Barbara Madigan, of Oceanport, passed into eternal life after a courageous battle with bile duct cancer. She was 72 years old. Barbara was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Dorothy Keirsted and Edwin Steidle. Her family moved to the Asbury Park area in her early years. She graduated from Holy Spirit Grammar School and Asbury Park High School. She then attended and graduated from St. Clair’s Nursing School in New York City as the class salutatorian. She later graduated summa cum laude from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Barbara spent almost 50 years as a pediatric nurse, including a stint as head pediatric nurse, mostly at Monmouth Hospital in Long Branch. She loved and cared for her patients and their parents, and in turn was loved by them, continuing to be in touch with some families over many, many years. She loved her work, the doctors and nurses with whom she worked, as well as all of the office and other medical staff who returned her love. She retired in December 2015, upon diagnosis of her condition. She was active in lay ministry in the parish of Holy Innocents Catholic Church for many years.
She loved to travel and once visited England, and drove from London to Edinburgh, an experience she later called “terrifying.” She also visited Italy, Austria, Ireland, and Alaska and Hawaii many times. She loved the winter vacations in Longboat Key, Florida. She also loved her flowers, shrubs and plants. She carefully planted and nurtured them every growing season, gaining much acclaim from all passers-by.
Barbara was an incredibly caring, funny and generous person who always was the first to give whatever anyone needed. She had an amazing ability to meet new people and immediately put them at ease, so they felt as if they had known her for years. After a 37-year hiatus from seeing one another, she had one date in 2004 with an old acquaintance who was returning to live at the Shore after a long absence. They had dated as teenagers and in their 20s, and one thing led to another and in 2008, she married Richard Madigan.
She is survived by her husband and by her son from a previous marriage, Kurt Braunohler and his wife, Lauren, of Los Angeles, California. She is also survived by stepchildren, Wendy Turner, Tracy Grbic, Jennifer Madigan and Richard Madigan; as well as their eight children. She is further survived by two brothers, John and James Farah; and a sister, Sister Maria Helena. She is also survived by many, many good friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.
Visit Barbara’s memorial website at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.
