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April 15, 2026
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8pm on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne NJ. Funeral services will be held at 12pm on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 59 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
Julia Tammaro (née Bushnauskas), age 96, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15,2026, surrounded by the loving care of her family.
Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Julia was the cherished middle child of three, born to Joseph and Brone Bushnauskas. From a young age, she demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and devotion to family, leaving school early to help support her household by working as a secretary for a local company.
In 1947, Julia’s life changed forever when she went on a blind date with John Andrew Tammaro, a United States Army veteran. The two went out together dancing all night. As fate would have it, they fell in love. On February 26, 1948, they exchanged wedding vows in the presence of family and friends becoming husband and wife in a Catholic church in Paterson. They began their life together in Paterson, where they welcomed their first two children, Frank and Patricia. Immediately after getting married, Julia embraced her role as a full-time homemaker, dedicating herself whole heartedly to her family.
In 1958, the family relocated to Ramsey, NJ, where they spent thirty-three wonderful years and welcomed two more children, Christina and Tracey. Later in life, Julia returned to Paterson, eventually living with her daughter Tracey before moving to Arbor Ridge Nursing Home. There, she was adored by the staff, who treated her like royalty and brought her comfort and companionship in her later years.
Julia was an exceptional cook, best known for her delicious eggplant and “hot chops,” and took great joy in hosting family gatherings and holiday celebrations. Her home was always open. It was always known as a warm and welcoming place where friends and loved ones gathered often. It truly was the heart of the family.
Above all else, Julia’s greatest passion in life was her family. She was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. She was not only devoted to her family, but also to her Catholic faith. As a longtime parishioner of St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Elmwood Park, she attended Mass regularly alongside her sisters-in-laws. Her faith sustained her through life’s most difficult moments, including the heartbreaking loss of her beloved children, Frank and Patricia. Julia was also at twelve-year breast cancer survivor.
Julia’s family fondly remembers the many joyful vacations spent together in Florida and along the Jersey Shore, where they would stay for a month each summer, creating memories that would last a lifetime. She also enjoyed playing poker with her sister-in-laws.
She shared fifty years of loving and devoted marriage with her husband, John, until his passing in 1999.
Julia will be remembered as a strong, spirited woman. That’s why she earned her name as “Jewels” the gem of our family! She was sassy, kind, and opinionated, yet always respectful and loving. She was a truly special person who touched the lives of everyone around her. Jewels will be tremendously missed by all who knew her.
Julia is survived by hertwo daughters, Christina Thomas and her husband Paul of Canton, GA, and Tracey Mondestin of Wanaque, NJ, eleven grandchildren; John Tammaro and his wife Jennifer, Andrew Tammaro, Charlie Tammaro, Frank Tammaro, Elizabeth Tammaro and husband, Jason Tammaro, Daniel Thomas and his fiance Libby Scofield, Joseph Thomas and his wife Amanda, Brian Mondestin, Gabriella Mondestin, and Justin Mondestin,and four great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband John Andrew Tommaro, her son Frank Tammaro, her daughter Patricia Tammaro, her brother Joseph Bushnauskas, her sister Eleanor Hilarik, and her two sisters-in-laws Theresa Vaccaro, and Antoinette Maresca.
Friends may visit withthe family from 4-8pm on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne NJ. Funeral services will be held at 12pm on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 59 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Julia’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692 Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD 21741.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8pm on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne NJ. Funeral services will be held at 12pm on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 59 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
April 15, 2026
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8pm on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne NJ. Funeral services will be held at 12pm on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 59 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
Julia Tammaro (née Bushnauskas), age 96, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15,2026, surrounded by the loving care of her family.
Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Julia was the cherished middle child of three, born to Joseph and Brone Bushnauskas. From a young age, she demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and devotion to family, leaving school early to help support her household by working as a secretary for a local company.
In 1947, Julia’s life changed forever when she went on a blind date with John Andrew Tammaro, a United States Army veteran. The two went out together dancing all night. As fate would have it, they fell in love. On February 26, 1948, they exchanged wedding vows in the presence of family and friends becoming husband and wife in a Catholic church in Paterson. They began their life together in Paterson, where they welcomed their first two children, Frank and Patricia. Immediately after getting married, Julia embraced her role as a full-time homemaker, dedicating herself whole heartedly to her family.
In 1958, the family relocated to Ramsey, NJ, where they spent thirty-three wonderful years and welcomed two more children, Christina and Tracey. Later in life, Julia returned to Paterson, eventually living with her daughter Tracey before moving to Arbor Ridge Nursing Home. There, she was adored by the staff, who treated her like royalty and brought her comfort and companionship in her later years.
Julia was an exceptional cook, best known for her delicious eggplant and “hot chops,” and took great joy in hosting family gatherings and holiday celebrations. Her home was always open. It was always known as a warm and welcoming place where friends and loved ones gathered often. It truly was the heart of the family.
Above all else, Julia’s greatest passion in life was her family. She was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. She was not only devoted to her family, but also to her Catholic faith. As a longtime parishioner of St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Elmwood Park, she attended Mass regularly alongside her sisters-in-laws. Her faith sustained her through life’s most difficult moments, including the heartbreaking loss of her beloved children, Frank and Patricia. Julia was also at twelve-year breast cancer survivor.
Julia’s family fondly remembers the many joyful vacations spent together in Florida and along the Jersey Shore, where they would stay for a month each summer, creating memories that would last a lifetime. She also enjoyed playing poker with her sister-in-laws.
She shared fifty years of loving and devoted marriage with her husband, John, until his passing in 1999.
Julia will be remembered as a strong, spirited woman. That’s why she earned her name as “Jewels” the gem of our family! She was sassy, kind, and opinionated, yet always respectful and loving. She was a truly special person who touched the lives of everyone around her. Jewels will be tremendously missed by all who knew her.
Julia is survived by hertwo daughters, Christina Thomas and her husband Paul of Canton, GA, and Tracey Mondestin of Wanaque, NJ, eleven grandchildren; John Tammaro and his wife Jennifer, Andrew Tammaro, Charlie Tammaro, Frank Tammaro, Elizabeth Tammaro and husband, Jason Tammaro, Daniel Thomas and his fiance Libby Scofield, Joseph Thomas and his wife Amanda, Brian Mondestin, Gabriella Mondestin, and Justin Mondestin,and four great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband John Andrew Tommaro, her son Frank Tammaro, her daughter Patricia Tammaro, her brother Joseph Bushnauskas, her sister Eleanor Hilarik, and her two sisters-in-laws Theresa Vaccaro, and Antoinette Maresca.
Friends may visit withthe family from 4-8pm on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne NJ. Funeral services will be held at 12pm on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 59 Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Julia’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692 Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD 21741.
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