HARRINGTON PARK — A procession of ambulance corps vehicles from Harrington Park, Norwood and Demarest flashed its sirens outside the community church, a symbol of long-time Council member Barbara Budinich.

Elsewhere in Harrington Park, flags flew at half-staff.

"Barbara was such an amazing person that played an integral part of our community, church and family," said Rev. George V. Kaden to as many as 160 people attending the funeral service.

Budinich, who served 27 years on the ambulance corps, died at her home Sunday, Jan. 6, hours after being sworn in for a sixth council member term. She served nearly 20 years on the council.

Mayor Paul Hoelscher was the first to speak at the service, stating that the "whole geographic area mourns Barbara’s departure."

The pain the community feels, the mayor added, is the direct result of the joy and happiness he shared with the individual.

Hoelscher said he first met Budinich in the mid-70s, when Budinich worked at the Harrington Park pharmacy. Over the years, Budinich quickly became "his right arm and conscience" by offering her advice in many of the decisions Hoelscher has made in his past 16 years as mayor.

"She made politicians nervous," continued Hoelscher from the podium. "She was just there to do good. She had no ulterior motive and that made politicians nervous."

Although for Hoelscher, his favorite memories of Budinich did not reside within the walls of the Borough Hall. Instead, he said, he enjoyed watching what at first seemed to be an invisible driver in the ambulance corps truck – and later revealed to be "Barbara’s face peering over the wheel."

"Think of all she taught us as a council member, ambulance corps member and member of the community in addition to her role as a wife, mother, grandmother and friend," the mayor asked of the crowd.

Budinich was active in the Community Church in Harrington Park where she prepared church meals, assisted in vacation Bible school and taught as a Sunday school teacher.

"And if someone in the church was ill they’d say, ‘Go call Barbara, she’ll know what to do,’" added the pastor, who admired and respected her.

Budinich’s son, Robert, described his mother as an "angel that walked the earth.

"You’re looking at the five luckiest men in the world," he said, standing among his grieving four brothers.

Robert said that his mother did not stop after "her five boys grew, the furniture was replaced and the walls were patched." She was essential in the raising of her seven grandchildren, traveling to and from practices and recitals, said Robert.

The pastor said that upon a recent visit to Budinich’s home, a ceramic plaque on an end table had caught his eye. The ceramic plaque read: "The most precious gifts found under the tree is my love for my grandchildren and their love for me." That same plaque, said Kaden, was placed in Budinich’s casket.

Compared to a giving tree with roots deeply planted in the Harrington Park community, Budinich will forever leave a mark on the community she so selflessly devoted her life to, he concluded.

E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711