'God, Country, Farm' Chester's Alstede Farms Matriarch Remembered

CHESTER, NJ - The beloved matriarch of the Alstede farm family Barbara Anne Alstede passed away on Feb. 11 at the age of 55, according to her husband of a quarter century Kurt. W. Alstede.

"It is with great sadness that my family and I share the news of the passing of my wife of 25 years, Barbara Anne Alstede," Kurt Alstede said in a statement. "Barbara was a woman of amazing faith in God and cherished the opportunity she had to educate our children Rebekah, Sarah, and Karl at home; fostering a love and passion for God, Country, and Farm in all of them."

Born on January 6, 1966, Barbara was the sixth of seven children born to Anthony and Barbara Cirelli and was raised, and continued to reside, in Chester until the time of her death.

"She exhibited extraordinary strength, courage, and faith through her very short, yet hard fought, fight against pancreatic cancer," Kurt Alstede said.

Barbara was a 1984 graduate of West Morris Central High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 1988. Barbara had a heart for children and teaching and taught special education in several different schools through 1997, according to her obituary.

Barbara met the love of her life, Kurt W. Alstede, a local farmer also of Chester, while attending a Bible study at the First Congregational Church of Chester in 1996. Barbara and Kurt became engaged to be married later that year on Christmas Eve, 1996 and were married just three weeks later on Jan. 18, 1997 at the Congregational Church where they met. The first night of their marriage was celebrated in the same farmhouse and bedroom where Barbara and Kurt lived their entire married life together and where she passed peacefully away, her obituary said.

Later in 1997 Barbara decided to join her husband in their family farm business, Alstede Farms of Chester. She continued to be employed there in various management roles. Together they successfully grew the first generation family farm business into a substantial 800 acre fruit and vegetable growing operation that retails all of its production and is nationally recognized for its sustainable stewardship of natural resources.

Together, they successfully permanently preserved over 560 acres of beautiful and productive farmland, forever cementing the rural atmosphere of Chester and western Morris County; while also providing fresh local nourishment to millions of regional residents each year through the produce that they raised, the obituary notes.

Millions of New Jersey school children have learned about agriculture in New Jersey from Barbara as she actively provided educational school tours to children at the farm throughout her lifetime.

The family also noted one of Barbara’s many accomplishments was the stability of the home that she created and maintained for her husband and her children in their old farmhouse. Never one to seek the lime-light, her steadfast and fierce dedication to her family behind the scenes allowed Kurt to serve actively in many different community and regional leadership capacities; and for each of her children to actively pursue their dreams; Rebekah as an agricultural leader, Sarah as an equestrian, and Karl as an ice hockey player, they said.

"We now rest in God’s providence knowing that she is in her Savior’s arms and live on to fulfill Barbara’s legacy in the manner in which we conduct our lives," Kurt Alstede said. " We are so grateful to all of our friends and family that have supported us through this challenging journey. I am a better man having been married to Barbara."

A private (due to attendance restrictions) celebration of life and memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Chester on Saturday February 20th followed by a private interment at the Alstede Family plot located at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester. The memorial service will be live-streamed for those that would like to attend virtually. It can be found at: www.facebook.com/FCCofChester.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Barbara’s memory can be kindly directed to the First Congregational Church of Chester Youth Ministry Fund; Post Office Box 125; Chester, New Jersey 07930.