Caroline Brugaletta

Caroline Brugaletta (nee Maratta), age 88, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday July 1, 2020 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Caroline was born and raised in Paterson and was one of two children to Salvatore and Carmela Maratta.  Caroline attended Central High School in Paterson graduating with the class of 1948.  Following her graduation, Caroline found work at Food Fair in Paterson.  While at Food Fair, Caroline worked alongside a handsome young man named John Brugaletta.  John asked Caroline out on a date and picked her up in his mother’s car, which he told Caroline was his.  As fate would have it they fell in love and while at church one Sunday afternoon, John proposed to Caroline.   The couple became husband and wife on April 20, 1952 and honeymooned in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

After getting married, Caroline and John settled in Paterson where they grew up and moved into an apartment on Union Ave just upstairs from Caroline’s parents.  During their time in Paterson, the couple welcomed the births of both their daughters Carol Ann and Judy.  As their family grew, in 1963, Caroline, John and their two children moved to Wayne.  The couple remained in Wayne for the rest of their lives together.

Caroline made the decision to become a full time homemaker when her first child was born.  She remained a homemaker until the family moved to Wayne where she then found work at Western Publishing in Wayne.  After a time at Western Publishing, unfortunately, she was let go from her position.  Caroline again found work quickly, this time as a sales clerk at the Meyer Brothers Department Store in Wayne.  Caroline held this position until the store’s closing in 1995.

Caroline was a devoted wife, her husband John “held her up on a pedestal” their entire marriage.  She and John cherished sixty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Caroline was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She also enjoyed crocheting from time to time making blankets and other crafts for her friends and family.  Caroline and her family frequented the Jersey Shore points such as Seaside Heights and Wildwood Crest during the summer for many memorable family vacations.  Caroline was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Caroline is survived by her husband John Brugaletta of Wayne, two daughters, Carol Ann Johanson and her husband Frank of Rockaway, and Judy Hanenberg and her husband Jay of Wayne, one brother Carmen Maratta (Madeline Carini) of Elmwood Park, five grandchildren; Keith D. Hanenberg and his wife Katie, Kevin Hanenberg and his wife Brooke, Renee Ross and her husband Tim, Lori Della Valle and her husband Jeff, and Michelle Johanson and her fiancé Tom, and seven great grandchildren; Tyler Hanenberg, Jared Hanenberg, Hadley Hanenberg, Kendall Hanenberg, Leah Hanenberg, Kaylee Hanenberg, and Sophia Della Valle.