Penny Free's Obituary
Penny Alene Free, of Spring Valley, Ohio, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021, after a long, valiant battle against cancer.
Penny is survived by her husband, Mike Moloney, her two children Samuel Graham Burke (29) and Eliza Alene Free Burke (26), and their father Charles Burke to whom Penny was married for over 25 years. Also surviving are step-brother Charles Free (Thora), step-sister Jane Linderman (Richard), step-sister Barbara Free, brother Eric Free (Sheryl McClure), brother Kurt Free (Donna), brother James "Jake" Free (Jenny), sister Bonnie Free Chadwick (Jim), sister Nina Free Lovejoy (Dave) and her step-children John Moloney, Daniel Moloney and Catherine "Cat" Moloney. Other surviving family members include several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a goddaughter.
Penny was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday - February 12, 1952, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Dr. Alfred H. Free and Dr. Helen M. Free. Alfred died on May 15, 2000, and Helen passed away on May 1, 2021.
Penny attended school in Elkhart, Indiana, and graduated from Elkhart High School in 1970, where she was an accomplished artist, swimmer, and varsity cheerleader. She was a natural listener and was widely cherished among her classmates. She was elected homecoming queen in the fall of 1969.
She enrolled at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (her father's alma mater), and graduated in 1974 with degrees in English, Art, and Science. While at Miami, she met Mike Moloney. Though she and Mike were good friends, they went off in different directions but serendipitously circled back to marry in 2018.
Penny obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix in 1991, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Atlanta University in 1980, and a Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Arts Therapy from Lone Mountain College in 1978.
Penny worked briefly as a professional artist and then in community mental health. She began as a therapist and later moved to hospital administration, marketing, and management. She retired in 2015 from Terros Health in Phoenix as Executive Vice President/Chief Clinical Officer.
She was a fiercely loyal family member, friend, and mentor who lived to serve others. Her beautiful smile, grace, kind heart, and magnetic personality will be missed by many.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Penny Free Scholarship benefiting Elkhart High School students through the Community Foundation of Elkhart County (300 Nibco Pkwy, #301, Elkhart, IN 46516). Please note Penny Free Scholarship in the memo. A public Celebration of Life will be held in the spring of 2022. Arrangements are pending.
For more information, or to write a condolence and share a memory about Penny, please visit her Book of Memories page at www.ConnerAndKoch.com.
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