Barbara Joanne Ruzicka (nee Brooks), age 85 recently of Middletown, New Jersey, formerly of Summerville, South Carolina and Little Silver, New Jersey, passed away on March 21, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Barbara was born in Rahway, New Jersey. Having lived in Red Bank, New Jersey most of her life and graduating from Red Bank High School in 1955, Barbara was proud of her Red Bank roots as her family settled in Red Bank in the early 1900’s. Barbara then married the love of her life, Steven Ruzicka, also of Red Bank in 1957. Their love story has lasted 65 years. Barbara was an active member of the Little Silver Volunteer First Aid Squad and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Bank. She is predeceased by her parents, Dorothy Johanna (nee Mazza) Brooks (2001), Edward James Brooks (1964) and Brother, Lawrence Edward Brooks (2008). Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Steven Ruzicka, their children Lisa A. Colmain (Husband Edward), Deirdre J. Rice (Husband Todd) and Laura J. Scalzo (Husband Louis), 6 grandchildren, Christopher and Cooper Colmain, Megan and Zachary Rice, Alyssa and Nicole Scalzo and 2 great-grandchildren, Johanna and Emma Contreras (Megan) with two additional great-grandchildren due in August and September, 2023.
Barbara had a career with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and, after retiring, she and Steven travelled the world together. She was a creative person who loved to make greeting cards, cooking, baking, reading, travelling and doing crafts.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 4-7pm at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ. Funeral service will be Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 10:00am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 150 River Rd, Red Bank, NJ. Interment will immediately follow the service at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 150 River Rd, Red Bank, NJ 07701. The family would like to thank Brighton Gardens of Middletown, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (RWJ), New Brunswick, NJ and Embracing Hospice Care, Wall New Jersey, RWJ for their compassionate care during this most difficult time.
