Obituary of Barbara Rose Wyciskala

Beloved Wife, Mother and Grandma to nine grandsons, 86

Barbara Rose Wyciskala (nee Dietz) of Pompton Plains, NJ, formerly of Cranford and Manchester, entered Heaven on December 22, 2024. She was the cherished wife for 64 years of John Paul Wyciskala, Jr., who predeceased her in July. Barbara was the daughter of the late Joseph and Helen Dietz, and beloved sister of Claire Reilly, Eleanore Ryan and the late Joanne Sweeney.

Born in March 1938, Barbara graduated from Newark State Teachers College (now Kean University) and began her career teaching elementary school. She met her beloved husband Paul on a blind date, set up by her brother in law. They married in 1960, and settled and raised their family in Cranford.

Barbara stayed at home for a number of years raising their three children, Jean, Kathryn and John. She created a beautiful home, largely furnished with garage sale treasures she picked up and had Paul repair and refinish. She loved to entertain, and threw many parties, and particularly loved her bridge and canasta groups.

She was well known for her gift of gab – Paul always said she could talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime - her circle of friends was wide and deep. She loved to laugh, and her children remember when she was together with her sisters – The Dietz girls - the sisters would laugh until they cried, which was always fun to witness. The Jersey shore played a central role in their lives, and they spent many happy summers vacationing there.

Barbara was a member of the College Women’s Club, and was a Master Gardener with the Cranford Garden Club. She and Paul planted and nurtured a rose garden in their back yard, and her green thumb could coax any plant to thrive in her sun filled space.

Barbara was always highly motivated and hard-working, and returned to the workforce when John was in elementary school. She worked for many years at an insurance agency in Cranford. Eventually she got her real estate license, where her gift of gab and connecting people served her well. She was an exceptional realtor, first at Weichert Realtors, where she achieved record sales and Ambassador’s Club status, and ultimately Coldwell Banker in Westfield, where she earned Million Dollar Sales Club status multiple times as well as President’s Club honors.

Barbara loved New York City, in particular Broadway and show tunes. She and Paul frequently went in to see Broadway shows and cultural events, and they generously shared their Manhattan time share with their family. One memorable Thanksgiving, Barbara arranged rooms at their NYC timeshare for the entire family - herself and Paul, their children and their spouses, and the nine grandsons) to attend the Macy’s parade, as well as the inflation of the balloons the night before, a memory that all the grandchildren cherish. Another favorite memory was Barbara’s 70th birthday, where she rented a house in the Outer Banks for the entire clan, and her grandsons still talk about to this day.

There was always music in the house. Paul played piano at Christmas and other parties, with show tunes  such as Hello Dolly on frequent rotation, and Barbara singing along. We all treasure Barbara’s yearly rendition of “Merry Mr. March Wind” which was her favorite way to usher in spring.

Barbara was proud of her Kean University education and she and Paul became actively involved in fund raising for the university in her later years.

Barbara is survived by her three children, Jean and her husband, Richard Erickson of Tequesta, FL; Kathryn and her husband, William Patton of Avon, CT; and John Paul III and his wife, Barbara of Mountain Lakes, NJ.

She is survived by nine devoted grandsons, Justin, Bradley and Brennan Erickson; Will Patton and his wife Jaci; Daniel Patton and his partner Jon Carter; and Timothy Patton and his wife, Julie; John P. Wyciskala IV (Jack), Tommy and Calvin Wyciskala.

Barbara’s family would like to thank the staff of Mountainview Gardens at Cedar Crest for the kindness and excellent care they provided to Barbara these past two years.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 4th at 10:30AM in St. Catherine of Siena R. C. Church, 10 N. Pocono Road, Mountain Lakes, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Barbara and Paul Wyciskala Endowed Scholarship at Kean University Foundation. 

Arrangements are in the care of Codey & Mackey Funeral Home of Boonton. To share condolences or memories with the family, please visit CodeyMackeyFH.com.