On Saturday, April 22nd a Funeral Mass was celebrated for Sophie Barnes.
We paid our final respects to a wonderful person, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a lifelong member of Holy Cross parish. The oldest parishioner probably in the history of this parish, she was 104. In 1926 she remembered when the first church of our parish was dedicated by Bishop Francis Hodur in Paterson. She was an active member of the parish singing in the church choir.
Sophie had a great heart. The daughter of Polish immigrants, she was able to cultivate Polish traditions with parishioners of Holy Cross. When the parish moved from Paterson to Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson), she remained an active member of this parish until the end. I had the privilege to see her many times including a few days before Easter administering her Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Unction. In our prayers we remember her late husband Emmett E. Barnes as well as the late son Emmett G. Barnes and Audrey Barnes. Other deceased – late Alfred Spiro and her deceased parents John and Constance Mosiewicz as well as deceased relatives and friends.
We express our sympathies to her daughter, Patricia Barnes, MD and Roger Dorband, Carolyn Spiro, grandchildren Christopher Spiro, Joyce Barnes and Darron Burke, Lorraine Barnes and Sarah Eversole, Sophie was a great-grandmother to Jack Barnes-Eversole. Sophie is also survived by cherished nephews, nieces, godchildren, and cousins. May she Rest in Peace. Amen.