Barbara L McLaughlin

September 8, 2021

Barbara L. McLaughlin- 78, of Galloway, NJ, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, after a characteristically resolute, some might say stubborn, battle with long-standing health challenges. Born January 19, 1943, in Atlantic City, NJ. She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Thomas G. McLaughlin, her six children, seventeen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren: Tom M. (Mary Sue) McLaughlin, parents of Thomas, Sean, & Katie; Mary (Kenny) Cathey, mother of Robert, Jason, Alissa, & John, father of Miles, Mack, & Lily; Maureen McLaughlin, mother of Kera & Art, father of Owen; Steven (Kelly) McLaughlin, parents of Steven, Darcy, & Ryan; Kevin (Regina) Verow-McLaughlin, parents of Braidon & Teaghan; Kathleen (Matt) Lowery, parents of Brianna, Matthew, & Kaitlyn. As well as her siblings: Warren “Andy” Andrews (Mary Ann), Sam Holmstock (Marianne), Lucinda Andrews-Smith, William Andrews, and Susan Andrews. She was predeceased by: her father, Warren Andrews, her mother, Josephine Holmstock and her granddaughter-in-law, Emily Leeds. Her family was most important and she dedicated her life to them. Barbara lived her life serving others, and her religious faith was the driving force of her actions. A devout Roman Catholic her entire life, she and Tom were fixtures as parishioners at Church of the Assumption/ Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Galloway Township for over 60 years. She shared her talents with the parish in countless ways, including volunteering as a PE teacher in their school, lector, cantor, part-time/fill-in organist & pianist, alto in the choir, member of the Comfort Ministry, CCD teacher, fundraiser, and member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. From an early age, she was devout and dedicated and was once named “Miss Rosary” at her childhood parish of St. Peter’s in Pleasantville. Barbara was a lifelong Girl Scout, joining the Scouts as a child, volunteering as a troop leader for her daughters and granddaughters, and eventually working professionally for the local Girl Scout Council. All told, her involvement with Girl Scouts of the USA spanned 70+ years. Few, if any, have embodied the Girl Scout Promise “to help people at all times'' more than Barbara McLaughlin. In her inimitable way, she believed in the Girl Scout motto of “Be Prepared.” She could organize a group of children with an icebreaker or team building activity as easily as most people could tie their shoes. She could create a craft at a moment’s notice out of little more than what she found on the ground at her feet or in the contents of her handbag and glove compartment. She could easily inspire a group of kids to join in singing a selection of her encyclopedic knowledge of camp songs. Thousands of kids in South Jersey benefitted from her love for them and the Girls Scout ethos. She graduated from Holy Spirit High School in 1960 and continued her academic career at Georgian Court College. Before working for Girls Scouts, she spent many years selling Avon, along with a hodgepodge of other jobs- Election Official & pollworker, proctor for the State Board Nursing Exam, office & home cleaner, night auditor for a bank, crisis pregnancy center, as a means of making money for her family while working around her childrens’ schedules. Family always came first, and she was as ingenious as she was tireless in doing her part to provide for them. She volunteered for numerous organizations, including many of the activities her children were involved in. She was affectionately known as “Big Barb,” despite her petite stature, for her straightforward style and propensity to feel utterly free to consider herself in charge of any child she came into contact with. She rarely let an opportunity to get involved pass her by. She gave her time to multiple PTA groups, Cub Scouts, Eastern Service Workers, Youth Exchange, and Study (YES), (through which Barbara & Tom hosted nine exchange students in their home (because raising six children just wasn’t enough chaos). As a member of the Equal Opportunity Community for Galloway Township, she helped establish the annual Cultural Festival in the 1980s. She worked on the planning committee for many years, earning a Special Commendation from the Township Council for her efforts to build community. Barbara enjoyed sewing, crafting, and performing. She sang with the Stockton Chorale as well as the Assumption Choir. As a child, she enjoyed putting her dancing and music lessons to good use by devising and performing plays with her brother, Andy, which transformed into a love of talent shows. Her love of these activities flourished during her early years as a mother when she created floats and costumes for local parades, which served as a way to channel her naturally competitive spirit. Several times she won prizes for her creativity. Perhaps these skills best culminated during Halloween, when she created costumes for her children and then later, her grandchildren. From the time she was a young girl reading Nancy Drew mysteries sitting in a tree until her later years enjoying the Harry Potter novels with grandchildren, she remained an avid reader her whole life. She enjoyed fantasy and science fiction books particularly. From the age of six until her senior year in high school, she spent her summers at Camp Matollionequay. It was there that she developed her love for the outdoors and camping that she would pass on to her children, grandchildren, and her Girl Scouts. After retirement, she and her husband traveled the continent in their beloved RV, sometimes taking grandchildren along or traveling in it to visit grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They enjoyed the scenery of the open road. Her favorite trips were to Alaska, the Grand Canyon, and Ireland. Never content with merely being a participant, she continued organizing as the social coordinator for her senior wellness classes at the local gym, even when she had to go to the gym with her oxygen. As she was battling her chronic disease, she continued helping others. For example, she very proudly participated in a specially devised program through Univ of Penn to help doctors better understand the lived experiences of chronically ill patients. A truly beloved spouse, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, Troop Leader, friend, co-worker, unrelenting servant of others — especially children, faithful child of God, Barbara left a remarkable legacy of love and dedication. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 18 at Wimberg Funeral Home in Galloway from 9:30-11:30am followed by a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Assumption, Pitney Road, Galloway Township at 12:00pm. Barbara expressed her wishes for a cheerful memorial service filled with people dressed in colors other than black. Barbara was well known for wearing fancy hats on special occasions and would be delighted to see as many as possible at her service. In lieu of flowers, she requested donations be made to the Girl Scouts of Southern and Central New Jersey. Please join us live on Saturday 9/18 at 11:45 AM for the livestream of the mass; https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/60314