Barbara Karluk, 76, of Emmaus, died Jan. 27, 2021, at home, as she wished. She was the wife of Richard Karluk. They celebrated 54 years of marriage in July 2020. She was the daughter of Helen and Dominic Gedman. She grew up in Scranton.

She attended West Side High School, played flute in the marching band and was May Queen in 1964.

Her first job was at Harper and Row Publishers. When her daughters were older she worked at Holtzman Oil and then later Prudential and Hartford Insurance. She worked in customer service and always enjoyed being able to help those who called.

She was not an animal person but wound up at one time or another hosting horses, dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, hermit crabs and even a few nursed-back-to-health backyard animals.

Her husband coached a girls softball team for over 20 years and she was team mom. She traveled the state and the country with the team.

She and her husband loved the beach, especially Ocean City, Md. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. She made several trips to New Orleans and even got to visit Sydney, Australia.

She had a creative side and created and gifted crocheted blankets, ceramics and floral arrangements for family and friends.

She enjoyed going out to eat. She fought hard for the past five years against COPD, a relentless disease that took more and more of her breath, her mobility and her life.

She is survived by her husband; daughters; sons-in-law; granddaughters, Emily and Amanda.

Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice. Or, in her memory, have a brownie, watch a sunset and most of all, say “love you” before hanging up the phone.

A virtual Celebration of Life will be held. Please contact the family for details. Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus, is handling arrangements.