Born in South Philadelphia to Italian immigrant parents, Dominic and Conchetta, Angela was a lifelong resident of Philadelphia. She spent most of her adult life in the Mayfair and Pennypack Circle sections of Northeast Philadelphia, including over two decades at Wesley Enhanced Living, Pennypack (independent living) where she was an active volunteer in many community programs, including chaplaincy, fundraising, communications and activities.
Angela graduated with honors from South Philadelphia High School in 1941 at age 17. Although she received a partial scholarship to Rosemont College, she was unable to attend. Instead, she attended Strayer’s Business College in the evenings while working full time in a garment factory. After passing the US Civil Service exam at age 18, she supported the war effort as an expediter with the US Navy. After taking time off to marry and have her daughter, Larraine, she returned to the Navy, supervising the filing of sensitive information at the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania.
Following the end of the Korean War, she moved to the private sector, becoming one of the first women to master the emerging technology of phototypesetting at a local printing firm contracted by IBM to produce technical manuals. As the war in Vietnam escalated, she returned to Civil Service at Frankford Arsenal, producing films and printed material for training and project development.
Angela concluded her Civil Service career as the curator of the US Mint museum in Philadelphia. She was instrumental in developing museum displays and documentation, combing through long-forgotten storage areas for artifacts that told the history of numismatics in the US. Upon retiring from the Mint, she spent 10 years as assistant to the vice president of claims at Independence Blue Cross before finally retiring for good and devoting her time to volunteerism.
Angela was predeceased by her husband, Ross, brothers Anthony, Domenick and John and sister, Phyllis. She is survived by her daughter, Larraine Formica (Bob), son, Michael (Amy Rosenberger), grandson, Rob Formica (Sharon Burns) and great-grandson Nolan Formica, as well as her brother, Michael (Vija Bennett-Pendino) and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wesley Enhanced Living Foundation and designated for Benevolent Care at WEL Pennypack.
