Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, she graduated from Saint Margaret’s School and then from Wellesley College in 1953. She married Joel Feldstein in 1957 and moved to Livingston, where they raised their family and lived for almost 50 years.
She began her career as a medical researcher at Rockefeller University in New York and then earned her Master’s degree in teaching from Kean University. She taught biology and biochemistry at Columbia High School in Maplewood for 20 years.
Barbara was a lifetime member of the National Council of Jewish Women where she served as president of the Livingston Chapter and also helped to found, and served as president of the Business and Professional Women’s Division of NCJW in Essex County.
She was a dedicated and active member of Temple B’nai Jeshurun for more than 50 years, and proudly celebrated her adult Bat Mitzvah in Israel in 2008 (?) and again at the temple in 2012.
She is survived by her loving daughters, Janet Feldstein Conetta of Hoboken and Judy Feldstein Savage, of Bucks County, Pa., her sons-in-law Benny Conetta and Paul Savage, and her six adored grandchildren who made her so proud: Caleb and Julia Savage, and Luca, Lily, Katie and Benny Conetta.
Her funeral will be held at Temple B’nai Jeshurun, 1025 South Orange Avenue on Wednesday, May 15 at 10:30 am. Burial will follow at the Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge.
Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to Temple B’Nai Jeshurun www.tbj.org or the National Council of Jewish Women, Essex, Section www.ncjwessex.org.
