December 9, 1935 - December 9, 2021
It is with loving memory we celebrate the life of Paolina Napolitano. Paolina was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend. She passed away peacefully on her 86th birthday, December 9, 2021, with her children beside her.
Paolina, the daughter of Giovanni and Angelina Fusco was born in the province of Avellino, Italy where she met the love of her life Raffaele Napolitano at the age of 17. Paolina and Ralph were married in 1959 when she was 24, and soon after she gave birth to her two children, Florence in 1960, and Jerry in 1965.
Her life was never easy, but Paolina and Raffaele decided to take the brave journey to America in the Summer of 1966. Raffaele arrived by sea, then three months later she arrived by air with her children on July 4, 1966, never having flown on a plane before at the age of 30. Paolina and Raffaele moved to the Bronx with their two young children. Paolina moved to New York only knowing how to say “hello” in English, but nevertheless along with her husband, she worked tirelessly to settle her family. The family moved from the Bronx to the Crestwood section of Yonkers in 1988, where she enjoyed sewing for her neighbors, taking care of her grandchildren and attending morning mass at Annunciation Church. For the past 10 years she enjoyed a busy life in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ with her daughter Florence and her family.
Paolina was a talented seamstress whose greatest joy came from sewing her grandchildren’s Halloween costumes and knitting hats and sweaters for the new babies in the family. Paolina was an avid Jeopardy, RAI Italia, and EWTN TV viewer, always rallying her family around to watch the Pope when he was on TV. She also loved cooking, baking, talking with friends and family in Italy, and just quietly hanging out with Rover, the family dog, who she particularly liked giving an extra snack to under the table when she thought no one was looking.
Paolina always had others’ best interest at heart, making sure you were wearing a coat or being careful in your endeavors, and she always remembered to ask about what was happening in your life. She was a kind, caring, and loving person whose smile would light up a room and hugs and kisses always warmed hearts. Most of all, Paolina loved her family. She was everyone’s Mom or Nonz.
She is predeceased by her husband, Raffaele, as well as her brothers Antonio and Francesco Fusco. Paolina is survived by her loving children Florence Marino, of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, Jerry Napolitano of Eastchester, NY, and her son and daughter in law, Vincent and Doreen. In addition, Paolina is survived by her five grandchildren Paulina, Victoria, and Isabella Marino, Andrew and Dana Napolitano, and her sister, Ana-Maria, in southern Italy.
We will miss Paolina, Paulina, Mamma, Aunt, Nonna and Nonz so much, but we know she is in heaven sitting next to Raffaele knitting on her rocking chair looking over us all, with her beautiful smile shining down eternally.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ETWN or Catholic Charities.
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