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May 24, 2009
Services
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 9 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Christ Episcopal Church, Pompton Lakes where at 10 AM for a Funeral Service.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 - 8 PM.
The following is a short life story about a wonderful mother who possessed a good nature, kind spirit and a welcoming sense of humor. She has left an everlasting fingerprint in this world and on her loving family and many friends.
Irene Della Penna (nee Stark) age 94 of Wayne on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at the Saint Josephs Hospital in Wayne. Her passing was quiet and peaceful and took place when her daughter arrived at her bedside and told her everything was alright. It was at that moment she slipped away to a new day in heaven.
She was born on a farm in New City, New York where she spent her formative years. Irene received her formal education at Congers High School graduating as Valedictorian of her Class in 1931. She wanted to become a nurse and she went to the Englewood Hospital School of Nursing in Englewood, New Jersey and received a degree as a Registered Nurse.
It was during her years at Englewood Hospital that she met Samuel Della Penna a physician. They had a short courtship of six months and married on May 10, 1937. They had forty-five years of “loving and devoted marriage” together until Sam’s passing in 1983.
The Della Penna family lived for many years in Pompton Lakes where Dr. Della Penna had his medical practice. They left Pompton Lakes and moved back to New City in 1969 and lived there until Sam’s passing in 1983. Irene then moved to Wayne where she resided for twenty-six years with her daughter Bernice.
Sam became a US Army physician and was stationed in a prisoner of War camp in Wilmington, Delaware and Irene then assumed the duties of an Army wife. Later on he became a surgeon and the family moved to Pompton Lakes. During this time he and Irene raised their children and Irene also helped in her husband’s office.
Mom leaves her family with many cherished memories of a very special wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many.
As a mother she was a “role model Mom” who was not commanding but rather nurturing her family by her own personal life style. She was non judgmental, finding great joy in the simple things in life. One of the nicest memories involves how Mom guided her children into their educations and stimulated them to be the best that they could be in their individual life journeys. Thanks Mom for being so special in all of our lives.
Sam and Irene raised six children together including Joan Strobel and her husband George of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Dr. Richard Della Penna of San Diego, California, Dolores Lombardo and her husband Anthony of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, Bernice Colefield and her husband Aston of Wayne; Gaeton Della Penna and his wife Sharon of Sarasota, Florida, Gregory Della Penna and his wife Nancine of New City, New York; one sister Eleanor Watts of New City, NY.
She was blessed with many grandchildren including William Hopper and his wife Nancy, Richard Hopper and his wife Linda, Robert Hopper and his wife Rene, Scott Stegmayer and his wife Carol, Rene Concepcion, Carrie Martinelli and her husband Nicholas, Kristen Della Penna, Gregory Della Penna Jr., Christopher and Jennifer Nizolek; To make life even more beautiful she was blessed with the following great grandchildren Ella Claire Martinelli, Tiffani and Anthony Concepcion, Julia Hopper, Maggie and Katie Hopper, Brandon and Danielle Hopper,Bryce,Leighton and Rebekah Stegmayer.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Irene’s memory are asked to consider The Little Shepherds Haven, c/o Christ Episcopal Church, 400 Ramapo Avenue, Pompton Lakes 07442 or the Rockland County Historical Society, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 9 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Christ Episcopal Church, Pompton Lakes where at 10 AM for a Funeral Service.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 - 8 PM.
May 24, 2009
Services
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 9 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Christ Episcopal Church, Pompton Lakes where at 10 AM for a Funeral Service.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 - 8 PM.
The following is a short life story about a wonderful mother who possessed a good nature, kind spirit and a welcoming sense of humor. She has left an everlasting fingerprint in this world and on her loving family and many friends.
Irene Della Penna (nee Stark) age 94 of Wayne on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at the Saint Josephs Hospital in Wayne. Her passing was quiet and peaceful and took place when her daughter arrived at her bedside and told her everything was alright. It was at that moment she slipped away to a new day in heaven.
She was born on a farm in New City, New York where she spent her formative years. Irene received her formal education at Congers High School graduating as Valedictorian of her Class in 1931. She wanted to become a nurse and she went to the Englewood Hospital School of Nursing in Englewood, New Jersey and received a degree as a Registered Nurse.
It was during her years at Englewood Hospital that she met Samuel Della Penna a physician. They had a short courtship of six months and married on May 10, 1937. They had forty-five years of “loving and devoted marriage” together until Sam’s passing in 1983.
The Della Penna family lived for many years in Pompton Lakes where Dr. Della Penna had his medical practice. They left Pompton Lakes and moved back to New City in 1969 and lived there until Sam’s passing in 1983. Irene then moved to Wayne where she resided for twenty-six years with her daughter Bernice.
Sam became a US Army physician and was stationed in a prisoner of War camp in Wilmington, Delaware and Irene then assumed the duties of an Army wife. Later on he became a surgeon and the family moved to Pompton Lakes. During this time he and Irene raised their children and Irene also helped in her husband’s office.
Mom leaves her family with many cherished memories of a very special wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many.
As a mother she was a “role model Mom” who was not commanding but rather nurturing her family by her own personal life style. She was non judgmental, finding great joy in the simple things in life. One of the nicest memories involves how Mom guided her children into their educations and stimulated them to be the best that they could be in their individual life journeys. Thanks Mom for being so special in all of our lives.
Sam and Irene raised six children together including Joan Strobel and her husband George of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Dr. Richard Della Penna of San Diego, California, Dolores Lombardo and her husband Anthony of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, Bernice Colefield and her husband Aston of Wayne; Gaeton Della Penna and his wife Sharon of Sarasota, Florida, Gregory Della Penna and his wife Nancine of New City, New York; one sister Eleanor Watts of New City, NY.
She was blessed with many grandchildren including William Hopper and his wife Nancy, Richard Hopper and his wife Linda, Robert Hopper and his wife Rene, Scott Stegmayer and his wife Carol, Rene Concepcion, Carrie Martinelli and her husband Nicholas, Kristen Della Penna, Gregory Della Penna Jr., Christopher and Jennifer Nizolek; To make life even more beautiful she was blessed with the following great grandchildren Ella Claire Martinelli, Tiffani and Anthony Concepcion, Julia Hopper, Maggie and Katie Hopper, Brandon and Danielle Hopper,Bryce,Leighton and Rebekah Stegmayer.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Irene’s memory are asked to consider The Little Shepherds Haven, c/o Christ Episcopal Church, 400 Ramapo Avenue, Pompton Lakes 07442 or the Rockland County Historical Society, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956.
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