Karen Ann Barbera

Karen Ann Barbera (née Lahr), age 76, of Wayne, NJ, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Karen was raised in Secaucus and was the beloved daughter of the late John and June Lahr. She graduated from Weehawken High School with the Class of 1967. Following high school, Karen worked as a clerk for the Public Service Department in Secaucus, where she was employed for approximately seven years.

During her high school years, Karen met a handsome young man named Peter Barbera. As fate would have it, they fell in love and after several years of courtship, they were married on July 17, 1971, at Immaculate Conception Church in Secaucus.  The couple initially settled in Secaucus, where they welcomed their first two children, Tim and Lauren. In November of 1977, the family moved to Wayne, where they welcomed their third child, Kevin, and where Karen and Peter remained proud residents for the rest of their lives together.

Karen was a wonderful cook and an avid reader, especially enjoying mystery novels, with James Patterson among her favorite authors.  She treasured the many family vacations to Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Naples, FL. She was feisty, spirited, and full of life.  Karen had a larger-than-life personality that left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.

Deeply devoted to her Catholic faith, Karen was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church in Wayne. Above all else, her greatest joy and passion in life was her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Karen than spending time with her children and grandchildren. She and Peter cherished fifty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Karen will be fondly remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished grandmother.  She was truly a special person who touched the lives of everyone around her and will be missed by all who knew her.

Karen is survived by her husband Peter Barbera of Wayne, NJ, three children; her son Tim Barbera and his wife Amy of Wayne, NJ, her daughter Lauren Till and her husband Chris of Wayne, NJ, and her son Kevin Barbera and his wife Colleen of Seaford, NY, ten grandchildren; Emily, Andrew, Lillian, Grant, Jack, Brynn, Braden, Colin, Everly, and Declan.