Barbara Mary Rio (nee O'Connor) passed away on December 26, 2015. She celebrated her 75th birthday on November 21, 2015, and had lived in Kearny for 46 years. Visiting will be on Tuesday December 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. The funeral service will take place on Wednesday the 30th at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Private cremation will follow. To leave online condolences, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com
Born in Shickshinny, Pa., Barbara grew up in Newark, N.J., and graduated from Barringer High School. After graduation she worked for Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company and the Lion Match Company, and eventually went on to train and practice as a hairdresser. In following years she held positions in banking and a family printing business and served for several years as a teaching aide in the Rutherford school system. She coached girls’ softball in Kearny for a number of years to great success and also played on a local women’s softball team herself. Barbara was an enthusiastic, trophy-winning bowler in several weekly leagues for decades. She tended to be a lucky gambler, and her passion for trips to Atlantic City was legendary in the family. Her greatest love, though, was being a mother and grandmother. Besides her husband, Raymond Rio, Barbara is survived by her daughters Diane Rio and Paula Paglia and her husband, Anthony; her sister, Joyce O'Connor; her brother Robert O’Connor and his wife, Lynn; her sisters-in-law Judy O'Connor and Clara Rio; her grandchildren Ryan Smith, Marc Prezioso, Nicholas and Adam Garcia, David Murphy, and Anthony, Alexandra, and Vincent Paglia; and three great-grandchildren, Brendyn and Ryla Smith and Maxx Garcia. Barbara was predeceased by her daughter Julie Ann Garcia and her brother Richard O'Connor.