Barbara Corriston

Barbara Corriston (née Perkins), 86, of Ramsey, formerly of Englewood Cliffs, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on September 16, 2024. Barbara was predeceased by her beloved husband E. Carter Sr.

Born on November 8, 1937, to John (Jack) and Veronica Perkins (née Bardong), Barbara was raised in East Elmhurst, Queens. She graduated from Bryant High School in 1954 and then worked for a time at the telephone company in NYC. While visiting her coworker in Cliffside Park one weekend in 1956, she met her loving husband Carter at a diner.  They were married shortly thereafter and were happily together for 62 wonderful years until his passing in 2019.

Barbara was a loving, devoted mother who enjoyed participating in many community and civic organizations including the Holy Trinity Church and Parochial School in Fort Lee, the Englewood Cliffs Democratic Club, Englewood Cliffs Little League, the Neighborhood Dispute Resolution through the Bergen County Superior Court, Women’s American ORT, and several book clubs. 

As a mother of five, she enrolled in college, earning Dean’s List honors each semester. She subsequently founded the Total Concepts Temporary Employment Agency in Hackensack, NJ, in the mid-80s which she successfully ran for many years.

Barbara and Carter enjoyed traveling throughout the world with their family and cherished longtime friends, as well as those dear friends they met through the Fordham Law Alumni Association and the Bergen County Bar Association. She was an avid reader and theatergoer who loved to visit and experience new things, and always spearheaded outings with her family and many friends.

Barbara was happiest arranging gatherings at one of her homes. She was a wonderful self-taught cook who enjoyed preparing meals for these occasions along with her loving daughter, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters. A typical weekend dinner down the shore or in Florida often included 10 to 20 family members and friends — the more the merrier. She and Carter were consummate hosts and always ready for a party.

Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who cherished her family. She especially loved being with and speaking to her grandchildren, offering them advice and sharing her wisdom. She was outspoken, intelligent, quick-witted, independent, loving and fearlessly loyal to her family and friends. She was a truly remarkable woman and will be deeply missed.

Barbara is predeceased by her brother John Perkins and survived by her dear sister-in-law Maureen Perkins. She is also survived by her son Kevin, wife Deborah and their children Brian and Colleen; her son Terrence, wife Lina and their children Brennan, Julia, and Katie; her son Timothy, wife Robin and their children Kelsie Burnett, husband Nicko, great-grand Rory; Michele Lodge, husband Tom, and Liam; her daughter Christine and her children Olivia and Graham Valkenburg and her former son-in-law Stephen Valkenburg; her son E. Carter Corriston, Jr., wife Terri Ann and their children Victoria, Sean, fiancée Ali, and Claire; as well as many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers and in light of Barbara’s generous and practical nature, the family requests that contributions be made to the “Feerick Center for Social Justice” at Fordham Law School. Contributions can be made online: http://law.fordham.edu/giving, by calling 212-636-7637 or by mail to: Dean’s Office, Fordham Law School, 150 West 62nd St., 7th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10023.

Viewing: Thursday - 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481

Funeral:  Friday 10:00 a.m. St. Paul RC Church, 200 Wyckoff Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446