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November 18, 2023
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 9:30-11:30 am, then at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ where at 12:00 pm a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will be held at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, 295 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
Gaetana M. Acquaviva, age 92, entered into our God’s glorious kingdom on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Gae was born on July 27, 1931 in Paterson, NJ. She was the second child of Carmela and Vincenzo Sabio(a) of Italy. Gae celebrated her youth in Paterson, often discussing the long walks she would take to swimming pools, hikes in the woods, visits with aunts and uncles, big band concerts, church-centered festivals, and dances at the local Polish halls. She enjoyed singing in the acapella choir as a young girl and attending and participating in local opera productions.
Gae and Vince Acquaviva were married in 1954 and were active members of the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic parish community in Paterson, NJ. There they volunteered whenever needed, especially during the annual Parish Festival. Great memories of rides and stands, exceptional sausage and peppers sandwiches, and fresh zeppole were made. Gae and Vince raised their two children, Camille and Vincent in the Riverside section where lifelong friendships and a love of our Italian-American heritage were firmly established. Strong faith and values, devotion to family, country, and community, loyalty, tolerance, service, generosity, and compassion were ingrained daily.
Gae had compassion for and believed in a life of service to those with health challenges and to those in need financially or emotionally. Her door was always open to joyfully serve and feed anyone who entered.
Gae worked in many capacities since she was 18 years old. She entered the work force as a medical secretary for local doctors and later worked as secretary at Kearfott Corporation before her children were born. Gae had a strong work ethic and believed in contributing to her family’s income as her mother did before her. She later worked in the main branch of the Paterson Public Library for several years, where she truly enjoyed her service in the music department. There she arranged regular musical events and shared her love of music, theatre, and opera with her family. She and Vince brought her children to their first Broadway musical where they had backstage passes and met with the star of the show! Gae was also a beloved piano teacher after work and sometimes on Saturday mornings. She loved the music vocation and the opportunity to further contribute to her family’s income. Again seeking to further benefit her family, Gae began college in her forties, and graduated from William Paterson University as a Teacher- Librarian in 1978, on the same day as her daughter’s college graduation. Gae then began teaching and completed her teaching career in 1997. She was a trail blazer. Gae did it all – home, family, wife, career, and lots of socializing!
Gae loved to spend time with her husband, children, grandchildren, her parents, her brother Carmine, her brothers and sisters-in-law, and she cherished her nieces and nephews. She remained close with her aunts and uncles, cousins, and their now grown children and was loved by all.
Gae always felt blessed, no matter life’s circumstances. She believed that you must take the good with the bad and always be thankful.
Gae was a loving wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was a prayerful and faithful woman throughout her life, with a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. An active member of the Legion of Mary, regular prayers, rosary recitation, visits to the sick, and works of charity were offered as part of her devotion to Our Lady.
Known for her delightful personality always having a smile on her face, Gae brought sunshine and hope to others on a regular basis. She nourished souls. Gae will be deeply and forever missed by her dear daughter Camille and her husband, Michael of Hazle Township, PA; her beloved son, Vincent Joseph and his wife Patrizia of Montville, NJ; and her adored grandchildren Kevin M. Reilly and his wife, Kelsey, Danielle M. Reilly, Vincent G. Acquaviva, Gianna Pierce and her husband, Brendan. There will be an emptiness left in the hearts of her nieces and nephews Vincent J. Sabio and Robert Chavez, Joseph and RoseMary Saccoman, Joseph and Nancy Acquaviva, Alfred and AnnMarie Acquaviva, her grand nieces and nephews, cousins, her dear friends at Siena Village and beyond, and her personal angel/caretaker, Marcelle. Gae will join her deceased husband, Vincent; her grandson, Vincent George; her parents, Carmela and Vincenzo Sabio; her brother, Carmine Sabio; her sisters and brothers-in law, Mary, Madeline, Victor, Alfred, and Josephine; her beloved nieces, JoAnn and Anna; her grand nephews, Matthew and John, and more family members and dear friends in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Gaetana stands as an inspiration to us all, representing faith, family, sacrifice, mercy, tenacity, personality, and the celebration of what is good.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959
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, NJ on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 9:30-11:30 am, then at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ where at 12:00 pm a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will be held at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, 295 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
November 18, 2023
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 9:30-11:30 am, then at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ where at 12:00 pm a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will be held at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, 295 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
Gaetana M. Acquaviva, age 92, entered into our God’s glorious kingdom on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Gae was born on July 27, 1931 in Paterson, NJ. She was the second child of Carmela and Vincenzo Sabio(a) of Italy. Gae celebrated her youth in Paterson, often discussing the long walks she would take to swimming pools, hikes in the woods, visits with aunts and uncles, big band concerts, church-centered festivals, and dances at the local Polish halls. She enjoyed singing in the acapella choir as a young girl and attending and participating in local opera productions.
Gae and Vince Acquaviva were married in 1954 and were active members of the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic parish community in Paterson, NJ. There they volunteered whenever needed, especially during the annual Parish Festival. Great memories of rides and stands, exceptional sausage and peppers sandwiches, and fresh zeppole were made. Gae and Vince raised their two children, Camille and Vincent in the Riverside section where lifelong friendships and a love of our Italian-American heritage were firmly established. Strong faith and values, devotion to family, country, and community, loyalty, tolerance, service, generosity, and compassion were ingrained daily.
Gae had compassion for and believed in a life of service to those with health challenges and to those in need financially or emotionally. Her door was always open to joyfully serve and feed anyone who entered.
Gae worked in many capacities since she was 18 years old. She entered the work force as a medical secretary for local doctors and later worked as secretary at Kearfott Corporation before her children were born. Gae had a strong work ethic and believed in contributing to her family’s income as her mother did before her. She later worked in the main branch of the Paterson Public Library for several years, where she truly enjoyed her service in the music department. There she arranged regular musical events and shared her love of music, theatre, and opera with her family. She and Vince brought her children to their first Broadway musical where they had backstage passes and met with the star of the show! Gae was also a beloved piano teacher after work and sometimes on Saturday mornings. She loved the music vocation and the opportunity to further contribute to her family’s income. Again seeking to further benefit her family, Gae began college in her forties, and graduated from William Paterson University as a Teacher- Librarian in 1978, on the same day as her daughter’s college graduation. Gae then began teaching and completed her teaching career in 1997. She was a trail blazer. Gae did it all – home, family, wife, career, and lots of socializing!
Gae loved to spend time with her husband, children, grandchildren, her parents, her brother Carmine, her brothers and sisters-in-law, and she cherished her nieces and nephews. She remained close with her aunts and uncles, cousins, and their now grown children and was loved by all.
Gae always felt blessed, no matter life’s circumstances. She believed that you must take the good with the bad and always be thankful.
Gae was a loving wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was a prayerful and faithful woman throughout her life, with a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. An active member of the Legion of Mary, regular prayers, rosary recitation, visits to the sick, and works of charity were offered as part of her devotion to Our Lady.
Known for her delightful personality always having a smile on her face, Gae brought sunshine and hope to others on a regular basis. She nourished souls. Gae will be deeply and forever missed by her dear daughter Camille and her husband, Michael of Hazle Township, PA; her beloved son, Vincent Joseph and his wife Patrizia of Montville, NJ; and her adored grandchildren Kevin M. Reilly and his wife, Kelsey, Danielle M. Reilly, Vincent G. Acquaviva, Gianna Pierce and her husband, Brendan. There will be an emptiness left in the hearts of her nieces and nephews Vincent J. Sabio and Robert Chavez, Joseph and RoseMary Saccoman, Joseph and Nancy Acquaviva, Alfred and AnnMarie Acquaviva, her grand nieces and nephews, cousins, her dear friends at Siena Village and beyond, and her personal angel/caretaker, Marcelle. Gae will join her deceased husband, Vincent; her grandson, Vincent George; her parents, Carmela and Vincenzo Sabio; her brother, Carmine Sabio; her sisters and brothers-in law, Mary, Madeline, Victor, Alfred, and Josephine; her beloved nieces, JoAnn and Anna; her grand nephews, Matthew and John, and more family members and dear friends in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Gaetana stands as an inspiration to us all, representing faith, family, sacrifice, mercy, tenacity, personality, and the celebration of what is good.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959
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