Barbara Hall Cleary

Savannah
Barbara Hall Cleary, 78, a lifetime resident of Savannah, Georgia, died peacefully in her childhood home, serenaded by beautiful music, in front of a roaring fire and a brightly lit Christmas tree, on Tuesday, December 21, 2010. She was under the care of her loving daughters and aided by Hospice Savannah. Barbara was the daughter of Norma Neubeck Hall and Daniel Lester Hall, the designer and original greens keeper of The Savannah Golf Club. She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years Bill Cleary, owner of Cleary Motorcycle, Co., the original Harley Davidson dealership on the East Coast. Barbara graduated from Savannah High School and was enrolled in the St. Joseph’s Nursing Program. She was a longtime member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30am, Friday, December 24, 2010 at Bonaventure Funeral Home with Father Jeremiah J. McCarthy officiating. Interment will follow in Bonaventure Cemetery with Ladson Hancock, Ruark Berryhill, Richard Braithwaite, Michael Lebiszczak and Eric Staebell serving as pallbearers.
Barbara devoted her lifetime to her children and to her grandchildren. Her surviving daughters are Diane Berryhill, Karen Hancock (Ladson), Chanel Cleary (Richard Braithwaite), and Annette Cleary, all of whom reside in Savannah. Her grandchildren are Misty Berryhill, Ruark Berryhill, Amanda Lebiszczak (Michael), Lani Staebell (Eric), Olivia Hollinger, Mackenzie Hancock, Ian Hollinger, Tiffany Stanley, Brittany Stanley, and Troy Ramsberger. Her great-grandchildren are Leighton Staebell and Colin Lebiszczak. She had told her children that she was awaiting the arrival of Colin before she passed on. Barbara is survived by her brother Dan Hall of Bonita Springs, Florida and Phyllis Findley of Claxton, Georgia. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.
Barbara was known to all for her fierce independence, her trenchant sense of humor, and her beloved pack of cigarettes. Barbara was once described as a cross between Lauren Bacall and Phyllis Diller. She expressed her integrity through her candor. When Barbara thought something, she would express it unequivocally to anyone around. She was quick witted and funny. She was an amazing cook and loved gardening, but prized above all her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother. As she said just weeks before her death, “I’m not going until Mandi’s baby is born. Then I will have seen them all.” In the end, she returned to her childhood home, now home of her daughter Chanel, and made her final peace.
The family will be receiving friends from 6-8pm Thursday evening, December 23, 2010 at Bonaventure Funeral Home.
Please visit the Tribute Wall and share your thoughts with the Barbara Hall Cleary Family.
Bonaventure Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements 335-8506