Arlene R. Potenzone

Arlene R. Potenzone, age 80, of Wayne passed away on Monday January 17, 2022, while receiving the loving care of her family and support to help prepare for her next journey.

Arlene was born in Newark and raised in Bellville, NJ.  She was the youngest of three children to Peter Sr. and Viola Salerno.  As a young girl, Arlene became very interested in art and spent any free time she had drawing or painting.  While in Bellville high School she was as active as she could be with the school’s art programs.  In late 50’s to early 60’s, Arlene found and married the loved of her life, Achille Potenzone.  The couple eloped in Las Vegas, Nevada, and after getting married the newlyweds settled in Arizona.  Achille and Arlene were only in Arizona short time since they became homesick for their family, friends, and New Jersey.  The couple then moved back to the state of New Jersey and settled in Wayne where they spent the rest of their lives together.  While living in Wayne they raised their three children, Joseph, Sherrie, and Anthony.  

Immediately after getting married, Arlene decided that she would become a full-time homemaker, however, she often helped Achille with the family business: Garden State Flag Co.   After many years of devoting her time and her life to her husband and children, in the late 1980’s Arlene went to work at Dey Mansion Washington’s Headquarters in Wayne where she started part time.  Over the years she became a full-time employee and earned the position of Acting Coordinator.  Arlene remained employed with the Dey Mansion for over twenty-four years until her retirement in 2012.  Arlene was not only devoted to her husband and her children, but also to her Catholic Faith.  She and her family were parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne and most recently of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Pompton Lakes.  Arlene was also a member of the Order of the Easter Star Wayne Chapter for many years.

Arlene was a voracious reader.  She loved reading books about history, particularly the Revolutionary War.  It came as no surprise that Arlene was interested in history being that her husband Achille was in the United States Army 29th Infantry, during the Second World War and participated in the Normandy Beach invasions in France known as D-Day or Operation Overlord.  She was also a wonderful cook and treasured hosting family events and holidays at her home.  Arlene was a true hostess who believed that you should always accommodate guests in your home.  Therefore, even if you were stopping by for just a cup of coffee, you were not able to leave without having something to eat. Arlene was always described as a classy and beautiful person to all who met her.  She was patient, kind and always gave an ear to listen without any time constraints.  She was a caring individual who would put the needs of others before her own.   Her and her family enjoyed vacationing at the Jersey Shore during the summers and traveling to foreign destinations such as Italy, France, London, Bermuda, Mexico, and Switzerland, to name a few.  

Aside from all of Arlene’s talents, hobbies and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Arlene than providing for and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was a truly devoted mother and grandmother.  Arlene and her husband Achille cherished forty years of loving and loyalty to each other until Achille’s passing in 1998. She was a very reserved woman for the most part, however, when she had the opportunity, she could easily captivate an audience with her story telling ability.   Arlene was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and in various ways, whom  will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Arlene is survived by: her brother Dr Peter D Salerno Jr of Louisville KY, her three children: her son Joseph Potenzone of Cape May Court House, NJ, her daughter Sherrie Galderisi and her husband Victor of Ocean View, NJ, and her son Anthony Potenzone and his wife Karolina of Flanders, NJ, three grandchildren; Valerie Galderisi of Ocean View, NJ, Anthony Potenzone of Flanders, NJ, and George Potenzone of Flanders, NJ, and many nieces, nephews, and loving extended family members.  

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Arlene's name may be made to Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad, PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474.