RARITAN, NJ — With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Barbara E. McManus, age 79, a loving wife, stepmother, step-grandmother, sister, and friend. Barbara passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, New Jersey. She was born on July 7, 1946, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the late Mildred June and Francis Xavier Lorbecki Jr.

Barbara graduated from Camden County College with an associate degree in arts and sciences and computer science. She later attended Rowan University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing.

Barbara built a distinguished career in meeting management, serving as an independent planner and Vice President Meeting Management for events ranging from small, high-level gatherings to citywide conventions. Much of her work focused on the pharmaceutical and computer software industries.

She specialized in site searches, site visits, site selection, contract negotiation, safety, security, and emergency preparedness. Over the course of her career, Barbara held roles as a Project Manager for Value Computing, Assistant Vice President of corporate events for Computer Associates, and Logistics Manager for Ciba-Geigy. She retired after 11 years as Vice President Meeting Management at Embryon.

Barb loved to travel, and her work gave her many opportunities to plan meetings across the country. Hawaii was her favorite vacation destination, and she also traveled to the South Pacific and the United Kingdom.

Her family was blessed to share several wonderful cruises with her in recent years, including a transatlantic cruise to England and another to Alaska. Barbara also had a special love for the Jersey Shore, especially Stone Harbor.

A devoted cat lover, Barbara cherished the cats she had over the years and loved her fur babies dearly.

Barbara will be sadly missed by her husband of 35 years Stephen, her step-children, her step-grandchildren, her siblings Karen Lorbecki Grimley, James Lorbecki and wife Elizabeth and Julie Lorbecki Ferenz and husband John Clark and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are private.

Cuoco Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Barbara E. McManus.

To share a fond memory of Barbara or to offer a condolence to her family, please visit our Tribute Wall www.Cuocofuneralandcremation.com