advertising Manager of D.M. Reads Department Stores in Bridgeport.

Like many women of her generation, she took a hiatus from her career to raise her three children. During this time, she started an oil painting program for inner city children through the Bridgeport School Volunteer Association, which was highlighted in an article and photographs in the prestigious Life Magazine. She created a similar program at Saint Theresa School in Trumbull and also worked as a substitute teacher in Trumbull and Stratford.

Barbara returned to full-time work in the mid-1970s with the Trumbull Department of Social Services, briefly as a caseworker and then as Director for a decade.

In the 1990s, she and her husband retired, enabling them to spend more time with family and travel annually to Europe, pursuing their mutual love of art, architecture and culture. Throughout their retirement together, John, formerly the Director of Art and Music for the Stamford School System, continued to work part-time as an adjunct professor at three local universities. They exhibited their own paintings together and separately many times over the years.

Barbara was a Catechist for fourth graders in the Saint Theresa Education Program for more than 20 years and a regular volunteer at the Merton House Soup Kitchen in Bridgeport. She was a member of the Board of Retired Professionals at Fairfield University and the Wednesday Book Club at the Trumbull Library.

As a crossword puzzle enthusiast, Barbara participated annually in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, which attracted hundreds of contenders from across the country and the world.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Claudia and her partner Fred Rueck of Ridgefield, her daughter Deidre and her husband Christopher of St. Petersburg, FL, and her son Brian and his wife Shari of Fairfield; her grandchildren William Owen and his wife Taylor, Scott Owen, Caroline McCabe, Maura McCabe, Colin McCabe, Aidan McCabe, Bradley Nerreau and his wife Samantha and daughter Josephine, Jason Nerreau, Meredith Nerreau, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother John W. Fitzgerald and his wife Margaret McBride Fitzgerald.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to Barbara's in-home caregivers and the staff at Mozaic Senior Life for the wonderful care and support they provided over the years.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home. Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, October 22 at 10:00am meeting directly in St. Theresa Church, Trumbull. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Trumbull.   To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com