Barbara was born in the Bronx on May 12, 1939 to George and Helen (Matheis) Herfurth and grew up in Flushing Queens. A 1957 graduate of Bayside High School, Barbara worked for American Airlines at LaGuardia airport 1957-1968. It was there where she met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” McSpirit. They married in 1966 and raised their three daughters in the Continental Woods section of Emerson, NJ. Barbara enjoyed learning new skills and having different experiences. After raising her “McSpirit girls”, she worked at several jobs including Emerson Jr Sr High School, YCS, and Gardner’s Westwood Flower Shoppe.
In retirement, Barbara and Bob moved to Plymouth Lake in Stillwater in 2002 and last settled in 2018 to their beautiful hillside farm in Layton. Gardening, boating, camping and birding were some of her favorite hobbies. She was an avid reader and enjoyed doing various art projects. Barbara was a lover of animals especially the many dogs she had throughout her life. She loved traveling, especially with her daughter, Christine, to watch her run in marathons in 32 US states. Barbara was the family cheerleader, always positive with encouraging advice. She would find the sunshine on your personal cloudy day. Most importantly, Barbara loved spending time with her family and cherished going on the annual family vacation to Lake George. Barb was fun loving and loved to laugh especially with her recently late husband Bob, who she missed dearly.
Beloved wife to the late Robert McSpirit for 56 years, Barbara is survived by her children Kelly McSpirit (Christopher Hanlon), Laura McSpirit and Christine McSpirit; her grandchildren Summer McSpirit, Shane McSpirit, Brayden Grier, Lillian Hanlon, George Hanlon and Hudson Grier; her sister June Koester, her sister-in-law Margie McSpirit and her sweet little dog Buddy. Along with her parents, Barbara is predeceased by her in-laws Eddie McSpirit, Dottie Garrabrant, Bert Garrabrant and Frank Koester.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 5, 2023 at St. James the Greater Church, 75 River Rd, Montague, NJ 07827. Interment will take place privately at Branchville Cemetery at a later date. The family kindly requests that attendees to the funeral wear blue or yellow, Barbara’s favorite colors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the animal rescue organization Tevaland 47 Brandt Rd, PO Box 414 Hillburn, NY 10941 or the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad PO Box 232, Branchville, NJ. Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.net
