Penelope "Penny" Mariani

Penelope “Penny” Mariani (née Smith) of Livingston, NJ, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2023, with her family by her side. She was 88 years old. Born in Bethlehem, Pa. on February 3,1935 to Stanton McMasters Smith, Jr. and Marian (née Rayeur), Penny lived in Upper Montclair and West Orange NJ where she graduated high school. She attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Orange, NJ where she received her RN.

While Penny was at St. Mary’s she noticed a handsome young man from the neighborhood who caught her eye. She told her friend that he was the man she was going to marry. Apparently he noticed the “cute blond” nursing student as well. After meeting and falling in love, Penny married the love of her life, James (Jay) Joseph Mariani, Jr. on July 1, 1956.

Penny and Jay moved to Livingston, NJ where they raised their family. Penny went back to work when her youngest son was out of grammar school. She worked at West Essex General Hospital in Livingston as a floor nurse and then at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orange, NJ until she retired.

Penny loved the state of Maine, having spent her childhood summers with her Aunts on Crawford Pond. Her yearning for the beauty of the pine tree state brought Penny and Jay’s family together with Penny’s parents and younger sisters back every summer in a house overlooking Penobscot Bay in Owls Head, Maine. Penny was a voracious reader and talented knitter. Her family and friends were the recipients of beautiful afghans and baby blankets. She and Jay loved to travel and went on many cruises around the world. Penny also had a passion for tennis and watched every tournament. She was thrilled that her favorite player, Novak Djokovic just won the French Open. Most of all, Penny cherished her time spent with her family, celebrating holidays and birthdays together.

Penny is predeceased by her beloved husband Jay (2012), two sons, James III (1990) and David (2006), her brother Bob (2015) and nephew John D Pflug lll (2008).

She is survived by her sons Dr. Brian (wife Robin) of Va. and Mark (wife Brenda) of Tx., daughter Jamibeth Ritts (husband Ken), daughter-in-law Mary Jane Mariani of NJ as well as thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Penny also leaves behind by her dear sisters and brothers-in-law Kim (John) Pflug of NJ and Marian (John) Freeman of NH, a brother-in-law Joseph (wife Florence) Mariani, sister-in-law Carol Smith of Mn. and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Raphael’s Church, 346 E Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ 07039 on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 11AM followed by entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, NJ 07936

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Penny’s name to the Pine Tree Society in Maine: [email protected]