Obituary of Barbara Casini

Barbara Lee Casini, age 81, of Freehold, NJ passed on to our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in her home surrounded by family. Born in Passaic, Barbara was the daughter of the late Antonio Paul Casagrand and Gizella Kollar, and step-daughter of the late Rose Casagrand. She grew up in Clifton and is predeceased by her sister, Dorothy Tamburr. Barbara moved to Manalapan in the 1960s, where she raised her three children and remained an active member of the Catholic Church. She is survived by her brother George Casagrand and his wife Kelly of Kinnelon, NJ, her son Nicholas Casini and his wife Janice of Emerald Isle, NC, her daughter Dana Essner of Freehold, NJ, and her son Christopher Casini of Middletown, NJ. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren – Paul Casini, Robert Casini, Brianna Casini, Patrick Essner and his wife Amanda, Christopher Essner and his wife Niven, Samantha Essner and her partner Kelly, Corey Casini, and Christina Casini – as well as her three great-grandchildren – Haylie, Nolan, and Quincy Essner – and her dear friends – Lynn Perlmutter, Judi Sopko, and Joan Battista. 

Barbara loved her family deeply, evident in every cooked meal, kissed forehead, and memory shared. She was as kind as she was driven, inspiring many when she attended and graduated from Ocean County College at age 60 to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She carried out her nursing career at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and CARINGHouse. She will be remembered for the loving care she provided many and will be missed by all who knew her. Her advice for the rest of us is to “be nice” – a philosophy she lived by every day. 

Barbara's family will be celebrating her life in the days to come.