Obituary of Barbara von Vorys

Barbara A. von Vorys, dearest mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, peacefully passed away at home on Friday, January 8, 2016, at the age of 87. Born in Steubenville, OH, Barbara had been a resident of Lawrenceville for over 50 years. Fluent in four languages, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, and a Master of Arts in English at the University of Pittsburgh. Barbara was employed by the Lawrence Township Public School district for 22 years. She retired as the principal’s secretary at Lawrence Intermediate School in 1998. In her spare time Barbara loved her rescued animals, the New York Mets and Giants, Jeopardy, poetry, true crime stories, crossword puzzles, bird watching, and Bernie. She will be dearly missed by her family. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Karl von Vorys, her parents Arthur and Irma Andreansky, and her son-in-law Dennis Norton. She is survived by her seven devoted children and their spouses, Julie and Rick Paisley, Eric and Joni von Vorys, Beverly vonVorys-Norton, Natalie Elhardt, Colin and Laura Vonvorys, Carla and Patrick McGuire, and Kristie Vorys; fourteen grandchildren and their spouses, Courtney Fisher and Gary Pae, Camaryn and Colin Lonsdale, Brigid vonVorys-Norton, Grettie vonVorys-Norton, Kaitlin von Vorys, Shane McGuire, William Burke, Alex von Vorys, Liam McGuire, Colleenie vonVorys-Norton, Elly McGuire, Cole Vonvorys, Owen McGuire, and Aaron Vonvorys; and her five great grandchildren Isaiah and Gabriella Pae and Isla, Isaac, and Iris Lonsdale. She is also survived by her sister Beverly Brown and her husband Al and their children Melanie Mader, Pam Fisher and Randy Brown and their families and by Christine de Lacoste and her husband Dr. Ausim Azizi and their children, Saara-Anne, Jasmine, Alixandre, David, and Catherine Azizi. Barbara’s family would like to offer their sincere gratitude to Cheryl Bencivengo for the loving care and compassion she gave to Barbara in her final year. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Church of Saint Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Hamilton. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. To celebrate the life of their mother, instead of mourning her passing, Barbara’s children request that those attending the Mass of Christian Burial not feel obligated to wear black. Because of her love of animals, in lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to her favorite charity D.A.W.G.S., P.O. Box 911, Dalhart, TX 79022 or www.dawgsntexas.com.