Tribute Wall
Saturday
11
February
Celebration of Life
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home
101 South Finley Avenue
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
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Lynn Dicton posted a condolence
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Barbara was a strong and amazing woman and I am blessed to have gotten the opportunity to meet and know her. She brought amazing joy to her family who will miss her. RIP Barbara. Lynn Dicton
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Martina Anyanwu posted a condolence
Saturday, February 11, 2023
TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL MOM I MATE ON MY WAY TO WORK, BARBARA KUNZ
I came into Barbara's life as a caregiver.
The day Anita's Angels Inc brought me to Barbara Kunz's house to care for her was a memorable day to me. After the introductions, I looked into Barbara's eyes, placed my hand on my chest and said to Barbara "I will do my best to take good care of you". Barbara smiled and said "we'll see". The smile on Barbara's face was priceless.
Barbara's openness and her all inclusive nature made me approach her one day and asked "would you mind if I call you Mom?" and her reply was a priceless smile and "I wouldn't mind" so from that day I called her Mom.
Mom was a good mother and a friend to me because she cared about everything that concerns me. Mom will always ask me questions to know and make sure I was doing the right thing and that I'm happy. Every morning at the kitchen table is not just breakfast time but certainly fun time. Mom will start with "hmmmm smells good" as she approaches the kitchen table. Mom loved to eat healthy food. Oh my goodness! Mom loved spinach omelette, pear and mixed berries oatmeal that she will gallantly walk to the table nodding her head with lots of smile. I learnt some cooking ideas from Mom and I enjoyed cooking for her. Mom was a good story teller. After breakfast, Mom and I will tell stories and listen to music. Mom will smile and laugh as I dance for her. It became a routine and form path of our daily exercise.
The day that made me give Mom the title of (A MUST HAVE IN OUR WORLD) was the last day of Christmas of 2021. I had told Mom of the story of how Christmas is celebrated for 8 market days (25th of December to 1st of January) non stop in the part of Nigeria where I come from. Mom waited patiently, watching, listening and observing how I was communicating with my family and friends back home. After the last day of our Christmas, (1st January) at the kitchen table after dinner, Mom looked at me with a sign of unhappiness, unacceptable and disappointment at me and said "I heard you everyday talk to everyone but you never spoke to or talked about your son's girlfriend, you will not make a good mother-in-law". I was so touched that Mom wanted me to be the best for my family and beyond. The look on Mom's face, could tell how sad she felt for how I must have treated my supposed son's girlfriend. My response was a smile of appreciation that she cared that much about me to be best in and out to everyone, and that "my son does not have a girlfriend. Mon asked "WHY" and I said the life we live here or in the western world is a complete opposite of the life we live in West Africa especially where I come from. Mom asked "HOW" and I said because back home it's seen as a bad thing. It is perceived that such a boy or girl is corrupt and is a bad child. In most cases if a boy is seen with a girl or vice versa, he or she will be reported and the parents around will warn their children not to go close or have anything to do with him or her. Eventually if the girl wants to marry, people who knew her will tell the suitor not to marry her because she used to move about with boys or men. After my explanations Mom was relieved of her perception about me in the context she was unhappy with me, then she said "it's strange and not good how people live like that, so how do people get married?"......then I told her more about the life back home. Mom made me feel she was blemish and had a spotless soul, no wonder she made it to a second chance to live after she suffered health issues that she was recovering from which gave the opportunity for me to be path of her life.
Mom loved her family so much that she can't stop expressing her joy and happiness over them all. When Mom told me the story of her health and the birth of her great-grandchild, Marcellne. She was full of gratitude and can't stop expressing how happy she was seeing her. Mom's family were all concerned about her and they are one of the best families if not the best since I my job as a caregiver.
Mom was always there to support me in everything, when I got my covid-shots to my driving school, to getting my driver's licence and many more things which Mom and her family showed interest to to help. I'm forever grateful for this OUT OF THIS WORLD WOMAN AND HER FAMILY.
Mom will always tell her children how I was taking good care of her and her children and their families will always send compliments and expressed their gratitude to me. On many occasions they showed me love and extended their hands of friendship to me and will as well always ask about my kids especially Brian and Sarkti God bless them immensely. One that blew my mind was a surprise birthday they staged for me. Believe me, Mom can be a bank for your secrets.
My birthday was in April, Mom said happy birthday to me without any card or gift. Brian and Sakti were on an overseas trip, and they planned a birthday for me and I never got to have a clue for months while I was in the same house eating, dining, telling stories and dancing everyday with Mom. Mom kept everything they were planning a secret even Brad and Kim will come to the house yet mom never said anything that could give me a clue until the month of June when they surprised me with songs, cake and lots of gifts. It was the best thing that happened to me in my career as a caregiver.
Mom and her family gave me a whole lot of household items which I'm so happy about. Mom and her family always wanted me to be happy and I really was.
After I left Mom, a lot of things were on the way for me which Mom was aware of and very concerned about, I was all full of hope that I will visit Mom with good news, but unfortunately my bad news was bigger than my good news and knowing how Mom usually feel when things did not go smooth for me, I was not ready to visit her because she must ask questions and touch everything and would expect to get answers of good good good while my answer in reality will be (bad 80% and good 20%). In this process I never knew that Mom's health decline was at the extreme.
I'm not happy that all the plans I had before I left Mom, life circumstances never played a good card for me to go, visit and show Mom to be happy for me. If I had visited Mom with tears of what was and is still happening to me, Mom will be sad and I believe that it's not good for Mom and her health.
On the other hand, I'm happy that her family gave me the opportunity to see her for last the time. Thank you Sakti and Brian.
When I saw Mom, I cried and I called Mom and I said "Mom your baby girl Martina is here" immediately Mom opened her two eyes to see me and she slurred her mouth trying to say things to me. I prayed for her. I stayed with her for some hours until Sakti came. When I left I prayed for her and bid her bye. The same day after couple of hours I went to store and I had the sign that was almost the same thing that happened to me the day my father passed. Immediately what came to mind was BARBARA KUNZ, I stopped and prayed for her and I told her that I'm happy that I was able to see her that God will give her a special side in his bosom and that she should ask God to help her baby girl Martina. That sign happened to me 3 times and I prayed for her soul and I said Mom it's well thank you for everything. Go well. I'm very happy that I had the opportunity to pray for her final moment. When Sakti texted me of Mom's passing , I was calm, I prayed for her soul again and I inquired from Sakti of her time of Mom's passing telling her what happened to me at a particular time, Sakti confirmed the time for me and I marvel that even in the moment of death, Mom still remembered that I was one of the people she will notify that she is going.
To Mom, Barbara Kunz you were a special person, so loved. I told you one day that I love the way you brought up your children making them to know and have family values that the way they rally round you, coordinate themselves to care for you is the best thing that can ever happen to a MOTHER or FATHER. I told you that "how you dress your bed is how you lye on it. That you dressed your bed well and you reaped the benefit that comes from it. Kudos to you and your family" Mom I'm happy that your family was with you till you breathed your last. I'm sorry I that I was not there but thank you for being there for me. I love and will miss you dearly. RIP Good woman. La nke oma Mama Barbara.
To Brian and Sakti, Kareen and Byron, Brad and Kim, may God bless you in all that you do for giving this wonderful woman the opportunity to reap the fruit of her labor . For being there through and through, may you prosper, and for giving me the opportunity to be path of this great beautiful woman with a beautiful soul may you always be in the best path where opportunity flow like milk and honey. In your grief I want you to know that you don't grief as people who do not have hope because she is in the best place with her maker. She only moved away from this wicked and sinful world to where she has no sadness.
To her grandchildren and great-grand children now and in the future, you had one of the best grand Moms ever. Thank you for being part of her world. God bless you all.
With Love
MARTINA
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Diana & Harold Grossnickle posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Her kids, in addition to the wonderfully rich life summarized in the thoughtful obit, are her lasting testament - kind, giving, accomplished, explorers of the world. Our hearts are eith the family, especially Brian and Sakti, our dear friends, as you say goodbye.
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Ban Capron posted a condolence
Saturday, February 4, 2023
My wife, Janice Heil Capron, died 9/13/2022. Jan was a long-time friend of Barb. Seriously long-time. Jan and Barb graduated from Vanderpoel Elementary School in Chicago together. They then graduated from Morgan Park High School together. Finally on to the University of Illinois together and both joining Kappa Kappa Gamma. Later in life we visited Barb in Ft. Meyers. Lots of great memories. Jan's mom took movies of many classes at Vanderpoel.
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The family of Barbara R Kunz uploaded a photo
Friday, January 27, 2023
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