Obituary of Barbara S. Church

Barbara S. Church died on Sunday, November 1st, at the Care One Nursing Home in Evesham Twp. She was 81. Mrs. Church and her late husband John were long-time residents of Shamong Township. She was known throughout the area for her tireless efforts to promote the conservation of New Jersey's Pine Barrens, and for inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to appreciate and protect their natural environment. Mrs. Church was born on July 26, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the only child of Joseph A. and Edith T. Sheehan. Even as a child, she showed considerable interest in the natural sciences and woodland ecology. In consequence, she became an accomplished Girl Scout, and remained dedicated to those ideals throughout her life. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College in 1950, and received a Master's degree in Education from the University of Rochester in 1956. Miss Barbara A. Sheehan, as she was then known, settled in the town of Seaford, Nassau County, New York. She taught ninth-grade level Earth Science, firstly at Grand Avenue Junior High School, and later at John F. Kennedy High School, both in the neighboring hamlet of Bellmore. She was a much respected and popular teacher throughout her career. After Miss Sheehan married Mr. John S. Church in the mid-1960s, she continued teaching in Bellmore until her retirement from the New York Public School System. In the late 1970s, Mr. and Mrs. Church chose Shamong as their permanent home of residence. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Barbara S. Church be made to Lighthouse Hospice, 1040 Kings Hwy. No. #100, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-1925.