Remembrance

In memory of a Cranbury treasure

By: Becky Barlow Fitzgibbons
   When my grandmother was told by her children that she had only four to six weeks to live, she responded, "We sure had some laughs, didn’t we?" This is not surprising to those who knew Betty Barlow, a woman who, despite having been tested by uncommon tragedy during her life, always maintained a positive outlook and her sense of humor.
   Betty lived in Cranbury for more than 60 years before relocating to Manasquan to be near her daughters. When she married Bob Barlow in 1938 and moved to Cranbury from Freehold, her family was inconsolable. George and Nellie McGackin’s eldest child was venturing a world away. The trip by car seemed a day’s journey and the consternation can be imagined. Before long, Cranbury became Betty’s beloved home and for many years her house on Main Street was the center of activity for her growing family.
   It saddens me to realize that most Cranbury residents of today would likely not know her by name, but there was a time when Betty and her brood were recognized by most folks in town. Some knew her as the young widow and mother of six who lost her beloved Bob when their youngest was just weeks old. Others knew her from her job at Wright’s Roses or as the Cranbury tax assessor, an appointment she accepted on behalf of her late husband.
   The challenges Betty faced as a single working mother must have been overwhelming, but she lived in a kind and gentle place, and she was strong beyond words. Like so many others of her generation, she did what had to be done, day in and day out. As they grew, her children made their homes near Cranbury, and sixteen times she received the coveted phone call announcing the arrival of another grandchild (plus eight great-grandchildren, with one on the way).
   Betty’s role as matriarch of a large family brought her great joy. She was a woman of simple pleasures who loved nothing more than to be surrounded by her loved ones while she prepared large meals, after which everyone would sit together and remember "the good old days" or sing holiday songs. She loved dressing up and going out for dinner and presiding over family weddings and other social events.
   She was known for her stylish wardrobe and thought nothing of buying an unusual purse or pair of boots, only to then have to search for an outfit to match. Over the years she would be asked why she never remarried. "No one ever asked" was the good-natured response.
   Betty outlived her parents, her five siblings, and endured the unspeakable grief of losing a grandson to a childhood illness. There were times she had to "make gravy out of an empty pan," and times when her worries would have gotten the best of many of us.
   Through the years she acted as family confidante, mediator and guidance counselor, a role she accepted with purpose and unconditional love. Always with a kind word and a declaration of optimism ("God works in mysterious ways," "You have to kiss a few frogs," etc.), she embodied the true meaning of "family" which I associate with Cranbury itself.
   Admittedly, I am biased, but Cranbury lost something special last month. Her name was Elizabeth Catherine McGackin Barlow, and she was a Cranbury treasure.
Becky Barlow Fitzsimmons is the granddaughter of the late Elizabeth Barlow. She lives in Ohio.