Barbara, May The Angels Lead You to Paradise

Fr. Francis Di Spigno, OFM,
Pastor

This past Monday, March 28, we received the sad news that long-time parishioner and St. Francis Parish’s Director of Development, Barbara Truncellito, passed away. Some 40 years ago Barbara purchased her house on Long Beach Island while still working in Manhattan. She commuted back to LBI on weekends and any other time she would get the chance. Her parents thought she was crazy when she purchased the house since her salary at that time was not that great. Like most of us, there was something here that caught her and she knew she wanted to live on the island. She found her home and her place here on Long Beach Island.

Barbara also found her home at St. Francis Parish. She often told stories of how the parish brought her closer to God and to the Church that she loved so much. Barbara was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister and an active member of our church for quite some time. I first met Barbara in the 90’s when I was first assigned to the parish. I was a newbie priest and she was still going back and forth to Manhattan. She had a fire and charism then and she never lost it! She had a great love for our Franciscan spirituality and great devotion to St. Francis Parish and Center.

On May 4, 2021, Barbara became the inaugural Director of Development for St. Francis Parish and a member of the Pastoral Staff. She told me that she always wanted to work for St. Francis and was grateful to have the opportunity to bring her talents to serve our community. Because it was a new position, she had to be creative in pulling together all the different fundraising initiatives of the parish. In less than a year, she had certainly made her mark and had moved us in the right direction.

Barbara was not tall in stature but because of her great energy and enthusiasm, you always knew she was in the room. She was a loving and kind person and always ready to start something new if it made us better. Barbara will be greatly missed.

We do not have any details at this point regarding her funeral but I will let you know via our webpage and Facebook as soon they are finalized. Barbara loved Long Beach Island and St. Francis Parish. She found her home here. We pray and believe that God blesses her now with the fullness of life in our true home.

Peace and All Good,

Fr. Francis J. Di Spigno, OFM

Pastor