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May 9, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 12, 2014 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 11 AM from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church, 630 Valley Road, where at 12 PM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.
Faye Vitali, age 96, of Wayne, entered into eternal rest on Friday, May 9, 2014. She passed peacefully at home in the loving care of her family.
Faye was born at home on Jasper Street in Paterson. She grew up there, the fourth of Americo and Elvira Riccitelli’s seven children and her parents actually gave her the name Vincenzina but everyone either called her Fannie or Faye. She was educated at Paterson’s School Number 5 before going on to graduate from Central High School in 1935. After furthering her education in secretarial school, Faye landed her first job working as a telephone operator. She loved that job but eventually left to work in the secretarial field.
She met her boyfriend Bruno Vitali through family and friends. As a boy, Bruno always wanted to learn how to fly. He and his younger brother Ess once dragged an old Navy airplane out of the Hudson River, took it home and rebuilt it. This all happened in the late 1920’s and Bruno’s determination eventually led to him being the youngest licensed pilot in the state of New Jersey. Faye and Bruno were in love and they wanted to get married but Faye would only marry Bruno under one condition; he would have to give up flying. Bruno’s love for Faye was too great. He gave up flying airplanes and this loving couple was united in holy matrimony on Saturday, November 4, 1939.
They settled into a two-family house apartment on Union Ave in Paterson. Two years later they moved to their own home on John Street. Faye continued to work for four more years until she and Bruno were blessed with their firstborn, a baby boy which they named Everett. Six years later, Everett was joined by his little sister Mary Lou and, at this chapter in her life, Faye became dedicated to her role as wife and full-time mommy. It was a short chapter though as, five years later, she went back to work, this time with Fair Lawn Finishing where she returned to the job she loved – being a switchboard operator. Faye eventually took another job with Singer Kearfott where, over the next twenty-eight years, she rose to the position of administrator before retiring in 1980. During her years with Kearfott, the family moved one more time, in 1976, to their home in Wayne.
As much as Faye enjoyed working outside of her home, her heartfelt devotion was always to her family. She and Bruno and the kids enjoyed many summers and weekends at their house on Upper Greenwood Lake. They built it in 1951 and appropriately named it Evylou Cottage. Their boat was also called Evylou and many cherished memories were made at the lake, swimming, boating, ice skating or just relaxing in the sun, feeling the cool lake breeze and being together as family. In 1964, Faye and Bruno celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy where they had the privilege of being reunited with family they never otherwise would have had the chance to see. Throughout the years, they also enjoyed cruises and trips to Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Jamaica.
Faye’s love for her family led her to care for Bruno’s mother Louisa who came to live with her and Bruno. Bruno eventually became ill too and Faye’s devotion led her to retire from Singer Kearfott so that she could dedicate herself to his care. As a grandmother, Faye adored Marisa, Paul and Peter and enjoyed babysitting for them when they were little, just so she could be with them. Her family recalls memories like when she sat young Paul on her lap behind the wheel of her Cadillac so he could actually drive. Then there were the Easter egg hunts she hosted for the kids. There were plenty of eggs with candy in them but the goal was for her grandchildren to find the one egg with the bonus cash in it. She always felt bad for little Peter, the youngest, so she couldn’t resist giving him hints as to where that particular egg was. She always let Marisa dance on the table and she’d help her set up her recitals where Marisa favored the family with songs from the Broadway show Annie.
If Faye had lived in a different time, she would have pursued a career in the field of education. She took a job at a local nursery school but unfortunately had to quit because the germs were just too much for her. Always eager to help others, Faye needed an outlet after her beloved Bruno’s passing in 1998. So she poured her heart and efforts into befriending Asian families that moved into her neighborhood. She tutored them in English as well as their relatives visiting from Taiwan during the summer months. At last, she found a fulfilling way to satisfy her desire to teach! Because of her tutoring, her students became proficient in the English language. Consequently, those Asian children excelled in school, obtained their U.S. citizenship, and went onto prestigious institutions of higher education and successful lives in the U.S.A.
Next to her love of Bruno, her children and grandchildren, Faye was devoted to her faith in God. She regularly prayed the St. Jude Novena for her family on a daily basis. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church of Wayne since moving to the town in 1976.
Faye is survived by her dear son Everett and wife Heather Vitali of Melville, Long Island, her dear daughter Mary Lou and husband Vincent Giammona of Wayne; three adored grandchildren: Marisa Vitali, Paul Giammona, and Peter Giammona; and one dear brother: Dr. Americo Riccitelli and wife Marie of Rancho Mirage, CA.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bruno in 1998 and five siblings: John Riccitelli, Laura Scola, Jane D’Amelio, Edith Barbarow, and Arthur Riccitelli.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Faye’s name are asked to consider the National Shrine of St. Jude, 205 W. Monroe, Chicago, IL 60606 (www.shrineofstjude.org), or Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 70 South Orange Ave. Suite 210 Livingston, NJ 07039 (www.vitas.com).
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 Monday, May 12, 2014 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 11 AM from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church, 630 Valley Road, where at 12 PM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.
May 9, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 12, 2014 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 11 AM from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church, 630 Valley Road, where at 12 PM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.
Faye Vitali, age 96, of Wayne, entered into eternal rest on Friday, May 9, 2014. She passed peacefully at home in the loving care of her family.
Faye was born at home on Jasper Street in Paterson. She grew up there, the fourth of Americo and Elvira Riccitelli’s seven children and her parents actually gave her the name Vincenzina but everyone either called her Fannie or Faye. She was educated at Paterson’s School Number 5 before going on to graduate from Central High School in 1935. After furthering her education in secretarial school, Faye landed her first job working as a telephone operator. She loved that job but eventually left to work in the secretarial field.
She met her boyfriend Bruno Vitali through family and friends. As a boy, Bruno always wanted to learn how to fly. He and his younger brother Ess once dragged an old Navy airplane out of the Hudson River, took it home and rebuilt it. This all happened in the late 1920’s and Bruno’s determination eventually led to him being the youngest licensed pilot in the state of New Jersey. Faye and Bruno were in love and they wanted to get married but Faye would only marry Bruno under one condition; he would have to give up flying. Bruno’s love for Faye was too great. He gave up flying airplanes and this loving couple was united in holy matrimony on Saturday, November 4, 1939.
They settled into a two-family house apartment on Union Ave in Paterson. Two years later they moved to their own home on John Street. Faye continued to work for four more years until she and Bruno were blessed with their firstborn, a baby boy which they named Everett. Six years later, Everett was joined by his little sister Mary Lou and, at this chapter in her life, Faye became dedicated to her role as wife and full-time mommy. It was a short chapter though as, five years later, she went back to work, this time with Fair Lawn Finishing where she returned to the job she loved – being a switchboard operator. Faye eventually took another job with Singer Kearfott where, over the next twenty-eight years, she rose to the position of administrator before retiring in 1980. During her years with Kearfott, the family moved one more time, in 1976, to their home in Wayne.
As much as Faye enjoyed working outside of her home, her heartfelt devotion was always to her family. She and Bruno and the kids enjoyed many summers and weekends at their house on Upper Greenwood Lake. They built it in 1951 and appropriately named it Evylou Cottage. Their boat was also called Evylou and many cherished memories were made at the lake, swimming, boating, ice skating or just relaxing in the sun, feeling the cool lake breeze and being together as family. In 1964, Faye and Bruno celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy where they had the privilege of being reunited with family they never otherwise would have had the chance to see. Throughout the years, they also enjoyed cruises and trips to Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Jamaica.
Faye’s love for her family led her to care for Bruno’s mother Louisa who came to live with her and Bruno. Bruno eventually became ill too and Faye’s devotion led her to retire from Singer Kearfott so that she could dedicate herself to his care. As a grandmother, Faye adored Marisa, Paul and Peter and enjoyed babysitting for them when they were little, just so she could be with them. Her family recalls memories like when she sat young Paul on her lap behind the wheel of her Cadillac so he could actually drive. Then there were the Easter egg hunts she hosted for the kids. There were plenty of eggs with candy in them but the goal was for her grandchildren to find the one egg with the bonus cash in it. She always felt bad for little Peter, the youngest, so she couldn’t resist giving him hints as to where that particular egg was. She always let Marisa dance on the table and she’d help her set up her recitals where Marisa favored the family with songs from the Broadway show Annie.
If Faye had lived in a different time, she would have pursued a career in the field of education. She took a job at a local nursery school but unfortunately had to quit because the germs were just too much for her. Always eager to help others, Faye needed an outlet after her beloved Bruno’s passing in 1998. So she poured her heart and efforts into befriending Asian families that moved into her neighborhood. She tutored them in English as well as their relatives visiting from Taiwan during the summer months. At last, she found a fulfilling way to satisfy her desire to teach! Because of her tutoring, her students became proficient in the English language. Consequently, those Asian children excelled in school, obtained their U.S. citizenship, and went onto prestigious institutions of higher education and successful lives in the U.S.A.
Next to her love of Bruno, her children and grandchildren, Faye was devoted to her faith in God. She regularly prayed the St. Jude Novena for her family on a daily basis. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church of Wayne since moving to the town in 1976.
Faye is survived by her dear son Everett and wife Heather Vitali of Melville, Long Island, her dear daughter Mary Lou and husband Vincent Giammona of Wayne; three adored grandchildren: Marisa Vitali, Paul Giammona, and Peter Giammona; and one dear brother: Dr. Americo Riccitelli and wife Marie of Rancho Mirage, CA.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bruno in 1998 and five siblings: John Riccitelli, Laura Scola, Jane D’Amelio, Edith Barbarow, and Arthur Riccitelli.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Faye’s name are asked to consider the National Shrine of St. Jude, 205 W. Monroe, Chicago, IL 60606 (www.shrineofstjude.org), or Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 70 South Orange Ave. Suite 210 Livingston, NJ 07039 (www.vitas.com).
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