Eleanor Jean Chiarella

Eleanor (Ellie) was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Christiano and younger the sister of Rosemary Wier. She enjoyed horseback riding, singing, playing the piano, and Broadway musicals. She became active in the 1940s at the Paper Mill Playhouse by taking piano lessons, being involved in the Donald Gage and George Britton fan clubs, and becoming the president of the Charles Yearsley fan club. In 1941 she and her family took an exciting cruise to Havana, Cuba. She was an avid dog lover, having at least 14 dogs during her life.

In 1947, she graduated from West Orange High School and worked for her father, Joseph Christiano in his dental laboratory in Orange, NJ. In 1951, she married Joseph Chiarella and worked with him at his own Redwood Pharmacy while raising a family. In 1969, at the age of 40, she enrolled in the first class of licensed practical nursing at St. Barnabas Hospital. Upon graduation, she began working in the maternity unit, postpartum, for 25 years. She loved her work with all her heart and she helped many new mothers who remembered her fondly through the years. She was the constant caregiver, helping many family members and friends through times of illness. She always put them first.

She was the loving mother figure for many, outside of her own 3 children. The door was always open and the house filled with her children’s friends. “Mrs. C.” had a warm smile, a welcoming nature, and an acceptance of people for who they were. But it was her sense of humor, which lasted her whole life, that stood out. She enjoyed travel and her favorite destination was Hawaii. She made four visits. She also traveled out of the U.S. to Italy, Portugal, England, and Switzerland.

While working at St. Barnabas Hospital, she was the first nurse to win the car raffle. She won the first “baby” Mercedes sedan in 1983, which brought a lot of excitement to the nurses and she had her photo in the newspaper.

In retirement, her greatest joy was being a grandmother. She shared her love of musical theater with her granddaughter, Kelly, and enjoyed attending her musical performances. She was also a dedicated parishioner St. Raphael Parish since 1979. She joined the Saint Raphael Prayer Shawl Ministry where she learned how to knit. She made and donated many scarves and blankets to those in need. She returned to the Paper Mill Playhouse and joined their Breakfast Club. She also gave a loving home to two senior rescue dogs.

Ellie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joseph, her sister Rosemary, her brother in-laws and sister in-laws, cousins, nieces, her nephew Paul Ellis, and many treasured friends, including Edye Kramer, Rachel Helman, and Assunta Delia.

She is survived by her children: Peter Chiarella (Anne Kersonowski), William Chiarella (Ilene), Mary Gayle Scheper (Bill), and Sal Morelli (Mary). As well as her granddaughter, Kelly Scheper. She is also survived by her friends, Levoris and Junny who took such loving care of her when she was homebound. She is the fairy godmother to Cora Onodera, who is 2 ½ and the apple of her eye.

She also leaves behind long-time friends, Bob Palladino and his wife, Barbara, Susan Sharpe, as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends from the church. She is especially grateful for the weekly visits from Arnob for over the last three years. Arnob volunteered through hospice and became a beloved friend. A very special thank you to Eric and Emmi for the pet therapy and later for sharing their daughter, Cora, on frequent visits. Thank you to James and Maria McIlvaine for bringing their dog, Marchello, to brighten her days, and for many other kindnesses. A special thanks to the members of the Loaves and Fishes Ministry who brought food and company to her for the last 4 years of her life.

Ellie would tell you that her greatest accomplishments were being the best speller in the third grade and making the most delicious eggplant parmesan. She was most impressed with Queen Elizabeth. She loved daffodils and teased us saying she would die when they were off season, so they would have to be flown in at a great expense. Ellie is getting her daffodils.

Thank you, Ellie for keeping a journal of all the significant events of your life. In the last 4 years while confined to bed, you were blessed with new friends and the embrace of your church community, all who loved and prayed for you. Ellie was a beautiful soul who embraced life with a quick wit and endured the last years of her life with grace and gratitude. She will be sorely missed by all those who knew her.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ 07039.

A Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10:00 am, at St. Raphael Roman Catholic Church, 346 E Mt Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ 07039.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and North Star Pet Rescue https://www.northstarpets.org, or St. Raphael Parish.

Live Streaming Link: https://meet.google.com/dbi-fxmu-bcs