Barbara Jane Makarenko

Barbara Jane Makarenko, 72, died peacefully with the love of her family at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, NY. Barbara spent her last seven years on dialysis.

It was Barbara's faith, the wonderful care she received from all those that knew her and the love she had for her family that gave her the strength to fight as long as she did.

Barbara was born on September 26, 1935, along with her twin brother, at Hackensack Hospital in Hackensack, NJ.

Barbara attended Midland Park, NJ schools, where she grew up. She was a longtime resident of Ramsey, NJ while her children were young. She moved to Upstate NY to be closer to her oldest son in Monroe. Barbara and her husband spent the last ten years in Milford and Shohola, PA.

Barbara, in her younger days, worked as a waitress; she loved working with people. One of her fondest memories was of Club 300, on Rte. 17 in Ramsey, NJ. There she proudly wore her playboy bunny uniform.

Barbara also worked as a color matcher for Revlon and Clairol, in which she made plastic, colored samples, and colored hair swatches for display.

Barbara loved music, dancing, animals, especially her two dogs that past, Navaho Sunrise and Navaho Sunset, she loved the ocean, nature and Maine with all it's blueberries.

Barbara loved most of all, her children; she was the best mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also the proudest. Even to those that weren't her own. To most she was simply known as "MA". All those who knew Barbara will remember her for her infectious smile and her happy personality. We will all feel the loss of such a wonderful woman.

Reunited with her in heaven are, her father, Henry John Hazen and mother, Mabel Wilhelmina Pankow; also, two brothers, Henry "Hank" and Nicholas.

She is survived by her husband of 16 years, Nicholas Makarenko of Shohola, PA; her twin brother, Barry "Bing" Hazen and his wife, June of West Milford, NJ; sister-in-law, Mary Hazen of Sanford, ME; her children, Larry W. Calabrese and his wife, Beth of Pine Bush, Noreen A. Joly and her husband, Gerald of Union, ME, Moreen A. Pinto and her husband, John of Milford, PA, Michael J. Heslep and his fiance, Lori Christopher; her grandchildren, David and his wife, Karen, Peggy and her husband, John, Larry Jr. and his wife, Nicole, Joseph C., Kayla, Jacquelyn, John Jr., Joseph, Domenique and Charles; her great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Devon, Ashleigh, Isabella, Abigail and Landon. Barbara had forever friends, ex-husband, Charles Heslep, Maureen "Big Maureen" Bonkowski, and her cousin, Ruth Philpot. Many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews, also many, many friends.

Services will be held at the St. Vincent DePaul Church located at 101 St. Vincent Dr. (off of 739) in Milford, PA. Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to the Kidney Foundation in loving memory of their mother.