Barbara Ong, née Williams, born November 15, 1954, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on June 8, 2019 at the age of 64. She is survived by Kenneth, her loving husband of 21 years; William and Amanda Raines, her two children aged 36 and 35 respectively; Tracy Williams, her brother, aged 59; and Barbara is also survived by her granddaughter Alexa Soto-Raines, aged 8. Barbara seamlessly slipped into the role of "Nana" and wore the badge proudly, often raving about her beautiful and kind grandbaby.

In April 2019, she came down with a mysterious respiratory illness while she was recovering from a knee replacement. It was this illness—that she was desperately trying to treat—which ripped her from her family so untimely.

Barbara lived life with a sincere sense of wonderment, with a singular desire to share her love with anyone willing to accept it, and to enjoy herself. She traveled the world many times over, making lifetime friends wherever she planted her feet. She visited every continent except Australia and Antarctica, and she likely would have made it to the former had she not fallen so in love with Asia, in particular Thailand. She visited Phuket, Thailand annually, and referred to it to as her “home;” much to the chagrin of her husband and daughter who greedily wanted her to be as close to them as possible. She often spoke with longing anticipation of her retirement; when she expected to more permanently set up her life by the beach.

Barbara was an employee of United Airlines since 1976. She was hired to work Reservations in New Jersey, but has been based out of Dulles Airport in Virginia for the last 24 years. She loved her job, because it allowed her to at least partially satisfy her wanderlust and constantly be around people. At work, she collected friends like it was her hobby and she used her employment as an opportunity to share herself with others. She spent countless hours standing over her Kitchen Aid mixer, baking mouthwatering desserts to share with her friends at work, or bring to graduation parties, bridal showers, baby showers, or birthday parties. Indeed, her first love was food, and she became an expert at cooking from a very young age. She cooked many a meal as a young child in her Englewood, New Jersey home, and studied culinary arts later in life. She was well renowned as an excellent cook. Even her simplest meals were teeming with freshness, flavor, and love.

Her friends and family feel lost without her, but rich in the memories of her and the love she left behind. Barbara loved life fiercely, and was hell-bent on having fun, no matter where she was. Her favorite saying was that “life is not a dress rehearsal,” and she exemplified this motto with gusto. If each and every one of us were to adopt just a fraction of the passion for life that Barbara enjoyed, the world would be a better place.

In lieu of flowers, Barbara’s family asks that you please donate to American Lung Association in her honor.

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