Obituary for Lillian Barbara (Barraco)
Lillian Barbara, of Glassboro, N.J, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Born in Garfield, N.J., Lillian lived in Clifton, N.J. for more than 60 years before moving to South Jersey in 2014. She retired from the Clifton Public Library in 2010 after 20 years of dedicated service to her community and continued to volunteer there for several years thereafter.
One of 13 children, Lillian was born to Nancy (nee: Gramaccioli) Barraco and Andrew Barraco at the beginning of the depression, which had an enormous impact on her life. She began working in her teens in dry cleaning establishments run by family members.
In 1950, she married Emile J. Barbara, Sr. with whom she had five children. They were married for 25 years before Emile''s sudden and untimely death at age 50.
She loved music in general and opera in particular, gardening, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family. Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she joined her sisters and brothers in harmony as they entertained the family with song.
She is predeceased by her parents, numerous siblings and their spouses. She is survived by her loving and caring children, Nancy Ward (Edward), Lydia Bashwiner (Jack), Adrianne Barbara-Geigges (the late Ken Geigges), Emile, Jr., and Michael (Michele Ginter-Barbara); her beloved grandchildren, Kristin Harris (Mike), Lisa Braack, Katherine Zambarano (Derek), Megan Bashwiner (Joseph Fink), John Conboy (fiancé, Emily Palm), Christina Danser (Joshua), and Sarah Conboy; her adored great-grandchildren, Liliana Erdelyi, David Patrick Erdelyi, Olsen Zambarano, Elliette Zambarano, Skylar Danser, and Iris Wolf Fink; and her two dear sisters Lorraine Van Sant and Nanette Duesler, along with many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Lillian's life will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, N.J. Family and friends may gather at 11 am to pay their respects. The life celebration will commence at 12 noon, featuring music, remembrances, and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the North Shore Animal League: https://secure3.convio.net/nsala/site/Donation2?df_id=1600and1600.donation=form1 or Alzheimer's Disease Research at: https://donate.brightfocus.org/adr/donate?utm_source=googleandutm_medium=SEMandutm_campaign=ADRandgclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox85ENnDs_JRTaqpgqze-cwH2M6pCJ6rATyf3WjR_40zFCHdsd2tmEWcaAqj5EALw_wcB
Her family would like to thank the excellent and devoted staff at Traditions of Cross Keys in Glassboro, N.J. for the incredible care and kindness shown to Lillian and to us during her stay there.
One of 13 children, Lillian was born to Nancy (nee: Gramaccioli) Barraco and Andrew Barraco at the beginning of the depression, which had an enormous impact on her life. She began working in her teens in dry cleaning establishments run by family members.
In 1950, she married Emile J. Barbara, Sr. with whom she had five children. They were married for 25 years before Emile''s sudden and untimely death at age 50.
She loved music in general and opera in particular, gardening, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family. Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she joined her sisters and brothers in harmony as they entertained the family with song.
She is predeceased by her parents, numerous siblings and their spouses. She is survived by her loving and caring children, Nancy Ward (Edward), Lydia Bashwiner (Jack), Adrianne Barbara-Geigges (the late Ken Geigges), Emile, Jr., and Michael (Michele Ginter-Barbara); her beloved grandchildren, Kristin Harris (Mike), Lisa Braack, Katherine Zambarano (Derek), Megan Bashwiner (Joseph Fink), John Conboy (fiancé, Emily Palm), Christina Danser (Joshua), and Sarah Conboy; her adored great-grandchildren, Liliana Erdelyi, David Patrick Erdelyi, Olsen Zambarano, Elliette Zambarano, Skylar Danser, and Iris Wolf Fink; and her two dear sisters Lorraine Van Sant and Nanette Duesler, along with many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Lillian's life will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, N.J. Family and friends may gather at 11 am to pay their respects. The life celebration will commence at 12 noon, featuring music, remembrances, and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the North Shore Animal League: https://secure3.convio.net/nsala/site/Donation2?df_id=1600and1600.donation=form1 or Alzheimer's Disease Research at: https://donate.brightfocus.org/adr/donate?utm_source=googleandutm_medium=SEMandutm_campaign=ADRandgclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox85ENnDs_JRTaqpgqze-cwH2M6pCJ6rATyf3WjR_40zFCHdsd2tmEWcaAqj5EALw_wcB
Her family would like to thank the excellent and devoted staff at Traditions of Cross Keys in Glassboro, N.J. for the incredible care and kindness shown to Lillian and to us during her stay there.