Barbara Joanne Ruzicka (nee Brooks), age 85 recently of Middletown, New Jersey, formerly of Summerville, South Carolina and Little Silver, New Jersey, passed away on March 21, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Barbara was born in Rahway, New Jersey. Having lived in Red Bank, New Jersey most of her life and graduating from Red Bank High School in 1955, Barbara was proud of her Red Bank roots as her family settled in Red Bank in the early 1900’s. Barbara then married the love of her life, Steven Ruzicka, also of Red Bank in 1957. Their love story has lasted 65 years. Barbara was an active member of the Little Silver Volunteer First Aid Squad and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Bank. She is predeceased by her parents, Dorothy Johanna (nee Mazza) Brooks (2001), Edward James Brooks (1964) and Brother, Lawrence Edward Brooks (2008). Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Steven Ruzicka, their children Lisa A. Colmain (Husband Edward), Deirdre J. Rice (Husband Todd) and Laura J. Scalzo (Husband Louis), 6 grandchildren, Christopher and Cooper Colmain, Megan and Zachary Rice, Alyssa and Nicole Scalzo and 2 great-grandchildren, Johanna and Emma Contreras (Megan) with two additional great-grandchildren due in August and September, 2023.