Barbara J. "Barb" (Heffron) Zwolak's Obituary
Barbara J. “Barb” (Heffron) Zwolak passed away on December 29, 2025, at The Cottages at Garden Grove with her husband John “Jack” at her side.
Barb was born in 1940 to her parents Celia and Leonard Heffron. She attended
St. Anthonys of Padua School and graduated from there. Barbara attended both LeMoyne and Syracuse University. She graduated from Syracuse University. She worked at the Syracuse Library and met her future husband (Jack) who also worked there. Barbara and her friend Marilyn Ellison owned and operated a wall papering business called The Paper Dolls.
She then worked ten years at the Onondaga County Department of Social Services and then as real estate agent and finally at the Liverpool Public Library for ten years.
After she retired, she volunteered at: Meals on Wheels, Literacy Training and the Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church.
Barbara loved to travel, golf and read. She visited all fifty states, Europe, Mexico, US Virgin Islands, Australia and New Zealand. Barbara golfed in three women’s leagues and was a member of the Brewerton Library Book Club. Barb was a loving, lovable, caring, charitable, person who will be greatly missed.
Barb is predeceased by her parents, brothers, Leonard and Edward and sisters, Mary DeLucia, and Judith DelGotto.
Barb is survived by her husband of 62 years, Jack, and her sister, Patricia Falcone.
Barb is also survived by her son, James Zwolak (Gia Guadagnino) and granddaughters, Claire and Elena, and by her daughter, Judith Zwolak (John Dudley) and grandson Owen and granddaughter Sophia.
A funeral Mass to celebrate Barbara’s life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 9:30 A.M. in Sacred Heart Church, 8229 Brewerton Rd, Cicero N.Y. Visitation will take place on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 4:00 – 6:00 P.M. at THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (Corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY. Barbara will be laid to rest at the Bath National Cemetery in Bath, NY at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, CNY Chapter at 5015 Campuswood Dr. East Syracuse, N.Y, 13057.
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