Anita Scarmozza

Anita Scarmozza (nee Bernal), age 67, of Kinnelon passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 5, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Anita was born and raised in Paterson, NJ and was one of four children to John and Maria Bernal.  While growing up in Paterson, Anita attended Eastside High School where she excelled in academics.  Because of her excellence in academics, Anita was awarded an academic scholarship to attend William Paterson University following her high school graduation in 1972.  While at William Paterson University, Anita earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and also earned her Teacher’s Certificate.  Following her college graduation, Anita found work quickly at local preschool in the Paterson.  After working there for about a year or so, Anita then accepted a position as a public school teacher at her alma mater, Eastside High School in Paterson.  Anita taught English at Eastside High School for more than ten years, and it was work that she truly loved.

In 1983, Anita was introduced to a handsome young man by the name of John Scarmozza.  Anita and John went out on a blind date and hit it off great.  The two dated for about two years and as fate would have it they fell in love and on October 19, 1985 Anita and John became husband and wife at the Pompton Reformed Church in Pompton Lakes, NJ.  After getting married, the newlyweds settled in Haledon where they lived for about three years.  During their time living in Haledon, Anita and John welcomed the birth of “their one and only”, their daughter Danielle.  In 1988, the family moved to Kinnelon and have called it their home ever since.  Following the birth of their daughter, Anita decided that she would dedicate herself to being a full time homemaker.  This was Anita’s true calling and where she genuinely flourished.  Over the years Anita and her daughter Danielle shared a truly wonderful mother and daughter relationship.  When her daughter started school, Anita took a part time job as a Lunch Aide at Stony Brook Elementary School in Kinnelon to be close to her.  Throughout the years, Anita remained dedicated to her husband John and her daughter Danielle.

Since Anita held a degree in English, it came as no surprise that she was an avid reader.  Anita cherished reading novels in a variety of genres.  She was also a true and devoted New York Yankee Fan throughout her entire life, her favorite player being Mariano Rivera.  During the entire baseball season, Anita proudly hung her NY Yankees flag out on the front porch of her house.  As a young girl, she enjoyed shopping for clothes and hunting for bargains. Anita had a sweet tooth also as a young girl and was never able to shake it, even as an adult she truly enjoyed her sweets and desserts.   She was quite a movie buff and was amazingly knowledgeable in a variety of trivia genres.  But aside from all of Anita’s interests, hobbies and talents, here greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Anita than providing for and spending time with her family.  Anita and her husband John cherished thirty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage together.  She was a truly dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.  She genuinely treasured all of the holidays.  Her house was always open and she welcomed everyone with open arms who wanted to stop in.

In 1994, Anita was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and unfortunately over the years it progressed.  Anita may have had a lot to complain about but she never did.  She was a true optimist and always saw the good in every situation, everything, and everyone. People naturally gravitated to her and loved to engage in conversation with her.  She was the kind of person who could talk about anything. She could also hold the attention of children which is what probably made her such a wonderful teacher, mother, and grandmother.  Anita had an infectious personality that brought smiles to the faces around her.  She was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people.  She will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Anita is survived by her husband John Scarmozza of Kinnelon, NJ, her daughter Danielle Shaholli and her husband Tony of Clarkston, MI, her mother Maria Bernal of Haskell, NJ, two sisters; Victoria Kovach and her husband Thomas of Lords Valley, PA, and Linda Pasquariello and her husband Ron of Wayne, NJ, two grandchildren; Vincent Shaholli and Leo Shaholli both of Clarkston, MI, one sister-in-law Charlene Youngs and her husband Bill of Barnegat, NJ, three nieces; Stephanie, Brittany, and Susan, and one nephew Evan.  She was predeceased by her father John Bernal.  

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Those wishing to make a donation in Anita's name are asked to consider St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 – 9959 http://www.stjude.org