Barbara Rose Hovorka (nee Baker), 81, a lifelong resident of Orangeburg, NY, passed away on Thursday, December 2, 2021. Born April 17, 1940 in Yonkers, NY to James and Frances Baker.
As a young lady, Barbara was known for her musical talents, performing with multiple musical groups playing her accordion on stage, TV and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Barbara was the beloved wife of George Hovorka, a love that we only grew to truly understand as time went on. We are at peace knowing that they are reunited, and the bickering has probably already started.
Barbara was an avid sports fan and never missed an event her sons and grandchildren were involved in, as well as any kid she held dear, and there were many. Not to mention her beloved NY Mets, she rarely missed a game.
Barbara, better known as “Baabs”, was a special lady, a Mom that would do anything for her sons. She was the boss, known throughout the Nyack restaurant scene as the force keeping a bunch of young knuckleheads together. Then, as Grandma, a job she took to heart molding her grandchildren into adults that she was ever so proud of. Again, that group was much larger than just her maternal grandchildren, a bunch that spans from Australia to next door.
Baabs last career was that of a South Orangetown school bus driver. In typical fashion, Baabs decided she could do this in her late 60’s and continued until a couple years ago, touching many young lives with her no-nonsense approach.
Baabs is predeceased by her husband George and is survived by her sister Ellen (Gary); her sons, Joseph (Renee) and Hank (Maureen); her grandchildren, Heather (Dennis), Shane (Julia), Luke (Jenna), Hunter and Kyle; grandniece Mia, along with many other grandchildren through family and friends, as well as nieces, nephews and every kid she touched as Baabs the bus driver. A special thank you to her devoted best friend that made not only our mother’s life easier, but was a life-saver to us as well, Doreen.
Visiting hours are Sunday, December 5, 2021 from 2-5 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, December 6, 2021 at 10 AM at St. Catharine’s RC Church, Blauvelt with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.
www.pizzifuneralhome.com
Speak Your Mind