Barbara Louise Kasaba was a force to be reckoned with. She was born Dec. 9, 1945, in Long Branch at 12 pounds, 1 ounce. She graduated Matawan High School at the age of 16 and later studied architecture and foreign language at Brookdale Community College. She had been a longtime resident of Atlantic Highlands when she passed away May 10, 2025, from complications from lung cancer and COPD.
Barbara was an adventurer who loved to travel abroad. She enjoyed cruise ships and island destinations; Turks and Caicos was her favorite. She was an avid reader, music and nature lover. She had a rich singing voice and loved to sing along to her favorite songs. She excelled at cooking, especially French style and was a devoted fan of Julia Child. She also had a magic touch in the garden, bringing flowers and plants to life from barren soil.
Barbara was dedicated and helped bring success to the many companies she worked for throughout her life, from her stint as a secretary to the ambassador to Ghana to the 30 years she spent at HMC Associates, where she was a valued member of the extended family.
Barbara was the beloved daughter of Clifford and Helen Hildebrandt. She was predeceased by her sisters, Dorothy Rizzo, Joan Hildebrandt and Ruth Hughes, and two brothers who died before she was born.
She is survived by her two devoted sons and daughters-in-law, Leonard and Carol Kasaba and Keith and Brittany Kasaba, and her cherished daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Lenny Carroll. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren and her cat, Pumpkin.
The intensity of her dark eyes was as unmatched as her spirit of generosity. Barbara loved her family with every fiber of her being. You were lucky if she considered you a friend. She was a devoted Catholic and was a long-term supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to their organization at stjude.org.
The article originally appeared in the May 29 – June 4, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
