Plan for the Future
BARBARA ANN MEDINA, April 1, 1931 – February 16, 2023
*Click here to livestream the Funeral Mass on Friday, 2/24/2023 at 10am*
Barbara Ann Medina passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 16, 2023. She was 91. Born and raised in East Orange, Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Otto and Eleanor (Kenah) Kazenmayer.
Barbara worked for New Jersey Bell Telephone in Newark, where she performed with her beloved singing group, the Blue Bells. She married Jerome (Jerry) Medina in 1958. In 1964 the family, with two daughters, moved to Chatham and son Robert was born that same year.
Barbara quickly became active in St Patrick’s Parish, where she sang for many years with “The Folk Group,” headed by the late Elaine Mulholland, at Saturday masses and holiday liturgies. Active in the Mothers Guild while her children attended St. Patrick’s School, she helped initiate the girls’ gym program. Barbara also was a long time Officer in the Rosary Society (Women of Mary); the Legion of Mary and other Parish ministries, including the Ministry of Caring, a group which provided home-bound parishioners rides to medical visits and shopping trips. This group also delivered meals to home-bound citizens and provided many repasts at the Parish Center for families and friends following the funeral of their loved-one. In 2014 Barbara received the Paterson Diocese Vivere Christus award from the Most Reverend Bishop Arthur Seratelli, STD, SSL, DD.
In the community, Barbara volunteered on the Borough Board of Recreation, and worked to establish the girls’ recreation program. She served as president of Minisink Swim Club, and received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Jaycees organization in 1980. From 1974 until 1982 Barbara was an avid supporter/fan of the Morris County Militia Fife and Drum Corps. She sewed uniforms, polished buckles, fixed wigs and, side by side with Jerry, prepared and served meals for the group at “Musters” throughout New England. For many years Barbara worked for and later managed The Fabric Tree in Chatham Township.
For over ten years she supervised a weekly swim session for physically challenged citizens at the Madison YMCA, under the aegis of the state-wide organization “Swim-Inc.”
Barbara loved singing, bowling, swimming and, most of all, talking with and being with people, especially her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, daughters Eleanor Medina and her companion Lynne, Kathleen vanEsselstyn (Peter), son Robert Medina (Kathleen) and grandchildren Zachary and Taryn vanEsselstyn, and Jeremy and Courtney Medina. She also is survived by her loving brothers James Kazenmayer (Marge) and Charles Kazenmayer (Helen), and their extended families.
The family wishes to recognize and gratefully thank Barbara’s amazing caregiver Mrs. Marine (Mari) Storms and her husband Beso.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 10 am at St. Patrick’s Church, Chatham, NJ. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ. Visiting hours, Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main St. Chatham, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Chatham Emergency Squad, 45 Spring Street, Chatham 07928, or to Saint Patrick’s Church, 41 Oliver Street, Chatham, NJ 07928
