Barbara J. Riehman

1943 - 2018

Barbara J. (Kavanaugh) Riehman

Bridgewater - 74, passed away March 21, 2018 with her loving family by her side.

Barbara was born in Somerville, New Jersey on July 16, 1943. She was the only daughter of the late Rose and John Kavanaugh. During her early years, Barbara grew up in Somerville and Middlesex along with her Kavanaugh and Fagan cousins before moving to Bridgewater in 1974. She went to Secretarial school and worked at various secretarial positions. It was when she was working at RCA in Bridgewater, NJ and joined the Ski Club that she met the love of her life, Hugh. Barbara's career took a turn when she began driving a school bus for Barker Bus Company. She began assisting in the office and eventually became Vice President of Barker Bus Company, retiring in 2011. She was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Somerville where she served as Eucharistic Minister. She was an associate member of the AOH and loved volunteering at S.H.I.P. Barbara was a very dedicated woman and immersed herself in any task she did. That was how she took on life and inspired anyone who met her. She enjoyed Irish Ceili dancing and met some life long friends as a result. Barbara enjoyed sewing, vacationing at the beach with her family, and was a member of the mall walking brigade. Most especially, she cherished her family and friends, in particular her grandsons who were the light of her life. In her last year, they helped keep her spirits up even when she was not feeling well. She will be sorely missed but her spirit will live on through her family, friends, and everyone she met.

She is predeceased by her brother Thomas Kavanaugh who passed away when he was an infant.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Hugh, her daughters Karen Amabile and her husband Joseph, Anne Behrik and her husband Richard, Julie Riehman and Ed MacKenzie, her son Kenneth Riehman and his wife Melissa, five grandsons Joe, Zach, Chris, Kevin, and Jake, and a step-granddaugher, Ashli and her husband Anthony Cortese.

Prayers will be said 9am Monday March 26, 2018 at Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, 111 N. Gaston Ave, Somerville, followed by a 10am mass at Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery, Bridgewater.

Visitation will be 1-5pm on Sunday March 25, 2018 at the funeral home.

Donations can be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Ave, Somerville, NJ 08876 and S.H.I.P, 87 E. High Street, Somerville, NJ 08876. To send condolences, visit www.brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com