The Family Writes:

Dorene Barnett (nee Eder) passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 15, 2023 at her home in Whippany, NJ, at the age of 101. She is survived by her children Neil Barnett (Gale), Joel Barnett (Susan) and Robin Barnett (Diane), along with her grandchildren Stefanie (Ari), David (Marina), Molly (Dave) and Katie (Avi) and eight great-grandchildren who range in age from 18-years-old to 3-months-old. She is predeceased by her husband of 60 years Milton Barnett and her siblings Esther, Goldie, Miriam and Harry.


Dorene was born on March 18, 1922 in Galicia, a region of Eastern Europe that is now part of Poland and Western Ukraine. She emigrated to Canada in 1932, sailing on the SS Montrose from Liverpool to Nova Scotia with her mother Ethel and 4 young siblings and joined her father Joseph in Calgary, Canada (who had moved there six years earlier to establish himself and set up a good life for his family). Dorene lived in Calgary until 1947, when she married Milton Barnett after three dates, and moved to New Jersey. There, Milton and Dorene (along with Milton’s brother William) owned Barnett’s Wines and Liquors in Cranford, NJ for many years and became well-respected leaders in the New Jersey liquor industry, a legacy carried on by their son Neil and grandson David.


Dorene and Milton raised their family in Roselle, NJ before moving to Westfield and retiring in Scotch Plains. For many years, Dorene and Milton split their time between New Jersey and the Boca Raton/Delray Beach area of Florida, before moving to Florida full time. Dorene moved back to New Jersey in 2021 to be closer to her family, where she was able to spend her final years with frequent visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


Anyone who knew Dorene was struck by her infectious smile, her outgoing personality, and her sincere interest in other people’s lives and stories. Her phone line was always busy and her social calendar was always full, with too many friends to count. An active member of her Jewish community, Dorene was a Hadassah Woman of the Year. The consummate hostess, she loved to cook - and more importantly, she loved to feed people; her specialties were pea soup and matzo ball soup. Dorene was also an expert card player, and especially excelled at Bridge, winning many duplicate Bridge Tournaments. In more recent years, Dorene kept her mind sharp by playing solitaire daily. She played poker with her family well into her 90s, and she was still known to win a game of gin rummy at 101-years-old.

Dorene lived a long, incredible life and was able to be present for so many important milestones in her family.

A graveside funeral service will be held at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin, NJ at 2 pm on Monday, October 16, 2023 and the family will be sitting Shiva at 127 Mohawk Road, Short Hills, NJ following the funeral and on Tuesday, October 17 from 3 -8 pm. In lieu of food or flowers, please consider making a donation to Magen David Adom, the Israeli National Rescue Organization.