Agata Battaglia

Agata Battaglia, age 93, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 while in the loving presence of her family.

Agata was born in 1928 in Victoria Italy on the island of Sicily. When she was five years old, her parents, Epifanio and Filomena (Impoco) Fontana moved their family to the town of Scoglitti, also in Sicily. Growing up in a large family, Agata enjoyed being home in community with her parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Agata’s parents owned a farm right next to the Battaglia family who had a son named Salvatore who was about Agata’s age. As Agata and Sal grew older, their friendship evolved into love for each other. The eventually desired to marry and so they exchanged their wedding vows on Wednesday, April 25, 1945 at the Maria SS Di Porto Salvo Church in Scoglitti. After marriage, they established their home and were blessed with three daughters and two sons. While Salvatore went out to work each day, Agata provided a welcoming home and loving nurture to the children. The family remained in Italy for the first twenty-six years of Sal and Agata’s marriage, then, in 1971, they made a big move when all seven of them immigrated to the United States to join Sal’s family who had gone before them. Their first home in this new land was on 489 Summer Street in Paterson. There, they were able to slowly transition to life in this new country through the support and community they found with many other Italian immigrants.

For Agata, the most important goal of her life was to provide love for her entire family. She provided a home that all wanted to come home to, to feel safe and loved. No doubt, her delicious cooking was enjoyed and appreciated by all and you could always count on being greeted by the smell of a delicious home-cooked meal after returning from work or school. When asked what some of their favorite recipes were, all of Agata’s children agreed that absolutely everything their mom made was awesome! She was the consummate old-school homemaker who was so devoted to her husband Salvatore until his passing in April, 2019. They enjoyed a marriage that any couple would long for. Even in later years when health made it difficult to share a bed, Sal insisted that their beds be right next to each other so that he could still hold his beloved Agata’s hand. In younger days, Agata and Sal enjoyed annual trips back to their homeland in Italy where they would typically stay for three to six months and visit their son Epifanio, his wife Lucia, and their children.

Agata delighted in her twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren and they mutually adored her. When their parents needed a babysitter, Agata was always glad to be of help. Of course, they fell in love with her fine cooking too, especially “Nonna’s” homemade bread with olive oil or sun-dried tomatoes. Even in her advanced years, she had no reservations about using technology like Facetime to see her grandchild stationed in Afghanistan or wherever else they might be, and she knew every one of her great-grandchildren by name, even baby Aviana who was born just a week before her passing.

After Sal’s passed away, Agata moved from her home in Paterson to come live with her daughter Phyllis and son-in-law Joseph in Wayne. Sometimes Joe would kid around with Agata and tell her he may want to give her daughter Phyllis back. Agata would just calmly smile and say, “I don’t accept returns unless you have the original receipt.” That was Agata – quiet, sweet and always gracious. She leaves her fingerprints on each family member and friend that she had the blessing of sharing this life with and they will carry her legacy until they see her again.    

Agata was the beloved wife of Salvatore, blessed in marriage for 74 years until his passing in April, 2019. She was the most loving mother of: Lucia and husband Gatano DiPietro of Kinnelon, Giuseppe and wife Yolanda Battaglia of North Haledon, Phyllis and husband Joseph Penna of Wayne, Maria and husband Louis Vuoncino of Oldsmar, FL, and Epifanio and wife Lucia of Gela, Italy; cherished grandmother of: Nellie and husband Gerry, Guiseppe, William, Salvatore and wife Joanna, Jennifer and husband David, Nancy and husband Dennis, Vinnie and wife Alyssa, Salvatore and fiancé Alessandra, Chiara, Matthew and fiancé Leslie, Michael, and Katherine and husband Matthew; adoring great-grandmother of: Gerry, Marco, Cristiano, Joseph, Ava, Alex, Andrew, Dennis, Nolan, Chase, Victoria, Aviana, Addison, and Wesley; dear sister of: Francesco, Giovanna, Giuseppina, Rosario, Salvatore, Maria, and Sebastiano; and dear aunt of numerous nieces and nephews.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Agata’s name are asked to consider:

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital,

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

or online at stjude.org

The American Heart Association

P.O. Box 417005

Boston, MA 02241-7005

or online at donatenow.heart.org