Natalie Conte

Natalie Conte – a beloved former wife and loving mother – passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the age of 93. She was a beautiful woman blessed with a long and wonderful life.

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Born and raised in Newark, Natalie was the youngest of ten children of Dominic and Rose (Basso) Delli Paoli. She spent the first sixty-eight years of her life in Newark. After high school, she developed exceptional skill as a seamstress, creating beautiful dresses in Newark’s garment factories.

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As a young woman—and truthfully, throughout her life—Natalie was a true beauty. One man who couldn’t help but notice her was Anthony “Tony” Conte. Their story began one day when Natalie stepped out of a restaurant wearing a short white coat and a black tammy hat. For Tony, that was it—he had to meet her. When he sent his cousin to introduce them, Natalie replied, “If he wants to meet me, he can come in here to meet me.” Tony mustered his courage, and he never regretted it. They soon hit it off, dated for some time, and were married on August 19, 1951, at St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Newark. A joyful reception followed at The Fountain in Belleville, and their honeymoon in Atlantic City—reached by bus—marked the start of a beautiful life together.

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The newlyweds began their marriage in a furnished Newark apartment, later moving into a home built into Natalie’s parents’ house. There, she and Tony welcomed their daughter, Antonia “Toni,” followed by their son, Louis. Eighteen years later, the family moved next door to her parents, and eventually to another Newark home. In 1995, after 44 years of marriage, Natalie faced the heartbreak of losing Tony. She remained in Newark for several more years before joining her daughter Toni and son-in-law Gary in Wayne, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Natalie devoted herself to her family as a nurturing mother and homemaker. She helped fundraise for her children’s school, hand-sewed Barbie clothes for Toni, and created a loving home. The family cherished their summer vacations at the Jersey Shore in Long Branch, surrounded by extended family and laughter.

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Always active, Natalie loved visiting flea markets, attending live shows in New York City, and playing bingo—first at St. Michael’s in Newark, later at the Wayne PAL. She enjoyed restaurants, scenic drives through quaint towns in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, Italian card games, and traveling with her daughter Toni throughout the world—visiting the British Isles, Italy, Greece, England, Ireland, and across the U.S., with New Orleans a favorite. She also enjoyed time in Florida and Canada.

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A talented cook, Natalie was known for her homemade lasagna and her famous Sunday gravy with meatballs and sausage. She especially loved the holidays - Christmas and Easter most of all. At Christmas, her home was filled with the scent of freshly baked Italian cookies and decorated from floor to ceiling, welcoming family and friends with warmth and joy. For years, New Year’s Eve was a lively family tradition filled with celebration and bingo with her siblings.

Though naturally shy and quiet, once you got to know Natalie, you discovered her generous heart. She was caring to the core—a true nurturer who would help anyone in need, even an enemy (if she’d had any). Selfless and loving, she always put others first. More than a mother, she was a best friend.

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Natalie was the adored wife of the late Anthony “Tony” Conte; the devoted mother of Antonia “Toni” MacDonald of Wayne and the late Louis Conte (2019); cherished sister of Dominic Delli Paoli and his wife Carol of Bloomfield; and beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her dear son-in-law, Gary MacDonald (2017), and by seven sisters and one brother.

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In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Natalie’s memory are asked to consider a donation to:

Dementia Society of America

PO Box 600

Doylestown, PA 18901

To download a form to mail in a donation, please CLICK HERE.

Please make sure to designate that your gift is in memory of Natalie Conte