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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, February 16, 2015 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, where at 11:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Barbara A. Gordon (nee Paduano), age 72, of Pompton Lakes, died peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2015.
Born in Jersey City, she was raised in Pompton Lakes where she attended St. Mary’s Grammar School and graduated from Pompton Lakes High School with the Class of 1961.
Barbara met her husband Bill while both worked at a the Valley Fair Supermarket in what was then known as West Paterson. Barbara was a cashier and Bill was a butcher. One day when she was at work, it was a little slow, so the manager of the store told Barbara to take a break from the cash register and go wrap meat in the butcher shop. Barbara and Bill met each other in the meat department and hit it off that night. Soon after, Bill asked Barbara out on a date. The two of them had their first official date on Saturday, November 13, 1960 and the night started out at the Golden Star Diner on Route 46. Barbara was too nervous to eat much. Afterwards they went to the drive-in movie theater in Totowa. They sat in Bills 1958 Buick and didn’t see much of the movie. They had many more dates after that. On numerous occasions, Barbara’s younger brother Johnny went with them and when they were alone, if they lingered too long in the car in front of Barbara’s parents house at the end of the night, Barbara’s father would flick the outdoor lights on and off as if to say, “Get in the house Barbara!” They married on Mother’s Day which was on Sunday, May 13, 1962. The wedding took place at St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Pompton Lakes and a reception followed at the Robin Hood Inn in Clifton. After enjoying their honeymoon in Niagara Falls, they settled into their first apartment in Lyndhurst. Barbara soon gave birth to a healthy boy which they named Anthony. From Lyndhurst, this little family of three moved to Wayne and then to Pompton Lakes in 1975. There, Barbara gave birth to her and Bill’s daughter and Anthony’s sister and named her Michele. Barbara’s life at that point was primarily focused on homemaking and being a great mother to her two children. She ultimately returned to work, this time with Shop Rite Food Stores. She worked part-time, evenings at the store in Ramsey. Barb’s grandmother and her children’s great-grandmother watched Anthony and Michele between that time when Barbara had to leave for work and Bill wasn’t home yet from work. Together, they did what was necessary to make sure all their needs were met and there was money left over for some good times too. Barb worked at Shop Rite for sixteen years, from 1971 to 1987, then she took a job with Kings Food Markets in Mendham as a bookkeeper. She loved her job and the camaraderie with fellow employees and she worked at Kings for twenty-one years, from 1987 to 2008 when illness forced her to retire.
Barb loved being with her family. For many summers you could find the Gordons vacationing down the Jersey shore in Wildwood. She and Bill got to travel a bit too when they were older with favorite destinations being Bermuda and Aruba. One of Barbs favorite pastimes was visiting the Casino – the Hilton in Atlantic City and Mount Airy Lodge in Pennsylvania, and with Bill and her parents, she took occasional trips to Las Vegas. She exclusively played video poker and over the years she had some big hits!
When home, Barbara never missed an episode of her favorite soap opera, Days of Our Lives. She watched it for over fifty years. Her other favorite shows were Law and Order, Criminal Minds, and she was always sharpening her own mind by watching Jeopardy. Barbara and Bill’s home was always a welcome place for her two grandchildren Danielle and Anthony. She adored them! Danielle would come over almost every week for a sleepover. Barb and Danielle would go shopping and get their nails done, and when it was time for sleep, Grandpa Bill always had to find another bed because Danielle was gonna sleep by Grandma Barb! Grandson Anthony lived far away from Barb so she didn’t get to see him as much but she loved him dearly.
Barbara’s faith in God was a foundational part of her life. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes where she served as a Eucharistic minister, attending mass almost everyday at 7:30 AM. When her granddaughter Danielle would visit, Barb always shared her faith with her and she found strength in the Lord throughout the last seven years that she was sick. Her family finds comfort in knowing that Barb’s faith has become sight now, as she now sees God face-to-face and that she in His glory, finally freed from her pain.
Barbara was fastidious about her looks. Her nails were always perfectly manicured and polished and she never left the house short of looking perfect. Bill and the kids liked to use the word “quaffed” to describe her.
Surviving is her beloved husband of 52 years, William; her two loving children: Anthony and wife Jeanne Gordon of Flanders, and Michele Marro and companion Jim Donohue of Pompton Lakes; two cherished grandchildren: Danielle Marro and Anthony Gordon; her dear brother John and wife Joy Paduano of Brick; and many dear nieces, nephews and cousins.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents: Paul and Dorothy Paduano and her brother Paul Paduano.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Barbara’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 (www.stjude.org).
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, February 16, 2015 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, where at 11:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, February 16, 2015 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, where at 11:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Barbara A. Gordon (nee Paduano), age 72, of Pompton Lakes, died peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2015.
Born in Jersey City, she was raised in Pompton Lakes where she attended St. Mary’s Grammar School and graduated from Pompton Lakes High School with the Class of 1961.
Barbara met her husband Bill while both worked at a the Valley Fair Supermarket in what was then known as West Paterson. Barbara was a cashier and Bill was a butcher. One day when she was at work, it was a little slow, so the manager of the store told Barbara to take a break from the cash register and go wrap meat in the butcher shop. Barbara and Bill met each other in the meat department and hit it off that night. Soon after, Bill asked Barbara out on a date. The two of them had their first official date on Saturday, November 13, 1960 and the night started out at the Golden Star Diner on Route 46. Barbara was too nervous to eat much. Afterwards they went to the drive-in movie theater in Totowa. They sat in Bills 1958 Buick and didn’t see much of the movie. They had many more dates after that. On numerous occasions, Barbara’s younger brother Johnny went with them and when they were alone, if they lingered too long in the car in front of Barbara’s parents house at the end of the night, Barbara’s father would flick the outdoor lights on and off as if to say, “Get in the house Barbara!” They married on Mother’s Day which was on Sunday, May 13, 1962. The wedding took place at St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Pompton Lakes and a reception followed at the Robin Hood Inn in Clifton. After enjoying their honeymoon in Niagara Falls, they settled into their first apartment in Lyndhurst. Barbara soon gave birth to a healthy boy which they named Anthony. From Lyndhurst, this little family of three moved to Wayne and then to Pompton Lakes in 1975. There, Barbara gave birth to her and Bill’s daughter and Anthony’s sister and named her Michele. Barbara’s life at that point was primarily focused on homemaking and being a great mother to her two children. She ultimately returned to work, this time with Shop Rite Food Stores. She worked part-time, evenings at the store in Ramsey. Barb’s grandmother and her children’s great-grandmother watched Anthony and Michele between that time when Barbara had to leave for work and Bill wasn’t home yet from work. Together, they did what was necessary to make sure all their needs were met and there was money left over for some good times too. Barb worked at Shop Rite for sixteen years, from 1971 to 1987, then she took a job with Kings Food Markets in Mendham as a bookkeeper. She loved her job and the camaraderie with fellow employees and she worked at Kings for twenty-one years, from 1987 to 2008 when illness forced her to retire.
Barb loved being with her family. For many summers you could find the Gordons vacationing down the Jersey shore in Wildwood. She and Bill got to travel a bit too when they were older with favorite destinations being Bermuda and Aruba. One of Barbs favorite pastimes was visiting the Casino – the Hilton in Atlantic City and Mount Airy Lodge in Pennsylvania, and with Bill and her parents, she took occasional trips to Las Vegas. She exclusively played video poker and over the years she had some big hits!
When home, Barbara never missed an episode of her favorite soap opera, Days of Our Lives. She watched it for over fifty years. Her other favorite shows were Law and Order, Criminal Minds, and she was always sharpening her own mind by watching Jeopardy. Barbara and Bill’s home was always a welcome place for her two grandchildren Danielle and Anthony. She adored them! Danielle would come over almost every week for a sleepover. Barb and Danielle would go shopping and get their nails done, and when it was time for sleep, Grandpa Bill always had to find another bed because Danielle was gonna sleep by Grandma Barb! Grandson Anthony lived far away from Barb so she didn’t get to see him as much but she loved him dearly.
Barbara’s faith in God was a foundational part of her life. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes where she served as a Eucharistic minister, attending mass almost everyday at 7:30 AM. When her granddaughter Danielle would visit, Barb always shared her faith with her and she found strength in the Lord throughout the last seven years that she was sick. Her family finds comfort in knowing that Barb’s faith has become sight now, as she now sees God face-to-face and that she in His glory, finally freed from her pain.
Barbara was fastidious about her looks. Her nails were always perfectly manicured and polished and she never left the house short of looking perfect. Bill and the kids liked to use the word “quaffed” to describe her.
Surviving is her beloved husband of 52 years, William; her two loving children: Anthony and wife Jeanne Gordon of Flanders, and Michele Marro and companion Jim Donohue of Pompton Lakes; two cherished grandchildren: Danielle Marro and Anthony Gordon; her dear brother John and wife Joy Paduano of Brick; and many dear nieces, nephews and cousins.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents: Paul and Dorothy Paduano and her brother Paul Paduano.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Barbara’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 (www.stjude.org).
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