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August 31, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, September 2, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ.
Angela E. Brancato (nee Mindardi), age 94 of Kinnelon, died on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 while receiving the loving care of her daughter and family.
Angela was born in Ragusa, Sicily and came to America in 1960 to be close to her daughter. She arrived in America with her husband Salvatore (1985) aboard the SS Cristoforo Colombo, sister ship to the famed SS Andrea Doria. They first settled in Hackensack, then Paterson and then Pompton Plains where she lived from 1974 until moving to Kinnelon.
Angela worked for Buitoni Pasta Company back in the 1960’s and later as a cook at a local nursing home. Although she found the work very fulfilling, she chose to be a full-time homemaker when they moved to Pompton Plain in 1974. She was superb at preparing traditional Italian dishes and insisted on making everything from scratch; her pasta, ravioli, focaccie bread, and all of her sauces were homemade. On one occasion when her son-in-law Michael visited, he was amazed to find her stirring an enormous pot full of sauce, over a wood fire she had started in the yard – truly authentic, and the flavors were like nothing you’ve had before. Her ingredients were always fresh and home-grown. Her home had adequate property to keep a garden that was almost ½ an acre in size, full of fresh vegetables and herbs. Cooking and her garden were her true passions in life and she often dreamed of opening a restaurant someday. Had she done so, her menu would have surely been a hit with even the most discriminating critics.
Angela was a proud and fearless woman. She loved her family, and her eyes would light up when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to visit. She leaves them all with many fond memories to cherish for the rest of their lives.
Angela is survived by her loving daughter; Pina Rudolph and her husband Michael of Kinnelon, a son; John Brancato, grandchildren; Debbie Meli and her husband Richard Ragucci of Lakewood, NJ, Kim Simpson and her husband Michael of Pompton Plains, and Stacey Bernhardt-Meli and her husband Christopher Bernhardt of Pompton Plains, NJ, and three great-grandchildren; Julian, Isabella, and Angelina.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, September 2, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ.
August 31, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, September 2, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ.
Angela E. Brancato (nee Mindardi), age 94 of Kinnelon, died on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 while receiving the loving care of her daughter and family.
Angela was born in Ragusa, Sicily and came to America in 1960 to be close to her daughter. She arrived in America with her husband Salvatore (1985) aboard the SS Cristoforo Colombo, sister ship to the famed SS Andrea Doria. They first settled in Hackensack, then Paterson and then Pompton Plains where she lived from 1974 until moving to Kinnelon.
Angela worked for Buitoni Pasta Company back in the 1960’s and later as a cook at a local nursing home. Although she found the work very fulfilling, she chose to be a full-time homemaker when they moved to Pompton Plain in 1974. She was superb at preparing traditional Italian dishes and insisted on making everything from scratch; her pasta, ravioli, focaccie bread, and all of her sauces were homemade. On one occasion when her son-in-law Michael visited, he was amazed to find her stirring an enormous pot full of sauce, over a wood fire she had started in the yard – truly authentic, and the flavors were like nothing you’ve had before. Her ingredients were always fresh and home-grown. Her home had adequate property to keep a garden that was almost ½ an acre in size, full of fresh vegetables and herbs. Cooking and her garden were her true passions in life and she often dreamed of opening a restaurant someday. Had she done so, her menu would have surely been a hit with even the most discriminating critics.
Angela was a proud and fearless woman. She loved her family, and her eyes would light up when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to visit. She leaves them all with many fond memories to cherish for the rest of their lives.
Angela is survived by her loving daughter; Pina Rudolph and her husband Michael of Kinnelon, a son; John Brancato, grandchildren; Debbie Meli and her husband Richard Ragucci of Lakewood, NJ, Kim Simpson and her husband Michael of Pompton Plains, and Stacey Bernhardt-Meli and her husband Christopher Bernhardt of Pompton Plains, NJ, and three great-grandchildren; Julian, Isabella, and Angelina.
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