Community's Help Comforts Brick Woman's Family After Fatal Crash

BRICK, NJ — Barbara Anne Filan loved doing crossword puzzles and sipping Sprite and cranberry juice. She loved watching true crime stories and "Leave It To Beaver." She loved Christmas, but most of all, she loved her family.

That is how Filan, 55, is remembered in her obituary on the Weatherhead Young Funeral Home website. She died Dec. 17 after a pickup truck crashed into the living room of the family's rented home on Drum Point Road.

The crash not only killed Filan, it forced the family out of the home, which was rendered unsafe. But the community has stepped up to help the family, her son, Jonathan, said.

A memorial service is set for Saturday at the funeral home, which is providing its services at no charge to the family, he said.

"People have been so helpful," Jon said. "This has really brought the community together."

Barbara Anne Filan, who was born Feb. 4, 1964, in Brick, lived there and later lived in the the Port Monmouth section of Middletown. She moved back to Brick about 13 years ago.

She "was a loving wife, wonderful mother, and fantastic grandmother," her family said. Her husband liked to introduce themselves to others as "Ken and Barbie." She loved seeing her children thrive and become adults and functioning members of society.

Barbara loved to read, loved crossword puzzles and sudoku. Some of her favorite snacks were chocolate yellow cake and Bugles. She loved to watch Live PD, true crime stories, TV shows from the 1960s and 1970s such as "Leave it to Beaver," as well as "Texas Justice" and "Storm of the Century."

"She likes to take credit for discovering her favorite beverage of Sprite and cranberry, which she insisted she invented!" her family said. "Her favorite Christmas song was 'Christmas Shoes.' "

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Francis and Joanne (Forrest) Filan. She is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth "Ken" R. Von Oesen Jr. of Brick; her three sons, Joseph Von Oesen of Brick; Kenny Von Oesen and his wife, Allyssa, of Toms River, and Jonathan Von Oesen of Brick; her daughter, Amanda Von Oesen and her fiancé, Gary, of Brick; and her cherished grandson, KJ Von Oesen. She also is survived by four sisters and one brother.

The memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a service at 11 a.m. at Weatherhead Young Funeral Home, 885 Mantoloking Road, Brick.

A pair of GoFundme campaigns have been set up to help the family, one by Ally Ward, who is friends with Filan's son, and Crystal Caraccia, who is friends with Filan's daughter, both started GoFundme campaigns to help the family.

To assist Filan's family, Ward's fundraiser aims to raise $10,000, and Caraccia aims to raise $5,000.

GoFundme is a Patch promotional partner.

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