Barbara Rita Kline

     Barbara Rita Kline (Portney) passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home on May 19th, 2017.

     Born October 25 1934 in Brooklyn, Barbara was the devoted daughter of the late Jack and Sara Portney. She was a retired senior secretary of Pathology at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn before relocating to Middletown NY along with her late husband Mike Kline.  Together they owned and operated Jay Joy Gifts Hallmark in the Orange Plaza Mall.

      In addition to her husband and parents, Barbara is predeceased by her brother Edward Portney and his wife Rhoda of California.

      Barbara is survived by her daughter Karen and husband John Celidonio as well as her granddaughter and Barnes & Noble buddy Sara Celidonio of Highland Mills NY;   her son Steve and his wife Sandi of Aliquippa PA and their children Nicole and husband Justin Geary; Jordan and wife Diana Emery and three great grandchildren Grayson Geary and Isla and Tenley Emery who gave her much joy.  She is also survived by many nephews, nieces and cousins who loved her very much.

     A lifelong lover of books, opera, film and the arts, Barbara was an intensely loving, intelligent and funny person who touched all that knew her. She will be painfully missed.

      Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

      A graveside funeral service will be held on Monday, May 22nd at 1:30PM at Temple Sinai Cemetery, 2620 Route 302, Circleville, NY 10919.

      Shiva will be observed at the home of her daughter Karen Celidonio 7:30 PM Monday and 7AM & 7:30 PM Tuesday and Wednesday.

      Arrangements have been entrusted to Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

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