Connie Ferrigno

Maria Concetta Ferrigno, “Connie” age 63, of Pompton Lakes, and formerly of Wayne, entered eternal rest on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

Connie was born and raised in Gela, Sicily. She was the dear daughter and second-born child of the late Francesco (2010) and the late Santa (Carnevale) Trama’s (2020) four children. 

At the age of fourteen, Connie alongside her family relocated to America in pursuit of a better life. They started by living in Paterson and eventually moved to Wayne where Connie graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1978.

After high school, Connie worked in various positions as an accounting clerk, most notably with ATI Chemspray in Totowa. She eventually met Michael Ferrigno and they married in 1982. Connie and Michael started married life in Rutherford then moved to Rockaway and eventually Wayne where they lived for 22 years. After divorce, Connie moved to Pompton Lakes where she remained for the past seven years.

Blessed with the birth of their daughter Danielle in 1992, Connie whole-heartedly cared for Danielle during her childhood and formative years. Connie was also a gifted artist who practiced her craft through various mediums. For starters, she designed and created custom made jewelry. She also did sketch art with expression and fine details that were so exquisite. Besides drawing whatever might be inspiring her at the time, she also created portrait sketches of all the babies that were new to her immediate and extended family. Connie also loved to garden and found it to be another perfect creative outlet. Her yard was always adorned with the most beautiful flower gardens and she designed her gardens in such a way as to ensure that throughout the growing season, there would always be something that would be blooming in various beautiful pots. Her yard was an oasis—her safe, happy place.

Connie enjoyed her morning coffee at Starbucks, long walks around Packanack Lake, and spending time with her grandchildren as much as she could. She was a sweet, kind-hearted woman who will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Connie was a very generous, empathetic soul whose heart went out to those in need. Consequently, for many years, she gladly volunteered her spare time to help out at the food pantry in Wayne. She frequently donated her lightly used clothing – something she had ample supply of being that she loved to find the perfect outfit to go with the jewelry she created. Connie was also a regular volunteer at the Laurelwood Arboretum – a wonderful respite in Wayne where residents could take nature walks on trails while enjoying the sounds of birds singing and the burst of colors of all the annual and perennial flowers and trees that adorned those trails. 

Connie was the cherished mother of Danielle Kornitzer and husband David of Wayne; adoring grandmother of: Ella and Lucas Kornitzer; dearest sister of: Giuseppe “Joe” Trama and wife Daniela of League City, TX, Vera DeFrances of Bayonne and late husband Stephen (2014), and the late Emanuele Minardi (2009); and loved companion of David Stumpf. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. 

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Connie’s name are asked to consider donating to The Big Silence.

Please designate your gift in loving memory of Connie Ferrigno. Thanks.

The Big Silence Foundation cultivates conversations and offers resources and programs to destigmatize and change the culture around mental health. They raise awareness, promote understanding, and aim to bring together people and organizations who want to improve public attitudes towards mental health and normalize conversations surrounding mental health topics and experiences. Suffering in silence only reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health issues and creates barriers that prevent healing. Join them to break the silence and make the world a more joyful and loving place.