Edith Adele Onnembo of Whiting, NJ, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2021 at Crestwood Manor in Whiting. She had previously been a patient at Community Hospital in Toms River, NJ. Edith was born in Jersey City, NJ. She attended Lincoln High School where she was the head majorette for the twirling team. Edith won the Jersey Journal’s, “Miss Valentine” contest, competing with other senior girls from Lincoln, Synder, Ferris, & Dickson High School. Winning a beauty pageant in this time was an honor and introduced her to an organization to help secure employment after high school.
After high school Edith met the love of her life, Achille Onnembo. They married, lived in Kearny a short time ,then purchased their first home in North Arlington. They raised 5 children; Coreen DiLea, Caryl Mearsheimer, Cynthia Onnembo( deceased), Caryn Jeanne Sorrento, and George Onnembo. Edith enjoyed many years actively working as a devoted Mom before starting her career as a Dental X-Ray Technician for Dr. Stanley Klotz in North Arlington. Edith was president of the Mother’s Club at Queen of Peace High School and was a member of the Women’s Republican Club. She modeled for Bonnie Kid Agency before involving her young children in television commercials & magazine covers.She was the advisor for several CYO cheerleading teams. Her love of history led her to researching her family lineage. Edith was able to trace her roots to a Lt. Carpenter thus gave her the honor to become a DAR(daughters of the American Revolution) member.
Edith loved to share her home with neighbors for monthly “potluck” dinners. Being a stay home Mom gave her opportunities to start a home -based business with her sister-in-law Arlene Onnembo. One in particular was candle making. Sometimes these adventures would be as comical as an “I Love Lucy Show”! She enjoyed sharing family vacations on Long Beach Island, afternoons at the beach and boat rides along Barnegat Bay.
After her husband’s retirement they built a home in Melbourne Beach, Florida. The grandchildren loved to visit their Nanny & Poppy and play along the beautiful white sand beaches. Once the grandchildren became involved with many school & social activities the visits were less frequent. Edith loved her grandchildren too much to stay away. They moved back to N.J. and became a major influence in the lives of their children & grandchildren. They rented in North Arlington for a while then moved south to Whiting, NJ
Edith was a strong woman that took pride in her home and appearance. Her purse had to match her shoes, her hair neatly combed, jewelry matching to accessorize the outfit of the day. Each day her husband would help dress her and comment that she even had to be accessorized with her outfits to sit in her chair watching Fox News. Lunch time each day her daughter Coreen would have to make a ham & cheese sandwich cut in 4;s- it never changed. She needed her feta cheese & croutons in her salad and her Meals on Wheels to fulfill her needs. Edith was set in her ways. The height of her day was watching the election, she loved President Trump & would talk about him for hours. Even at the hospital she would call nurses in because she thought her hair might be messy!
Edith loved her 7 grandchildren and her 3 grand-dogs. Spoke of them with pride, and her eyes would sparkle when they came to visit. Family was most important to her. The love shared between Edith and her husband was a beautiful romance ranging from fights over politics to loving moments on Valentine’s Day. They changed their names to Adele and Achille as a term of endearment but never shared this until their daughter, Coreen humorously picked it up as their caretaker.Their love of 69 years was a true model for the family.
Edith is predeceased by her parents, David and Cora Baker; her sister, Corinne Tonne, her brother-in-laws: Dr. John Onnembo, Nicholas Onnembo, & Jay Kopecke, and sisters-in- laws: Rachel Kopecke & Louise Onnembo. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Achille Onnembo; her son and daughters,
Coreen DiLea and her husband, Clifford DiLea, Caryl Mearsheimer, Caryn Jeanne Sorrento & her husband Steve, son George and his wife Kristine.. Other relatives include: Capt. T.J.Mearsheimer, Arlene Onnembo, Bernie Kane and her husband's aide, Gloria Pacheco, and her best friend since school days, Agnes DeJacamo.Grandchildren: Tara, Tom, & Christopher Mearsheimer, Suzanne & Steven Sorrento, Nick & Lauren Onnembo, Nieces: Edith Tonne-Walsh, Karen Sullivan, Diane Barone, Suzanne Olimpio, Dr. Sharyn Onnembo , Lynda Marconi. & Bonnie Onnembo. Nephews: Bobby Tonne, John Onnembo, Dan, Tom & Ken Baron, Alex Olimpio, John & Dominic Onnembo, and Jim Onnembo.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 3-6pm at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 115 Lacey Rd. Whiting, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 12, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (All Saints Chapel behind the church) 30 Schoolhouse Rd. Whiting, NJ. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Edith’s memory to Deborah Hospital in Brownsville, NJ, or the VNA Health Group Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund.
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