Barbara Ann Barilla

Barbara Ann (Buck) Barilla

Barbara Ann (Buck) Barilla, 81, of Lehighton, passed away peacefully Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Born in Lehighton, Barbara was the daughter of the late Lester A. Buck and Florence J. (Middlecamp) Buck.

Her husband of 42 years, Stephen Barilla Jr., brother, Laurence E. Buck, and sister, Leslie Buck Rogers, predeceased Barbara.

Family came first, and Barbara found joy in the times they all returned to the home she and her late husband Steve built on the family farm in 1973. She loved entertaining and watching her descendants, as well as nieces and nephews and eventually their children, frolicking in the pool. She enjoyed cooking and prepared dishes until a few days before she passed. She took pride in harvesting her raspberries and canning her family's favorite jelly.

She delighted in the beauty of flowers, and she was always proud of the Campari tomatoes that she grew from the seed of the previous year's planting. She doted on her little dog "Buttercup."

Barbara was a 1961 graduate of the Stephen S. Palmer High School in Palmerton, where she met her future husband. She excelled in and enjoyed her business classes and being part of the flag twirling team. After marriage in 1962, Barbara and Steve moved to Kansas, where Steve went to Wichita State University.

After graduation, Barbara and Steve returned to Lehighton. Barbara worked as a secretary in the Lehighton HS guidance department, served as chairwoman of the Lehighton Heritage Alliance, owned and operated a B&B called The Guest House, and later opened Kakoo's Café & Bakery.

She proudly worked to get the Harrity Covered Bridge's name restored to the Buck Covered Bridge after her great-grandfather, who built the bridge in 1841.

She is survived by daughter, Terri Zeoli and husband Robert; sons, Richard J. Barilla, Robert L. Barilla and wife Kim, and Stephen L. Barilla and fiancée Sheryl Slaw; fiancé, Stephen Robson; three sisters, Eileen and husband Phil Stauffer, Brenda and husband Billy Fisher, and Alice and husband Robert Stuber.

She also leaves behind grandchildren, Katie (Zeoli) Stevens wife of Ryan, Alec Zeoli husband of Alicia, Nola Barilla, Cody Barilla and wife Hannah, Nathan Barilla and wife Missie, as well as great-grandchildren, Delilah, Ivy, Logan, Rachel, Chloe, Naomi, Caroline, Elizabeth, Lincoln and baby Zeoli due in January.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Friday, Oct. 17, at SS. Peter and Paul R.C. Church, Third and Coal streets, Lehighton, with the Rev. Christopher Zelonis officiating.

Committal service to follow at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Schaeffer Funeral Home, 300 Alum St., Lehighton.

Schaeffer Funeral Home, Lehighton, has been entrusted with the arrangements, and online condolences may be made at www.schaefferfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Barbara's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital online at stjude.org, or by mail to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.