Black Rock Volunteer Fire Company's thoughts and prayers are with Vice President Judd Strauss and his family as they mourn the loss of Barbara J. Strauss, their beloved mother and grandmother.

Barbara Joyce (Rusin) Strauss passed away on Saturday March 8, 2025, in Milford, Delaware. She was 79 years old. Barbara was the widow of John B. Strauss, whom she married on August 5, 1972. They shared 44 years of marriage before his passing in 2017.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey on January 17, 1946, Barbara was the only child of the late Edward and Blanche Rusin. Deeply proud of her Polish heritage, she amassed quite the collection of Polish pottery over the years, and her affinity for cooking was reflected in her vast library of cookbooks. Barbara was especially skilled at whipping up creative dishes in her kitchen, and she always had special snacks or candies on hand for visits from her grandchildren. Food was Barbara’s love language.

After spending over 40 years raising their sons in Ringoes, New Jersey, Barbara became a proud resident of “Lower Slower Delaware” with John in 2015. Barbara loved sitting on her porch while listening to live summertime music, and spending time with her dog and faithful sidekick, Joy. Her peaceful, quiet life was full of simple pleasures, including gravitating toward anything purple, coordinating her colorful outfits and shoes, enjoying a good crime show, shopping for great deals, and visiting local food trucks. Barbara was also a fierce breast and uterine cancer warrior. Having conquered the disease twice, she took every opportunity to contribute to causes that supported or represented the fight for a cure.

Barbara is survived by her son Jason and his wife Cynthia of Lambertville, New Jersey and her son Judd and his wife Shannon of Collegeville, Pennsylvania. “Baba” will be remembered with fondness and love by her four grandchildren, Madison, Connor, Patrick, and Regan.

Barbara’s life will be celebrated with a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM on Saturday March 29, 2025, at St. Eleanor Church, 647 Locust Street, Collegeville, PA 19426. Her family requests that those in attendance wear something purple.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be directed toward To Love A Canine Rescue, Inc. at https://www.tlcrescuepa.org/donate, or checks can be mailed to: To Love a Canine Rescue, Inc. P.O. Box 422 Kimberton, Pennsylvania 19442.