Barbara Kiernan beloved wife, mother, godmother, aunt and one of the most resolute women for service to others, passed away peacefully at her home.
Barbara was born in New York City to Harry and Geraldine Erhardt. She and her sister Patricia (Pinello of Bronxville) were raised in Saint Athanasius parish in the Bronx. Upon graduation from high school, she went to Saint Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing graduating with the class of 1956. After graduation she met Vincent Kiernan who was attending Manhattan College.
Barbara and Vince attended his fraternity dances and parties and were known as a couple that loved to dance. After Vince's graduation in 1958 they were married on April 4, 1959, at St. Athanasius Church. After the birth of Vincent Jr. in February 1961, they moved to Riverdale and became active members of Saint Margaret's Parish. The family grew quickly with the birth of Kevin in July 1962 and Diane in January 1964. They raised their family in a traditional Catholic home making sure they received a Catholic education by attending the parish grammar school and attending Catholic high schools. Vincent Jr. attending All Hallows and Kevin and Diane attending St. Nicholas of Tolentine. The family attend Mass every Sunday until the children went off to college.
Once the children attended grammar school, Barbara and Vince began decades of their lives guiding and volunteering for community organizations. Barbara's first volunteer role was in Monsignor Doyle's library at Saint Margaret's grammar school developing a close relationship with her dear friend Ann Kilsheimer. Friday nights during the school year were busy as Barbara was the coordinator of Cub Scout Pack 154 supporting Vince who was the Cub Scout Pack leader. Their sons were Cub Scouts and continued onto the Boy Scouts.
During the summer months, the Kiernan family were members of the Riverdale Neighborhood House (RNH) pool. The children grew up at the pool; as children they were on the swim team, became lifeguards at the age of 16. At age 18, Diane coached the swimming team before the pool opened and earned her WSI so she could train members of the RNH who wanted to become lifeguards. Barbara became a member of the Executive Board of RNH and Chairman of its pool committee.
In 1970, Barbara worked part-time at Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers as a registered nurse. In 1975, she went full time which was the start of a very fulfilling and extraordinary 35 year career as a devoted nurse to the hospital, Sisters of Charity, Sister Lenihan, her fellow nurses, the doctors, patients and went out of her way to assist any member of Saint Margaret's parish in the emergency room or hospital.
Barbara welcomed new responsibilities. These challenges normally resulted in a promotion. Barbara was a lead coordinator, head nurse and was given responsibility to be part of the team opening the hospital's clinic located on Broadway in Getty Square. External to the hospital, Barbara volunteered to become a Member of Health Committee of Community Board 8.
Life was full for Barbara and Vince until the tragic death of Vince in October 2000. In 2002 Barbara retired and was encouraged by family and close friends to travel. She travelled with a close friend from St. Josephs and then made traveling friends and had the opportunity to travel to the Vatican, Palermo, Fatima, Sicily, Greece, Germany and Israel. As she became less agile, she turned back to her passion of service by volunteering in the emergency room at Saint Joseph's and assisting with counting the Sunday collection at Saint Margaret's.
Barbara is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Evans Kalambokas (Tampa Bay) along with her nieces and nephews.
May Barbara's Memory Be Eternal.
Reposing will be held on Friday, May 1st from 3:00 - 7:00 PM at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, May 2nd at St. Margaret of Cortona Church at 9:45 AM. Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.