Barbara Lynn Kornrich passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on June 22nd, 2023 while on vacation in Rennes, France. Her family is deeply saddened by her untimely death.

Born December 10th, 1949 to Jeanne and Kenneth Kornrich, Barbara grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut with her older brother Bill. At Hall High School, she took French language classes from Dr. Schacht, which was the beginning of a love of all things French. She continued her studies at Jackson College (Tufts University) culminating in a life altering Study Abroad program in Paris. It was there that she met and later married Joël Arnold. Her son, Jeremy Arnold, was born in Rennes in 1977.

Barbara returned to the US in 1984, settling in Maryland. She taught French to children of all ages – from toddlers in Montessori to middle and high schoolers in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery Counties - spanning a 30 year career. She loved sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge of French language, culture, and customs with hundreds of students over the years and leaves an amazing legacy.

After her retirement, she kept very active, spending quality time with her two grandsons, Isaac and Jonathan as they grew up. Her synagogue, B'nai Shalom of Olney, was a central part of her life – attending Friday night services, participating in their programs and study groups, and volunteering in the kitchen for many years. She instilled a love of reading in her son and grandsons, becoming a regular fixture at Olney Library. She loved the Olney community, not just because of the Olney Theater and the Strawberry Festival at Sandy Spring Museum, but because it is a place where people stop to say hi at the grocery store and save tables at Panera for the Mahjong group. Traveling was a passion of hers – Rhodes Scholar trips, including to New Zealand, and most especially her annual trips to France to see friends and family.

Barbara always tried to plan for every contingency, trying to make sure she was prepared for any possibility, no matter how remote. Her warm and giving nature will be most remembered and missed by all who knew her.

Barbara is survived by her brother Bill (and his wife Yvonne), her ex-husband Joël, her son Jeremy (and his wife Eleanor), and her two grandsons, Isaac and Jonathan.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of life, which will be held at the Judean Memorial Gardens Chapel beginning at 1pm on Friday, July 7th, 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mazon|A Jewish Response to Hunger, the Sandy Spring Museum, or the Olney Theater Center.

https://give.mazon.org/give/466743/#!/donation/checkout

https://www.sandyspringmuseum.org/get-involved/donate/

https://www.olneytheatre.org/