CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

Barbara Weight

Barbara was the fun mom, not just to her five children, but to her entire neighborhood. Even when she bartended and waitressed everyone knew her as mom. She never had the need to be heavy handed; with so many kids she was raising on her own, she gave them a lot of leeway, but they knew not to disappoint her. Of course, she found her real calling late in life; Barbara was meant to be a grandmother. She was a built-in babysitter and knew all their comings and goings thanks to her many hours chatting with the grands on the phone. Calls with her tended to be on the long side; she didn’t like to hang up. “Just one more thing”, she’d always say to keep you on the line. Her home was full of music: everything from Neil Diamond to Pink Floyd. She had a thing for guitarists; Clapton stood above them all. Her grandkids were raised on Elvis Cassettes played loudly. She was always up for an adventure (especially travelling back to Pittsburg to see family). She didn’t even really need a destination; there was nothing as fun as exploring some new roads and getting lost for a few hours; if she could find a sign for Mt. Holly, she could get home. When her son wanted to go hunting, she drove him out to the woods and sat quietly by the tree while he was up in the stand. And sometimes she’d take the kids out to wander the Pine Barrens, searching for Big Foot and the Jersey Devil. She even did some cold weather Kayaking on Lake George finishing up next to the fire with Dinty More Beef Stew and a salmon they had caught. Even though she didn’t particularly like the beach, she took the kids down to Beach Haven; Vanilla Wafers on the way down and as many peanut butter sandwiches as you could eat. And she wasn’t afraid to venture into new territory: even though health issues prevented her from finishing, in her 40’s she returned to nursing school. She was very much in love with The Lord and the church and attended Mass every Sunday. If she was sick, she would watch it on T.V. Even when money was tight she always donated to the church and every month she sent money to St. Judes no matter what! Christmas was definitely her holiday, her kids waking up to the tree that Santa decorated and a house that smelled of her homemade bread. For better or worse, Barbara always spoke her mind. Everyone loved her for it: she could get along with everyone from Mother Teresa to Hell’s Angels. Barbara was originally from West Elizabeth P.A. but spent her most recent years in Haddon Twp.
She is survived by her children: Linda Kurtz (Dan), Frank Weight (Charlene), Joe Weight (Mary), Michele Rees (Paul) and Robin Lobis (Joel); 14 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and her siblings, Bobby (Barbara) Kampert, Carol (Bill) Kaszycki, Tom Kampert, Mary Merlo, Rose Kampert and Kathy Burkhart.

Come celebrate 83 great years Tuesday April 16, 6-7:30 p.m. and Wednesday 9-10 a.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. There will be a 7:30 p.m. Storytime Service on Tuesday, and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, St. John’s Church, 809 Park Ave., Collingswood. Interment, Lakeview Cemetery, Cinnaminson. In lieu of flowers, be like Barbara and give generously to St Judes (stjude.org).