Obituary of Barbara Lee Wichansky

Barbara Wichansky, 73, of Freehold Township, passed away peacefully at CentraState Medical Center on August 16th, surrounded by the ones who loved her most. Barbara grew up in Union, NJ. She attended Union High School, where she graduated with valedictorian honors. She attended Douglass College, the Womens College of Rutgers University on a four-year scholarship, followed by Rutgers Graduate School-New Brunswick earning an MSW (Masters of Social Work). Her career included the Children's Psychiatric Center, Eatontown, as a social worker; Raritan Bay Mental Health Center, Perth Amboy, as a principal psychiatric social worker; Kean College and Rutgers School of Social Work as an adjunct professor; and a school social worker for the Princeton, NJ Regional School District. Additionally, she earned a license in marriage counseling. Not only was Barbara a beautiful person on the inside who cared deeply about people, but also beautiful on the outside. She was the 1964 Rutgers Homecoming Queen; New Jersey College Queen, representing the state, which included an appearance on the nationally televised Ed Sullivan Show; and a contestant in the 1984 Mrs. New Jersey Pageant. Barbara was an avid reader who also loved the beach, travel, Broadway shows, pistachio and chocolate mint ice cream, and singing in her chorus group. The television show Golden Girls was also one of her favorites. She leaves behind her beloved parents, the late Sidelle Schneider and Benjamin Cummins; her devoted husband Steven; two children, Paul and Mrs. Suzanne Pape of Gaithersburg, Maryland; a grandson Landon a step-granddaughter Taylor, and a brother, Dr. Charles Cummins, of Monmouth Beach. Barbara will be missed. And the people who knew her will always have a soft, warm spot in their hearts for her.