Barbara A. Shea

Barbara A. Shea, age 88, of High Bridge, NJ passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Born on June 20, 1933 in Wilkes Barre, PA, she was the daughter of the late Tony and Anna (Buckley) Corcoran and lived in Wilkes Barre until she married the love of her life, Thomas Shea, and moved to Utica, NY.  Barbara and her husband moved to Clinton, NJ, in 1959 where they raised their four daughters.  She moved to High Bridge, NJ in 1990. Barbara’s beloved husband, passed away in 1979 after 21 years of marriage.  Barbara passed away on her wedding anniversary, as the couple were wed on December 27, 1958.  Her devotion to him was unwavering.

Barbara graduated from St. Ann’s Academy in 1951 and remained closely connected as part of the alumni of the school, attending numerous reunions and events with many of her classmates (and dear friends) over the years.  In 1953, she graduated from the Mercy Hospital x-ray technician program and worked as a certified x-ray technician at the Hospital until 1958 and at Faxton Hospital in Utica, NY until 1959.

From 1973-1993, Barbara worked at First National Bank of Central Jersey as a bank teller.  As a result of her kind and caring disposition, Barbara made many friends of her loyal customers (including children and animals). She was very well known and beloved in her community.

Barbara was a parishioner at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in High Bridge.  Her faith and trust in God and her devotion was instrumental in making her the wonderful woman she was.  She prayed the Rosary and attended Mass daily.   Barbara served her religious communities for many years, including ministering communion to the sick and homebound, a service which fulfilled her greatly.

Barbara enjoyed reminiscing about her life with her beloved children, grandchildren and friends.  She had especially fond memories of her time at St. Ann’s and summers spent at her father’s family farm in Stowell, PA.

Barbara enjoyed many things including her trips to New York City with her husband and later with children, grandchildren and friends.  She introduced family and friends to her favorite spot, Sardi’s, which became a family favorite place to visit.  She also enjoyed traveling over the years with her friends, lovingly referred to as the “Golden Girls.”

Survivors include four children; Kathleen Hudecek of Portland, PA, Allison Holthaus of Lebanon Twp., NJ, Suzanne Ceresnik of Stewartsville, NJ and Colleen Farber and her husband Matthew of High Bridge, NJ.  Eight grandchildren; Maggie Pearson and her husband John, Erin Hudecek and her husband Scott Silberstein, Stephen Hudecek, Jeffrey Holthaus, Sarah Farber and her fiancé Rick Mabes, Thomas Farber, Shea Ceresnik and Mark Ceresnik.  She is also survived by one sister; Elizabeth A. Carpinteri and her husband Joseph of Hilton Head, SC.  Several nieces and nephews. 

Barbara was predeceased in addition to her husband by one brother; Peter A. Corcoran who passed away in 2020 and son-in-law; Michael G. Hudecek who passed away in June of 2021. 

Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 11am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 59 Main Street, High Bridge, NJ.  Interment will immediately follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Clinton, NJ. 

Memorials can be made to Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. (EWTN) by visiting www.ewtn.com.  

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