Obituary of Barbara S. "Bobbie" Nowak

Barbara S. “Bobbie” Nowak, 81, of Freehold Township passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.  She was born and raised in Ossining, NY and moved to Yonkers prior to settling in Freehold Township in 1966.  Bobbie was a travel agent in Freehold Borough prior to her retirement in 1998.  She was a devout Catholic and was very involved in her parish, the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, where she was a founding member.  Bobbie was active in the Father Benedict Fund, served as a Eucharistic Minister and volunteered at Birthright.  While raising her seven children, she was a Brownie troop leader, a Boy Scout den leader, and a CCD teacher. She enjoyed a gin martini, doing word jumbles and also liked to garden.  A world-traveler, Barbara enjoyed family vacations in Cape May and Broadway plays.    Bobbie’s “signature” smiley face was indicative of her true sense of happiness.

She was predeceased by her husband, Rodney E. Nowak in 1995; and her sister, Elaine Stangle Cranston in 2010.  Bobbie is survived by her children,  Sharon Nowak of Long Branch, Diane Nowak and her partner, Tony Presley of Lincoln Park, Michael E. Nowak and his wife, Beth of Oakhurst, Peter J. Nowak and his wife, Stephanie of Mooresville, NC; Carole Coon and her husband, Jeff of Jackson, Pamela Nowak Stengel and her partner, Gerry DiBartolo of Freehold Township, and Melinda Gray and her husband, Scott of Thornwood, NY; twelve grandchildren, Jenna, RJ, Brianna, Tyler, Elena, Jake, Taylor, Courtney, Sean, Lyndsey, Connor, and Kayla; her sister, Leone Stangle of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; and many nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, May 14, 2018 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her 10:00 AM Funeral Mass on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township.  Entombment will follow in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, 299 Freehold Englishtown Road, Freehold Township.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bobbie’s name may be made to the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Father Benedict Ministry, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.