Barbara Ann Keegan Essig, of Bryn Mawr, PA, former paraprofessional educator in the Lower Merion School District died peacefully in her home of natural causes on Thursday April 2, 2020. She was 85 years old.

Barbara, known to everyone as Babs, was born in Narberth , PA on August 16, 1934 to Francis and Beatrice Keegan; graduated from Convent of the Sacred Heart, Overbrook, which later became Sacred Heart Academy when it moved to Bryn Mawr. She attended business school and married John L. Essig in 1958.   They lived and raised two children in Merion Station, PA until John's death in 1996. Over the years, Babs had several jobs, most notably as a dedicated paraprofessional in learning support classrooms in the Lower Merion School District until her retirement in 1996. After retirement and her beloved husband's death, she moved to a Berks County farm they had purchased together and resided there until 2000. She then returned to the Main Line which she missed and where she had resided her whole life.

A member of Our Mother of Good Counsel parish, Bryn Mawr, Babs was was cheerful and friendly. She had a very generous spirit and often invited new arrivals to the area into her home to share a meal and/or holiday. She had a way of making people feel welcome. Babs enjoyed playing bridge and other card games, talking to friends/family, volunteering and listening to books on tape. She was a wonderful wife and mother and a very loyal friend. Over the years,  Babs served as president of the Alumnae Assosiation of Sacred Heart and along with husband , John, was president of the Boosters Club at Lower Merion High School and chairman of the Sugartown Horse Show. In recent years she served as vice president of her condo association.

Survivors include a daughter, Michele Rodriguez, of Kutztown, PA, son Sean Essig , of Goleta CA, sister Karen Isard, of Elkins Park, PA , brother Arthur Keegan, of Haddonfield, NJ  and six grandchildren; Caitlin Rodriguez, of Anchorage, AK, Ian Rodriguez, of Boulder, CO, and Maxwell Essig, Bennett Essig, John Essig and Brooke Essig , all of Goleta CA.

A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date due to the Coronavirus epidemic.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Barbara's name to Sacred Heart Academy or the Ronald MacDonald House.