Barbara Vojvodich

Barbara H. Vojvodich (nee Zecca), age 83 of Pompton Plains, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. She lived in Parsippany for nearly fifty years before moving to Cedar Crest Village in 2018.

Barbara was born and grew up in Newark, NJ, where her father was a Newark Police Officer and her mother worked as an executive secretary. They lived in several two-family homes in Newark and during her formative years her grandparents lived upstairs, creating strong family relationships between them all. Barbara adored her parents and her younger brother, Barry, often reflecting on many wonderful childhood memories. To escape the summer heat in Newark, they would take day trips to Lake Hopatcong during the 1940’s and 1950’s, and they enjoyed summer vacations to the Catskills. After she graduated from Our Lady of the Valley High School in 1958, Barbara attended Berkeley Secretarial School where she learned shorthand and stenography.  In 1959, she took her first job with PSE&G where she worked for fourteen years before leaving in 1973.

Barbara met Mario Vojvodich after being introduced by a mutual friend. They hit it off and after a brief courtship, they were married on October 21, 1972 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Maplewood, NJ. They lived briefly in an apartment in Little Falls and after their daughter Laura was born, they bought a home in Parsippany, where they lived for over four decades. They developed close friendships with neighbors there and many became lifelong friends. Barbara’s priority was always her family, and she took to being a homemaker like none other. She was always there for her daughter, took pride in making a good home for the family, and cooked dinner every day. Her daughter, Laura, recalls her mother’s spaghetti and meatballs among her favorites, and her mom’s apple pie was exceptional. Barbara also remembered the favorite foods of her family members, and she would prepare those items (even if she didn’t like them herself!) whenever she and Mario hosted family gatherings. After her daughter graduated high school, Barbara embarked on a second career with the Rockaway Township Board of Education, working with the Child Study Team. She was driven and motivated by the work. She made many great friends there and loved working in Rockaway. She retired from that position in 2006.

Barbara was a great friend to many and was always exceptionally caring and considerate of others. She loved helping people and was always there for a family member, friend or neighbor in need. Among her hobbies was corresponding with her loved ones. She never missed sending a birthday or anniversary card and each contained a heartfelt note. She wrote many letters through the years and was especially dedicated to sending them to a long list of people every year at Christmastime, commandeering the dining room table for over a month to spread out her things and get the job done. She was a truly kind and good person, who genuinely loved her family and friends, and she was grateful for all the love she received from each of them.

Barbara’s Catholic faith was strong, and integral to her life. She was active for many years with St. Christopher’s Church in Parsippany, where she was a devoted volunteer. After she retired, because she had more free time, she even volunteered to launder and iron the curtain and linens used at the church. Later, after she and her husband moved to Cedar Crest Village, she became involved with the Catholic ministry there as well. Her faith was evident through the love she shared each and every day.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Laura Eisen and her husband Dave of Weston, MA, two grandchildren, Ben and Olivia Eisen; her brother, Barry Zecca of Bridgewater, NJ, and nephews David Zecca and Michael Zecca (Keeley), grandnephew Jackson and grandniece Brooke; nephews Joseph Ihne and John Ihne (Bernadette) of Wayne, NJ, grandnephew John Ihne, Jr. (Katelyn) and grandniece Gina Fernicola (Joe) and great-grandnephews and niece; Jack, Nicholas, Joey and Madison. Barbara was predeceased by her dear husband Mario in 2022 and her wonderful sisters in law Mary Ihne and Maryann Zecca in 2020. 

Donations in Barbara’s memory would be appreciated to Alzheimer’s New Jersey. Donate online at www.alznj.org.