Louise Pallante

Louise Pallante, age 94, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 30, 2021.

Louise was born and grew up in Newark, NJ. Like so many of her generation, she left school at an early age so that she could get a paying job to contribute to the needs of her parents and sisters.

As a young woman, Louise fell in love with Pasquale Pallante and soon after, they exchanged wedding promises and began their life’s journey together as Mr. and Mrs Pallante.

Louise and Pasquale started their own catering business and called it Parkway Catering. As part of their new enterprise, they had a fleet of food services trucks that were used to transport the food, including lunch offerings at corporate parks, to their client’s venues. Running the business necessitated daily 3:00 AM starts where Louise would make all the food offerings for the day.

The catering business was a great success and this enabled Louise and Pasquale to retire early. In 1974, they moved to North Miami, Florida where they joined Louise’s sister Joyce and husband Frank. Shortly after, her sister Antoinette and husband Dominick moved to Florida too. In her efforts to get established in her new sunny home, Louise took a part-time job at a Jewish deli. Her bosses adored her because she kept all the equipment meticulously clean which was important in a kosher deli.

Louise’s favorite pastimes included testing her luck at the casinos, going out for dinner with friends, and going to the track to see the dog races. She adored animals, especially her dog Duke – a Dalmatian mix, and she had the kindest place in her heart for the poor homeless stray pooches that she’d regularly feed food scraps which she’d leave outside her catering business.

In September of 1989, Louise’s beloved Pasquale passed away. She remained in Florida until moving back to New Jersey, settling in Sisco Village in Wayne where she quickly made new friends who she loved to get together with for a game of dominos or just to visit. In 2019, Louise moved to the new Bristol Assisted Living Community in Wayne.

Louise will be remembered for her outgoing personality, good-hearted nature, and friendly, kind spirit. A parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne, Louise lived out the words of the biblical “Golden Rule” from Matthew 7:12 where Jesus said “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She would gladly give the shirt off her back to anyone in need.

Louise is survived by her sister Joyce Bollotta and husband Frank of North Miami, FL., her niece and nephew: Annette Guardabasco and husband Nick of Wayne, and Donald Bruno and wife Cynthia of Goose Creek, SC: and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Pasquale "Pat" and sisters: Antoinette Bruno and Florence Meola.