Our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Barbara Ann Gotaskie of Sunbury, passed from this earth into the arms of her Father in Heaven on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Barbara was happily married to her best friend, John, for nearly 56 years. They always had each other’s back, and John will miss her terribly. Together they raised two sons, John Jr. (Valerie) and Jeffrey (Rebecca), who most people in the community say turned out pretty well. Barbara continually was tickled pink over the exploits of their grandchildren, Cooper, Nicholas and Sarah. In addition to her husband, sons and grandchildren, Barbara is survived by 13 nieces and nephews, including two godchildren, Barbara Jude Jayman and Mary Ellen Fetzko, to whom she was devoted.

Before any of us knew her, Barbara was first a coal miner’s daughter, born in Shamokin to Thomas P. and Mary M. (Bednarczyk) Fetzko. A graduate of Shamokin High School, Barbara proudly wore her Greyhound sweater. Her siblings, Mary Anne (John) Jayman, and Thomas, Edward (Mary Lou), and Phillip (Jean) Fetzko predeceased her. She loved Loretta Lynn and Kenny Rogers. Barbara also had a soft spot for the British Royal Family.

Barbara was the center of our home and the many community and church organizations to which she devoted her time. John and Barbara traveled as much as they were able to see their grandchildren compete at sports and dance. They also selflessly provided comfort and support to their children, grandchildren and extended families through serious medical crises. And, when they could, they escaped to vacation in Cape May, New Jersey.

Barbara was an officer of the PTO of the former St. Michael the Archangel School, devoting countless hours to the vibrancy of the school. Her son John once volunteered her to be a Cub Scout leader. She must have liked it, as she spent at least 25 years as a scout leader, many of which serving as a regional counselor for Roman Catholic Religious Emblems. The Diocese of Harrisburg Catholic Committee on Scouting bestowed on Barbara the St. George Award, the highest award a Catholic adult scout leader can receive. It was a true community effort keeping secret the real reason so many Sunburians were going to the awards dinner in Harrisburg that year.

Her New York style cheesecake had no parallel. Like Barbara, it will forever be missed.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the Blank Funeral Home, 395 State St., Sunbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Fred Wangwe, AJ, at Saint Monica Catholic Church, 109 Market St., Sunbury, on Thursday, June 20 at 11 a.m., with the Rite of Committal to follow immediately at All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s memory to the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, where she participated in her love of swimming for many happy years and helped her sons learn to swim.