Barbara C Clay

Barbara Christine Clay (nee McClatchy) of Haddon Heights, NJ, formerly of Eagles Mere, Mountainhome, and Philadelphia, PA, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 25, 2026, at the age of 90. Barbara was the wife of the late Roberts Clay and previously of Richard Monihan, and the mother of 6 children: Brian Monihan (Maureen), Sylvia Clay, Mary Fontaine (Henry), Kirsten Monihan, Hilary Monihan (Jonathan), and her son Richard Monihan (Shelagh), who predeceased her. The daughter of the late Francis and Mary McClatchy and one of six siblings, she leaves her sisters, Ann Coacher and Kaye Ralston, and was predeceased by her sisters Mary Hewes and Joan Bishop, and her brother Frank McClatchy. She is survived by 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Barbara graduated from Villa Maria High School and Immaculata University, where she studied early childhood development, a passion that would define her life's work. After moving to the Poconos in 1972, she opened a childcare center, The Yellow Room, which flourished for 30 years. A gifted artist with a creative spirit and an adventurer at heart, Barbara approached life with boundless curiosity and joy. No rollercoaster went untried, no journey untaken. A private funeral Mass will be held for the family, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA. A celebration of Barbara's life will take place this summer, details to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s name to the Autism Society of Southwest New Jersey at https://autismsocietynj.org/donate.html , (checks to Autism Society SWNJ #532, PO Box 469, Mt. Laurel, NJ, 08054) or the Eagles Mere Conservancy at http://eaglesmereconservancy.org/contact--donate.html , (checks to PO Box 64, Eagles Mere, PA, 17731). May Barbara find eternal peace in God’s loving arms, joyfully reunited with her husband, son, and all her family members who went before her.