Barbara Ceriale Obituary

Barbara Ann Ceriale (née Picariello), 83, the beloved matriarch of our family passed away peacefully in the early morning of May 31st, 2025.
Born on January 20th, 1942, Barbara was raised in Haverstraw, New York. Always a lifelong proponent of education, she graduated from Haverstraw High School in 1959, White Plains Nursing School in 1961, and St Joseph's College in 1986.
Barbara had a long and distinguished career. She began working as a Registered Nurse at both Nyack and Good Samaritan Hospitals. She then went over to work as a nurse for pediatricians in Monroe, New York. After furthering her education, she became an Administrator with the Upjohn Healthcare Company in Middletown, New York. She later served as the Town Clerk of Mamakating and worked part-time in the Middletown School District.
Barbara spent many years volunteering at her children and grandchildren's school events. She was past President and Secretary of the Town of Mamakating Lioness Club. For many years, she was an active member of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg, New York. She saved most of her time, energy, effort, and love for her family. She was the most dedicated, devoted, and loving mother. She was the hero, mentor, and guiding light for her children.
She is survived by her husband of fifty years, Albert Ceriale; her son James Christopher Haera and his wife Heather; her son Brad Douglas Ceriale; her stepson Michael Ceriale and his partner Robin Swift; her grandsons Christopher Douglas Sprague and Anthony Christopher Haera; her granddaughters Jenni Heather Haera and Amber Ceriale; her siblings Louis J. Picariello Jr. and his wife Rita, Maureen Predmore, Victor Picariello, Tina West, Angelo Picariello, Lisa Nocito and her husband Fred, Nicole Buckley and her husband Ruben; Maria Picariello, and Danielle Picariello and her wife Michelle; her sister-in- law Cathie Heil, brother in law, Barry Heil, brother in law, Joseph Ceriale, her stepmother, Cynthia Picariello, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, Louis J Picariello Sr. and Irene J. Rizzo Bednar; her daughter and best friend, Susan J. Sprague, her son-in-law Charles Sprague, her father-in-law Attilio Ceriale, her mother-in-law Amelia Ceriale; her sister -in-law Josephine Predmore; her brother-in-law James Predmore, her nephew, David M. Madden, and her stepfather, John Bednar.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 4th at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Barbara at 11am on Thursday, June 5th at the Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 17 High Street in Bloomingburg, NY with Fr. Paul Richmond, O.Carm officiating. Burial will follow at the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to a charity that supports breast cancer research.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Wurtsboro. For additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com
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