Barbara Z Brutka

Mrs. Barbara Ziobro Brutka, 77, of Rahway, New Jersey died Saturday, November 26, 2022, in the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, New Jersey.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Tuesday, November 29^th. from 3:00-7:00PM.  On Wednesday, November 30^th. at 8:30AM, everyone will start to gather in the funeral home where a prayer service will begin at 9:00AM, followed by the funeral mass to be offered in St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Linden at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Mrs. Brutka’s burial in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.

Barbara, the daughter of the late Antoinette Karczewski Ziobro and the late John Ziobro, was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where she was a Battin High School graduate, followed by numerous secretarial training classes.  She then lived in Linden, New Jersey for seventeen years before settling in Rahway, New Jersey thirty-seven years ago.

Barbara started her lifelong career as a secretary in 1966, working for an ad agency in Manhattan, New York City, New York for ten years.  In 1976, she began working at OXY-DRI Corporation until 2005 and then in 2006 she became employed by Princeton Dermatology in Hillsborough until her retirement in 2021.

Barbara’s off time love and fun went in a variety of directions.  She absolutely adored her pug, Benson because he was always there for happiness and puppy kisses.  Everyone knew that Benson simply owned the house!  Barbara was very involved in two ministries; one at St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church in Elizabeth and the other at St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church in Rahway, where she was a knitter making articles of clothing or blankets, mostly for seniors or for new born babies.  Personally, Barbara was a very simple woman, who loved to be at home with her family, sitting in her comfy chair with Benson on her lap, watching old time western shows and movies.  The highlight of her year was her annual two-week vacation to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – a trip that she has been making with her husband for the past twenty-nine years.  She loved to relax, enjoying the blazing sunshine, warm sand, and the refreshing ocean breezes.

Predeceased by her sister, Anne Z. Genega in May of 2010, Barbara is survived by her husband, Andrew F Brutka and her son, Andrew F. Brutka, Jr..  Barbara and her husband were a match made in heaven, as they have been together for sixty-three years since their high school days and they have been married for fifty-seven years. 

The family is now lost without Barbara, who was the shining and guiding light of the family.  She will be missed dearly and will never be forgotten.  Please keep the entire Brutka family in your prayers.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.