Frances Mary Barkey, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully Nov. 15, 2024. Fran is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Gene and Jennifer (Vey), Peter and Susan (Cruz) and Scott and Sandra (Stasik), as well as her seven grandchildren whom she cherished dearly, Olivia, Tyler, Connor, Hilary, Liam, Sarah, and Scott. She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene Edward Barkey Jr., her brother Joseph Stanzione and her parents, Mary and Joseph Stanzione.
Fran was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by her extended Italian family. Fran often reminisced about these wonderful early family memories and so she was destined to one day extend the legacy to her own children. It was kismet when Fran met the charming Eugene Edward Barkey Jr. while celebrating her birthday with friends. She was stunning and tall with long dark hair and it was told that Gene later charmed her away from her fiancé at the time.
Fran and Gene married at Tavern On The Green in 1964 and went on to have three wonderful sons and many adventures together. Whether they were skiing in Colorado, picnicking on Lake George or driving the A-Team van to Madison Square Garden for a Rangers game, family, food and fun were always the focus. She was also an avid tennis player and played well into her 70s.
Fran dedicated her life to Gene and the boys and would later have a special relationship with each of her daughters-in-law and grandchildren. She was incredibly proud of all of them and often bragged of their accomplishments, as one would expect of a devoted Italian mother and grandmother.
Fran was known for her warm smile, nurturing spirit, and the ability to make everyone feel welcomed and loved. She showered her family and friends with love through her cooking and they all appreciated every bite. She was a wonderful listener and each of the grandchildren would regularly seek her out for advice or just to talk with her about their lives. She genuinely cared about each and every detail and, of course, would never miss a milestone.
Her unconditional love and encouragement shaped the lives of her children and grandchildren alike and has instilled in them the values of kindness, compassion and resilience.
Fran will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was a devout Catholic, finding strength and solace in her faith. A celebration of Frances Mary Barkey’s life was held Nov. 23 at the Church of Saint Anselm in Tinton Falls. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you continue Fran’s love of feeding others and consider making a donation to Fulfill food bank at fulfillnj.org or JBJ Soul Kitchen at jbjsoulkitchen.org.
The article originally appeared in the November 29 – December 4, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
