Barbara Montalbano, age 74, died on July 24, 2024, in Mission Viejo, CA

Barbara was born the youngest of three siblings on August 13, 1949, at Jamaica Hospital in Jamaica Queens, NY to parents Aline and Francis Kernan. Barbara graduated from Richmond Hill High School in the class of 1967 and started her career as an executive secretary Barbara Ebasco Services in 1968. On September 1, 1974, she married Joseph Montalbano, whom she met at Ebasco Services, and they made their first home in Bayside Queens, NY. Barbara and Joseph moved to Edison, New Jersey in 1978 as part of a corporate relocation for Joseph and shortly thereafter they were blessed with two children, Douglas (1979) and Amy (1981). Following the birth of their children, Barbara took a break from her professional career and spent the next 10 years as a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. Barbara was an active member of the community spending many years as a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of America, CCD teacher at St. Matthew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church and executive member of the John Marshall Elementary School PTA Board. As her children entered middle school, Barbara reentered the work force first as a substitute secretary in the Edison School District, then as a successful travel agent in the cruise line industry and finally with a return to the successor organization of Ebasco Services where she was a project administrator on a variety of domestic and international power generation projects at Washington Group International. She enjoyed being part of a team and cherished the many friends and co-workers that she had the privilege to work with. In 2002, Barbara and Joseph relocated to Overland Park, KS as part of a job change for Joseph. Not one to sit idle, Barbara continued her career while in Kansas becoming an executive assistant to the General Counsel of the Bartlett Grain Company where she made a positive impact on the team and developed many new friends. In 2008, Barbara and Joseph made one last career move to Tulsa, OK. Barbara and Joseph fell in love with the Tulsa community and expanded their family through many cherished friends at Matrix Service Company, the ACTS community at St. Bernard's of Clairvaux Catholic Church and Saint Francis Hospital, where Barbara was a volunteer and used her fashion savvy to enhance the gift shop.

Outside of work, Barbara had many passions and pursuits. Topping the list was her deep love of God and the practice of her Roman Catholic faith. She also loved to travel with family, especially on Disney Cruises where she was like the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella to her six grandchildren: Giovanna, Sophia, Sebastian, Gabriel, Augustine and Adela. Nothing made her grandchildren happier than playing Bingo with Nana, grabbing an ice cream or something sweet and most of all the coveted stroll through the gift shop! It brought her such joy to see the magic in the eyes of her grandchildren while at sea. It is said that Disney is where dreams come true, but to her grandchildren, Nana is the one that brought their dreams to life.

Barbara had many talents and hobbies outside of work and family. She loved making quilts to celebrate life events of her loved ones and sharing her passion for the hobby with her best friend and fellow quilter Mary Gentzle. Barbara also was quite the decorator and gardener and loved to beautify her home both inside and out. Another hobby she had was her love of shopping, especially on QVC. Barbara's love language was gift giving and packages would often randomly arrive at your home, and inside would be a note simply saying, "Just thinking of you, love Barbara". Her quilts, generous gifts, and the treasure of memories we have all shared, will serve as a great reminder of the deep and lasting impact she made on her family, friends, and the community.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband Joseph, her son Douglas and his wife Angelika, her daughter Amy Martinez and her husband Alberto, six grandchildren (Giovanna, Sophia, Sebastian, Gabriel, Augustine and Adela), her sister Patricia Lear and her husband Edward (Buddy), her brother Frank Kernan and his wife Rose, her sisters-in-law Patricia Clark and Carol Montalbano, her brother-in-law Robert Montalbano, her nephews Sean Kernan and Nicholas Clark, her niece Danielle Clark, and a host of cousins, Godchildren, family and friends.

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother Aline and her father Francis.