Monique Ostap Barrow lost her courageous battle on Monday, May 18, 2020 at her home. She was born into a military family on February 24, 1954. Her father was Captain Edward C. Ostap, U.S. Navy. She attended Corpus Christi grade school, graduating with honors in June, 1968. She attended St. Mary’s High School in South Amboy, New Jersey where she ranked first in a class of 250. She won numerous honors including president of the honor society, ranked number two in New Jersey’s Forensic Society, attended Girl’s State, and interned for Senator Clifford Charse during her junior year in high school, 1971. Among her other accolades in her high school was her winning first place in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Science Fair where she was able to determine the sex of the victim of a crime of murder. Monique was also awarded first place in the 1975 Voice of Democracy Contest, sponsored by the V.F.W., 58th district in New Brunswick. She achieved a certificate of honor in the V.F.W.’s “Voice of Democracy” in which she demonstrated herself as an outstanding spokesman for freedom and she was awarded a certificate from George Washington University where she was appointed a scholar in the Secondary School Honors Program for the 1970 summer at George Washington University, located in Washington, D.C.
After applying to Georgetown in Washington, D.C., Stanford in California, Pennsylvanian State, Boston College and the University of Wyoming, Monique decided on the University of Wyoming to pursue her college degree in political science.
While in college, she was president of her society, Gamma Phi Betta, a member of Omicro Delta Kappa, Spurs, Chimes, and Iron Skull. While joining the Air Force ROTC program she took her commission in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. Medical School quickly followed as she went active duty at Fort Lewis, Washington. She Also served a tour of duty in the country of Vietnam at China Beach. After obtaining her medical degree she was stationed at Fitzsimmons, Letterman, and Ft. Lewis Army Hospitals. She finished her career at Walter Reed Army Hospital.
Her next vocation in life was that of a coroner in Miami Dade County, Franklin, Ohio Court, and Middle Essex County in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In November of 1980 she married the love of her life, Charles Alexander Barrow, U.S.A. Retired. They enjoyed fifteen years of marital bliss which resulted in two children and five grandchildren.
After her retirement, Monique settled in Laramie, joining V.F.W. Post 221 where she held the office of Chaplain, American Legion Post 14, Disabled American Veterans Post 187 in El Paso, Texas and Am Vets Post 89 in Columbus, Ohio. She was an active member of Immaculate Conception’s St. Vincent dePaul’s Society and St. Laurence O’Toole’s Council of Catholic Women, St. Mary’s Group. She was also President of Gold Star Wives.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Master Sergeant Charles Barrow, Parents Rear Admiral Edward and Helen Ostap, and sister Martine Ostap.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at St. Laurence O’Toole Church with the Reverend Fr. Dave Erickson, celebrant.
