In loving memory of Barbara Ann Deignan - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Barbara Ann (Zink) Deignan, 92, of South Daytona, Florida, flew home to be with her heavenly family on May 1, 2020.

Barbara was born to Robert Walter and Ann Marie (O’Brien) Zink on January 17, 1928 on Staten Island, N.Y. She graduated from St. Peter’s Girls High School, Staten Island in 1945. She worked in New York City at several different jobs (Macy’s on 5th Ave., B. Altman and at The Hartford Insurance Co., where her dad worked). She also went to night school in NYC for interior design. She married Philip Patrick Deignan in 1949, they moved to Glen Cove, South Hempstead and then settled in West Islip, N.Y. on Long Island and together they raised four children.

She leaves as her legacy, three children, Christine Mary Deignan, Michael James Deignan and Elizabeth Ann Deignan. And a loving, “bonus” daughter, Noreen Ann Ryan. She also leaves to cherish her memory, three grandchildren, James Michael Poole (Darline), Ilana Jade Poole and Jared Philip Deignan (Jareslie) and one great-grandson, Jet Ramon Deignan. She was also “gram” to Jarred Scott Poole and his baby Everleigh. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her as kind, funny, giving and loving.

She also leaves a host of loving nieces, nephews and cousins. She stayed particularly close to her nephew John Michael Zink, niece Janet Baumann and cousins, Bill Dost and Lyn Saberg. She was preceded in death by her loving son, Steven Jude Deignan, father, Robert Walter Zink, mother, Ann Marie Zink as well as sister, Janet, brother, Robert and former-husband, Phil.

Barbara lived in West Islip for 20 years as the kids grew up. She formed many lifelong friendships and pioneered many activities during that time. Some of which were teaching art classes, starting an art gallery and clothing business with friends, selling real estate, working at Fabric Garden, a fabric store, doing accounting for a local gas station and volunteering for the Girl Scouts to name a few. All the while keeping a lovely home and yard and looking after the four children.

Some of her treasured friends on Long Island were the McHugh’s, the Colby’s, the Knettel’s, the Candia’s, the Sebastiano’s, the Sussman’s, the Leas’, the McGuire’s, the Pasteur’s and the Nodland’s just to name a few.

Once the children were grown, Barbara decided to move from N.Y., at age 50, for a great adventure in Florida. She visited longtime N.Y. pal, Gloria Hendry in Miami as well as relatives in the West Palm area and New Smyrna Beach. Her cousins wintered and some settled in New Smyrna, Gert and Bus Purick, Herbert and Ruth Luther and Connie and Bob Dost. She fell in love with New Smyrna Beach in 1979 and lived there for the next 40 years, again creating a beautiful home and yard and making many wonderful friendships along the way. Barbara always had friends of all ages and was a confidant to many, her younger friends called her “The Hippie Grandma”.

Some of Barbara’s treasured friends from Florida were Clarayne McCaffrey, Lynne Zielinski, Danielle Leblanc, Tanya and David Wyanski, Sherry Gerwig, Mike Sciatta, Chris Harris, Michael Krages, Debbie Ripley, Jana Caylor, Barb Hendry (Mike), Nancy Ellis (Charlie), neighbor Mike Calhoun and all of her co-op friends.

Barbara was passionate about healthy living and eating. She was a voracious reader on the subject. She founded the Good Food Co-Op with friends as a resource for affordable health foods in the Southeast Volusia area. She co-chaired the organization for 30 years. She was also a clerk at Scotty’s Home Improvement in New Smyrna Beach for 10 years until her retirement.

She loved gardening, birdwatching, reading, cooking, sewing, art, interior design, home remodeling, good conversation and at 5 p.m., a nice vodka on the rocks. At 92 she was still sharp as a tack and up on current events and many other topics.

Barbara will be so missed by family and friends, she was kind and warm-hearted and was always ready to help those in need. She taught us all well and we will honor her legacy. She was unique and one-of-a-kind and we are so very grateful to have had her in our lives.

Breathe free and eat all the bad stuff, fly high Mama!

A private service will be held at a later date at the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in Gainesville, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to a charity of your choice in Barbara’s honor.