Barbara Rauscher Stanton died peacefully at home on Friday, November 4, 2016, to the sorrow of the many people who love her.
Barbara, a graduate of Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove Pennsylvania, led a rich and varied life. Since moving to New Hope in 1973, Barbara was active in the community and some say she was the creative force behind the beginning of the Shad Fest celebrations in New Hope and Lambertville. Barbara herself gives equal credit to Ellen Hall, Jack Curtin, Jim Hamilton, and Pat Mohn. As a local business woman, Barbara founded Fledermaus Decorative Arts in New Hope, selling antiques and costume jewelry. When she moved Fledermaus, it and Berus Gallery were among the first such shops in Lambertville. In 2013, Barbara purchased Heritage Lighting on Bridge Street in Lambertville and continued to manage this business despite her failing health.
An avid skier, hiker, and bicyclist, Barbara was an enthusiastic participant in life and believed that absolutely anything could be accomplished in increments. As an example, Barbara relished the challenge and opportunity her classes at Rutgers University provided and, in 2015, graduated with highest honors as a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science–after attending night classes for nineteen years. Barbara’s honors and awards while attending Rutgers include two as an Edward McNall Burns scholar; the first for graduates with Political Science majors with the highest grade point averages and the second for University College or nontraditional students with the highest overall grade point average coupled with the highest grade point average in Political Science. Barbara was also a Ruth K Bennett Award winner and was initiated into the Beta Omicron chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. Barbara met other challenges in her life similarly, enjoying twenty-four years of active sobriety during which she lovingly mentored other women in their recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.
As the first born daughter of the eight Rauscher children, Barbara cared deeply for her siblings, and felt especially compassionate toward her sisters and her sixteen nieces and nephews. She leaves brothers Lawrence Rauscher of Hatfield, PA and Michael Rauscher of North Wales; and sisters Donna LaRosa of Willow Grove, Roseanne LaRosa of Perkasie, Marita Connelly of Hatboro, and Virginia Schaffer of Horsham. Her brother, David, predeceased her. Also, Barbara greatly loved and enjoyed her husband Peter’s siblings and his extended family and cherished the time she spent with them.
Barbara leaves her beloved husband, Peter Stanton. Services will be officiated by Barbara’s dear friend, the Reverend Leslie Mott, and are to be held at Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1680 Aquetong Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania 18938 at 5:00 PM on Friday, November 11.
An unapologetic and unrepentant aesthete, Barbara asks that attendees wear black with bright accents and send “lots of flowers; no mums” or, if you prefer, make a donation in her name to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104 (splcenter.org).
Arrangements by the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, Lambertville, NJ 08530 (vhmfh.com).
