Barbara Helen Rothen

Barbara Helen Rothen, 75, peacefully passed away on August 24, 2026, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida, surrounded by her loving husband and family.

Barbara was born on September 27, 1950, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen (Tischer) Schultz, her father, Otto Schultz, and her sisters, Mary Roder and Ann Walker.

Barbara is survived by the love of her life, her husband, Edwin. Their love story began when they first crossed paths during their middle and high school years in southern Wisconsin. Several years later, while attending college, their friendship grew into a lifelong love. Barbara and Edwin were married on August 5, 1972, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin. Earlier this month, they celebrated 54 years of marriage. Their life together was filled with love, friendship, family, travel, laughter, and countless memories. Edwin is heartbroken over the loss of his beloved “Barbie,” his wife, best friend, and partner of 54 years.

Barbara was a devoted and loving mother to her two sons, Daniel Edwin Rothen, married to Lisa Marie Librizzi, and Steven Andrew Rothen, married to Jillian Lynn Walsh. Her sons were a great source of pride and joy. She loved watching them grow into the men they became and was especially proud to see them become loving husbands and fathers. She treasured the families they built and the time they spent together.

Barbara absolutely loved being a grandmother. Her five grandchildren, Alexis Grace Rothen, Andrew Joseph Rothen, Ava Marie Rothen, Lucas Daniel Rothen, and Rebecca Helen Rothen, each held a very special place in her heart. She was proud of every one of them. She loved hearing about what they were doing, celebrating their accomplishments, and spending time with them. She enjoyed their different personalities and the special relationship she had with each of them. Her grandchildren brought her an incredible amount of happiness.

Barbara grew up in southern Wisconsin and later made Florida her home. She earned her Registered Nurse degree in 1971 and began her nursing career at a small country hospital in southern Wisconsin. After marrying Edwin, they moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Barbara worked at a local hospital and later helped open a newly built hospital. In 1979, Barbara and Edwin moved their family to Palm Bay, Florida. They remained there for the next 47 years and raised their two sons.

Barbara spent 45 years as a nurse. During her career, she worked in many different areas, including the Coronary ICU, Neonatal ICU, Infectious Diseases, particularly during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and an Indigent Medical Clinic. She took her responsibility as a nurse seriously and cared deeply about the people who came through her doors. She was knowledgeable and dedicated, but what people remembered most was the way she cared about them.

After retiring from nursing, Barbara continued doing what came naturally to her. She volunteered for seven years at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay. She loved being there and found great satisfaction in helping patients and their families. She understood how important it was to simply be there for someone who was going through a difficult time.

Barbara had a way of making people feel comfortable. She could meet someone she had never met before and, within minutes, have a real conversation with them. She asked questions because she genuinely wanted to know about people and their lives. She was a wonderful listener, and people often found themselves telling her things they had not expected to share. She made people feel important.NORTHERN LIGHTS

Barbara and Edwin enjoyed traveling together and making memories wherever they went. They loved extended trips, cruising, and spending time in mountain cabins. Barbara was fascinated with the Northern Lights. Many items around their house reflected her interest. Several years ago, in the middle of winter, in northern Norway, she saw the Northern Lights face to face. She was awestruck. Barbara took great pleasure in putting together memory books filled with photographs, stories, and keepsakes from their travels. She enjoyed looking back on those memories and preserving them for their family.

Barbara also loved her kitty cats and looked forward to doing her daily crossword puzzles, always in ink, of course. These were some of the simple things that made her happy.

Barbara’s Christian faith was an important part of her life. It was reflected in the way she treated people and the way she cared for her family and others. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, volunteer, sister, and friend.

Barbara leaves behind her husband, Edwin, her sons, Daniel and Steven, their wives, Lisa and Jillian, and her five beloved grandchildren, Alexis, Andrew, Ava, Lucas, and Rebecca. She also leaves behind family and friends who were fortunate to share part of her life.

Barbara will be remembered for her love of family, her caring nature, her dedication to nursing, her curiosity about people, and the many ways she helped others. Most of all, she will be remembered by the people who loved her and by the memories they made together.

Barbara was deeply loved, and she will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to Hospice of Health First in support of the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida.