Barbara A. (Goodwin) Engels

Barbara A. Engels passed away peacefully in the evening hours on November 23, 2025 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City, NY, at the age of 88.

Barbara was born on August 11, 1937, in the Bronx, New York, and often shared memories of her childhood years growing up in that neighborhood.  She attended Central Commercial High School in New York City and was an avid ice-skater, going near-daily to the ice-rink at Rockefeller Center after school  to spend time on the ice with friends.   

Barbara met her husband Jack A. Engels at a young age while working at Turtle & Hughes in New York City.  They eventually married and settled in Clifton to be near her sister and raise their family of three children.

Barbara's professional life was marked by nearly a decade working at Globe Products in Clifton, NJ.  After Globe’s closure in 1991, Barbara worked at various environmental consulting companies for the next decade.  Then, at the age of 65, she embarked on a new career and spent two decades at the North Jersey ELKS Developmental Disabilities Agency in Clifton before retiring at the age of 82 years old.  The years at NJ Elks Adult Center were endlessly rewarding to her, and a perfect fit for her sharp mind, her warmth, and her endless kindness.

Barbara loved dogs and would stop and pet every single one that crossed her path.  She was even fortunate enough to bring “Malibu” to work with her every day at the NJ Elks Adult Center.  Four-legged friends with their wagging tails brought her such happiness and were a big part of her life and family.

Her lake house on Center Pond in Becket Massachusetts brought her such joy.  Becket was the foundation of her youth, and stories of her childhood would come spilling out and keep listeners captivated through all hours of the night. Initially there was the boathouse, and the shack and its outhouse.  Later she built a beautiful lake-front home with her husband Jack that was always filled to the rafters with friends and family.  Whether exchanging stories late into the night, sitting quietly on the deck surrounded by hemlock trees with a glass of wine and a book in hand, or engaging in outdoor pursuits like walks up the dirt road, canoeing, waterskiing, kayaking, or just going for slow boat rides around the lake…these were the things that defined her and spoke to her soul.  Her sense of adventure and love of nature were evident on vacations also, with trips taken to Hawaii, to National Parks like Acadia and Yosemite, and an amazing cruise with her children and grandchildren down Alaska’s inside passage.  

Barbara is survived by her three children, Jean Shedlock, John R. Engels (and his wife Sharon), and Susan Engels, who will be forever grateful to have had her as their mother.  She was always the example of how to live life fully and love deeply.  She was loved fiercely by five grandchildren, Kristy Kraljic (and her husband Peter), Keith Shedlock (and his fiancé Jenna), J.T. Engels (and his wife Julia), Jenna Engels, and Katie Engels.  In the past two years she developed a close and special bond with her two great-grandchildren, Kendall Kraljic and Cameron Kraljic. Barbara's role as a grandmother and great-grandmother was one she cherished deeply, and her laughter, her sharp wit, her antics, and her love of life will live on forever in their memories. 

Barbara's is pre-deceased by her parents Walter Caster Goodwin and Mae (nee Broadhurst) Goodwin, her siblings, the late Walter Goodwin (and his wife Philomena) and Myra Miras (and her husband Julie), and her niece Kathy Miras. She was also pre-deceased by her late son-in-law Keith Shedlock, by Virginia Dotzler, Jenny Harris and numerous other life-long close friends and family. 

Barbara had a natural ability to connect with people, she was effortlessly warm, endlessly personable, and always the one reaching out, checking in, and make others felt seen and loved.  Barbara had an infectious laugh, sharp sense of humor, and a vibrant spirit that made her the life of every gathering.  She was smart, strong, and independent.  Her thoughtful and friendly spirit will be deeply missed, yet her legacy will endure in the hearts of her family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to have known her.

Visitation will be held Saturday, November 29, 2025 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton. The funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm during the visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to North Jersey ELKS Developmental Disabilities Agency (NJEDDA), ADULT CENTER, 600 Route 46 West, Clifton NJ 07013. Please visit www.bizubquinlan.com to leave condolences to the family on the Tribute Wall section of the online obituary.

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