Barbara Jellinek

Barbara Jellinek, age 77, passed away on August 16, 2026, after a battle with progressive disease. Barbara Jellinek, née Manasse, was born July 3, 1949, to Alfred and Gertraude (Trude) Manasse, who had emigrated from Nazi Germany. She grew up in New York City, first attending public schools, then attending Fieldston High School. As a child, Barbara was a very good athlete, especially loving swimming, canoeing, and baseball.

Her love of sports continued throughout her life. After moving to Boston, she became an avid supporter of Boston sports teams as well as her children’s teams

Barbara focused entirely on others with little regard for herself. Her husband, children, grandchildren, patients, and friends were always her priority. Barbara demonstrated great empathy, fiercely believing in supporting the less fortunate. Barbara graduated from NYU with a bachelor's degree as a Registered Nurse, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, going on to lead the development of the largest adolescent health clinic in the South Bronx.

After re-locating to the Boston area, she graduated with a Master's Degree from Boston College and became the Assistant Director of Nursing for Maternal and Child Health at Boston City Hospital. She prioritized her growing family, but she never stopped working for others. Barbara supported her post-partum patients as a visiting nurse and then in the medical section of Wegmans. She would say, "I am an old nurse, how can I help?"

Every group she touched will miss her. Even after illness forced her full retirement, Barbara brought Dunkin Donuts Munchkins for her Wegmans colleagues every Sunday morning, before heading to Rosenfeld's to do the weekly challah and bagel run for her family, stopping off with a delivery and a smile, all before walking her beloved dog, Buddy.

Barbara never missed an opportunity to make a family or friend feel special. She found joy in celebrating the milestones of the people she loved. Barbara carried the grief of losing her second son, Abe, and missed him every day. A wonderful cook and host, she could happily sit with a grandchild at McDonald's or host a delicious holiday dinner.

She had a sharp wit and a love of opera. She found immense joy later in life as Oma to her 8 grandchildren. She is survived and will be deeply missed by her husband of 56 years, Michael; her children, David (Sarah), Isaiah (Tina), and Hannah (DJ); and her eight adored grandchildren: Lani, Avalon, Sydney, Calla, Evelyn, Riley, McKenna, and Luca as well as her brother, Jeffry, sister--in-law of almost 45 years, Nancy, their family and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at Temple Beth Elohim on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:30am, with a burial service at 1:30pm at Riverside Cemetery, 580 Granger Road, Barre, MA 01005.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Camp Harbor View (campharborview.org) to honor Barbara's spirit of generosity.