Barbara Jean McKenna

Barbara was born in Newfoundland, Canada on 16 February 1952 and suddenly and immediately the world became a better place. Her father Charles A. Mancuso, preceded her in death (30 October 1992) and her mother Rita Mancuso (DiTullio) passed 2 February 2023.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Michael; and her children, Kevin (Tara), Sharon (Shawn), Katie (Ben) and Mike (Christina); and her then six, but now seven grandchildren: Abby, Ella, Matt, Holden, Clare, Emilia and Sophia. She has one living sibling, her brother Charles, and many cousins.

Barbara attended SUNY Geneseo as a freshman, then paused her academics, returning to them after her fourth child had made his way through elementary school. She then completed, with honors, her Bachelor of Arts degree at William Paterson University, and her Masters of Arts degree at Centenary College, both in New Jersey. She had always wanted to be a teacher, and post schooling spent many rewarding years at Sparta Middle as a beloved English teacher. Upon relocating to Williamsburg, VA she transitioned to online teaching as a Professor for Kaplan University. It was in this role that Barbara was first professionally published, and where and when she developed her teaching and learning methodology GICE : Guide Inspire Challenge Empower.

Barbara’s teaching life began much earlier, as she raised four children, taught classes and camps at the Horizon Education Center in North Olmsted, Ohio. Over many years and through many relocations she instructed CCD, gave guitar lessons, taught Sunday School, led Vacation Bible School, ESL reading, and more. She always gave of herself and her talents without hesitation.

Barbara spent many years involved with the national and local Virginia early childhood education advocacy organization NAYCE. Her interest in a child’s growing brain drove her desire to communicate the value and importance of nurturing the emotional needs of the individual from birth. She was also an integral part of her church community at King of Glory Lutheran in Williamsburg, VA, sharing her spirit and ability, enriching the preschool through her seminars and teacher training, and her warm and welcoming nature.

Not only a talented seamstress, Barbara knitted, crocheted, and cross stitched. She cooked and baked and wrote poetry, journaled and played piano. She was creative in all her endeavors.

Barbara was BRCA2 + and despite beating breast cancer at 41, she ultimately lost her life to complications from Ovarian Cancer. Her battle with this disease lasted almost six years. She fought it with an elixir of science, chemotherapy, hope and faith. She was a true optimist, never wavering in her belief that she could keep fighting. It was her physical body that surrendered, never her beautiful mind. She burned as bright as the sun, until she couldn’t.

However you addressed her: daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, or friend, the loss was and is tremendous. Her impact, immeasurable. She lives on in her children and grandchildren, a new iteration with every individual that her cells, her magic, and her love and kindness helped to create.