Barbara E. Paparo

Barbara Marcellino Paparo

November 18, 1942 – October 6, 2026

Barbara Marcellino Paparo, beloved mother, mom-mom, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home on October 6, 2026.

To describe “Barbie” in words typical of obituaries seems impossible.  She was simply beautiful, and although we are grateful for the time we spent with her, we all wish we had just a little bit more.

Born in Philadelphia, Barbara was the daughter of John Marcellino and Dora Collinelli. As a toddler in 1944, with her father away in WWII, she contracted polio. This would be a defining moment in her life. She spent much of her childhood at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, undergoing 10 years of the revolutionary and non-traditional Sister Kenny treatments while giving up many summers to annual surgeries.

Rather than letting her struggles define her, Barbara chose that she was going to live a full life and not let polio hold her back.

She and her brother, Albert, grew up on 11th and McClellan Streets in South Philadelphia, surrounded by an ever-growing extended family. The women in her life instilled some of Barbara’s greatest loves – the beach, holidays, family traditions, and food. Summers were spent down the shore, and the holiday gatherings culminated with hosting the Pollyanna gift exchange on Christmas Eve, a tradition she treasured. Wherever time was spent, food was at the forefront.

Barbara had many cousins on both sides of the family who were more like siblings. They shared a lifelong bond; from the monthly cousins’ club (a tradition that started in 1965), to parties, vacations, picnics, and lunches. She was still getting together regularly with the girls for afternoon get-togethers.

Barbara graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1960, married Daniel DeMarco, and welcomed three daughters: Doria, Tami, and Jennifer.

After losing her beloved mother at 37 years old, her four aunts – Lee, Betty, Annie, and Lucy – took her and her young daughters under their wings and helped to fill in the missing pieces left from the passing of Dora.

During life as a single mother, she began working as a customer service representative at the then-Continental Bank in Packer Park. At the bank, she was a favorite of local residents. Even Philadelphia Eagles players would come to her to open their very first accounts as they began their careers.

She began dating Richard, the quiet bachelor whose mother lived two doors away, in the late 1970s. Their first date was a showing of The Goodbye Girl, and the two were later married.

In 1980, Barbara and Richard moved to Washington Township, N.J., where they raised their daughters and frequently welcomed friends and family into their home on Bells Lake Drive. They were active members of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Turnersville and shared a full social life, from bus trips to the casino to many years as Eagles season ticket holders.

Her grandchildren were her greatest pride and joy. Barbara helped raise all eight of them, babysitting at home alongside Richie. She would often sleep over when needed and host “cousins’ weekends” to give her daughters much-needed breaks. Ask any of the kids about their favorite place to be, and the answer was always the same: Mom-mom and Pop-pop’s house, playing games, watching movies, and eating chocolate chip pancakes.

Her life was seemingly complete until the unexpected addition of the sweetest Australian Labradoodle, whom she named Maggie. Much to everyone’s envy, Maggie soon became her favorite. She also adored her grand puppies, Daisy, Poppy, and Phoebe.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Doria, Tami (Tom), and Jennifer (Kevin); her grandchildren, Sean, Olivia, Adam, Emma, Noah, Dante, Drew, and Sophia; and numerous loving nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and her brother, Albert.

Barbara gave her family and friends a lifetime of love, support, and kindness; those gifts remain with all who knew her. She was the little girl with braces who raised an entire family and will be missed more than words can say.

Barbara’s life will be honored and remembered privately by her family.