Jean Anna Cirrincione Rella

Jean Anna Rella, retired food service manager for Westlake High and Middle schools in Thornwood, NY, died Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the age of 93. A 51-year resident of Hawthorne, NY, she lived in Harrisburg, NC at the time of her death.

Born on May 21, 1918 to Giuseppe and Nunzia (Anna) Siciliato Cirrincione in Cleveland, Ohio, she was raised and educated in the Bronx, NY, concentrating in business courses at Evander Childs High School. In her early career, she worked in the garment industry. A talented seamstress, she made clothes for her siblings and later her children, many from her own designs.

On August 29, 1943, after a six-year courtship, she married the love of her life, Vincent Anthony Rella of Mount Vernon, NY at The Nativity of Our Blessed Lady Church in the Bronx. They moved to Hawthorne in 1956. Mr. Rella died in 1996.

After retirement from the Mount Pleasant (NY) Central School District, where she combined her culinary talent with her business skills for 23 years, she was employed in the food services department at PP&G offices in Pleasantville, NY, as well as at Pleasantville High School. She also enjoyed working as an election inspector for the town and school district.

In later years, she was active in Mt. Pleasant (NY) Seniors, where she enjoyed trips to local attractions. She was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Armonk, NY before moving to North Carolina five years ago, where she attended St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

Mrs. Rella loved to travel, especially on cruises to Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean – taking frequent trips with her husband and daughter Nancyann, with whom she lived at the time of her death. After her family and her faith, she held a lifelong passion for the New York Yankees.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her son, Joseph Vincent Rella of Concord, NC; her brother-in-law Gus Girardi of Flushing, NY; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was also predeceased by two brothers and three sisters.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00AM, Thursday, April 19th at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church, 1400 Suther Road with Father Remo Di Salvatore, OFM Cap, celebrant. The family will receive friends following the mass. Entombment will be at Ferncliff Cemetery Mausoleum, Hartsdale, NY after a private committal service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to My Second Home, 95 Radio Circle, Mount Kisco, NY 10549 or Rosary Hill Home, 600 Linda Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532.