Barbara Ann Van Sickle

Barbara Ann Van Sickle passed away on Friday 29 March 2024 at home after spending her final days surrounded by family and those dearest to her. She was 82 years old.

She was the youngest daughter of August and Virginia Schafer born in Washington, New Jersey, and graduated from Hanover Park High School in 1959.

She always had a thing for redheads, and in 1963 she met the man of her dreams working at a service station, tying the knot with her loving husband Skip the following year and started a family soon thereafter. Together, they purchased and operated Van’s Paint and Hardware in Morristown, NJ in 1974 eventually selling it in 1980 to relocate the family of five to New Hampshire. They originally had partial ownership of Riveredge Marina, before becoming sole owners in 1983. They successfully ran the business, earning a reputation for honesty and great service until they sold it to retire in 2005. 

In a lot of ways, she was very traditional, but in others, not so much.

She was an excellent cook who could make a killer meatloaf, and very good at hitting hard ground balls for her sons to practice their fielding. She was the commissioner of her fantasy football league that she ruled with an iron fist for over a decade, winning multiple championships utilizing a strategy of rejecting all trade offers and stockpiling running backs. And she would do anything for her family, including stepping in front of an out-of-control ATV that two of her kids were on to stop it. 

She was feisty. She had a sharp wit, great sense of humor and a caring heart. 

She enjoyed bowling, crocheting and reading time travel romance books along with playing the slot machines in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

She was great with words and would play all sorts of puzzles, but she was also good with numbers. 

She was a champion of the underdog. She believed in second chances, but they had to be earned. 

She enjoyed watching sports, especially when her kids were playing. 

She never missed a single one of their games, from T-ball through high school, rain or shine, home or away, pre-season, summer league, or playoff, she was always there, usually keeping score…sometime officially. 

She was happiest when surrounded by her family, and when on a beach somewhere warm.

She was one of the last of her tightly knit circle of friends. 

And she will be missed dearly.

She is survived by her children, Donna Lynne Ballou, Andrew David and Douglas Alan Van Sickle, along with 5 grand-children, 5 great grand-children, and her sweet, loving dog Katie.

Honoring her request, the family will have a private celebration of life at her home.