Barbara Hope Clare Regan Chillemi, with a name for every beautiful foot of her, a daughter of Ireland and Pennsylvania, suddenly returned to the Lord on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Barbara lived with her husband Ronald C. Chillemi, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where they raised their 20-year-old son Jack Regan Chillemi. She is the daughter of the late Neil W. Regan, Sr., and Mary Barbara (Moran) Regan of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Barbie led with a smile. She and Ron met in 1999 at a salsa party that Barbara co-organized in Olde City Philadelphia. They married in Avalon, New Jersey in 2003, and welcomed Jack, with his mother's dancing blue eyes, one year later. They celebrated their 21st anniversary last year and were planning a trip from Venice to Dubrovnik in May. Barbara - "Why start in Venice? Because it's so romantic."
She advocated thoughtfully for her son, cheered on other parents in their advocacy, and received write-in votes to the Ridgewood Board of Education even though she never ran for that Board.
She also recognized the need to enjoy life. To prioritize that, she retired from her 29-year legal career two years ago. Barb spent that all-too-brief retirement doing what she found meaningful and gave her joy — attending Jack's theater performances, visiting her cousins and friends, painting colorful landscapes, gardening, nights out in Manhattan, watching British murder mysteries (binging Midsomer Murders), arguing political issues, hiking in Bergen County, watching the dolphins from the beach and sunsets by the bay in Avalon, and snuggling, especially snuggling. While being hugged, she would say "I could live on hugs."
Barbara drew sustenance from Masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ridgewood, loved her Cornerstone sisters from OLMC, and kept her Bible at hand. She had that Bible with her when she returned to God.
Barbara graduated from the Scranton Preparatory School, the University of Scranton, Northampton Community College for funeral service, and Temple University School of Law. She began her career serving the Scranton community with her father at the Neil W. Regan Funeral Home. She then embarked on a career in corporate law in Philadelphia and the New York metropolitan area, achieving her professional dream, first practicing at the law firm of Piper Marbury, then Sun Oil Company, Rohm & Haas, and the final 12 years of her career at Siemens, Inc. She often improved her litigator husband's contract drafting in their joint "side hustle," RC Global, Inc.
In addition to her husband and son, Barbara is survived by her brother Neil and nephew Theo of Clinton Corners, New York, brother Brendan and his wife Sarah of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins from a large and loving clan. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Drago.
Barbie, oh how we miss you. But you lead a life that mattered. We know you're now in Heaven, carried there on the wings of God's love, and that God gave you a big hug when you arrived.
The funeral will be Monday with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish at Sacred Hearts Church, 1217 Prospect Ave., followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Those attending the mass on Monday are asked to proceed directly to the church. A viewing will be Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Neil W. Regan Funeral Home, Inc., 1900 Pittston Ave.
Family and friends are planning a celebration of Barbie event to be held in Ridgewood, NJ in June.
To email condolences visit the funeral home website.