Thursday, March 22, 2018
Barbara and I met in 1975 when I started work at Dover General Hospital. It was my first day and I was introduced to this obviously pregnant nurse.
I asked if this was her first baby? Her blue eyes twinkled and she laughed.
No!! Its my seventh!!!
I almost fell over! Seven!
That baby was baby Barbara!
Our friendship grew quickly as we worked night after night together. She was always so kind to me a young nurse but also to all of her patients who loved her
I remember several saying to her as she came on duty,
" Oh Mrs. Gillen I'm so glad you are on duty tonight. I know I'm in good hands and you will take good care of me" . And she did.
She always did the extra bit to be sure people were comfortable ad well cared for. Whether it was feeding the elderly or finding more blankets or making sure someone sat with a dying patient, Barbara made sure it got done.
This love and caring was mainly evident with her family. They were most important to her. They always came first.
Despite the chaos that comes with an especially large family ,meals were on the table and all the children were listened to. She knew were they all were or where they were supposed to go!
I especially remember her love for getting the children ready for Halloween.! She did such a great job and had such fun painting their faces and getting their costumes on. . She made sure they all looked special. "Halloween is my favorite holiday" She would laugh!
I remember her telling me how she and Brian met when they were putting on the musical Brigadoon. Again those gorgeous blue eyes would twinkle as she told the story of finding the man she would love" in sickness and in health until death do us part."
I felt blessed to have her as a friend and experience so much fun with her. Once we were supposed to drive to a Xmas party for WIng M the unit we worked on. We took my old station wagon and the heat was not working on a very, very cold NJ nite. Anyone else would be complaining but not Barbara! She had us both laughing as we drove around. I'm not sure we ever got to that party. Barbara knew how to make the best of any situation and she could solve any problem.
Barbara also knew a lot about getting old cars started. We would get off work at 1 am and one or the other of our cars wouldn't start. She was super with jumper cables AND she taught me how to stick a pencil in the carburetor to get it started!!! There were always old foreign cars in the driveway that Brian and the boys were working on so I guess she learned a lot!!!!
Raising seven children gave her experience with all kinds of things and I would call her to ask her advice on my own children. She helped me so much.
Once I said to her
"Barbara why does Amy keep saying her arm hurts?"
She responded " Sandy I think her arm is broken! And she was right!!
Her loss is a huge one to all of us and I know her children will miss her until the end of their days. They will hear her voice and remember what she would say to them.
She was beautiful, kind and caring and smart. She was fun and loving and spirited and the kind of friend everyone would want.
I feel blessed to have had her as a part of my life for so long and will never forget her and always love her.
Rest easy Barbara, your work is done and done well and with loving care. Now you and Brian rest together in God's arms.
