Rosalinda Albora

Rosalinda Albora, age 91, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026, at home and in the presence of her loving family.

Commonly known as Roz, she was the second-born child of Joseph and Josephine (DiMartino) Panebianco. Growing up in Paterson, Roz had a true Italian-American upbringing. She grew up eating produce from the family garden, playing with her father’s canaries, and taking trips to the lake and beach; she had a fun and loving childhood. She was never alone in a full house with her parents, grandparents, Aunt, and older brother; she was surrounded by happiness and good laughter. 

Roz graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1952. From an early age, Roz thought she wanted to pursue a career in music education since she played the piano and sang. She attended Montclair State College, where she opted out of playing the glockenspiel  in the marching band (required of music majors) and instead graduated four years later with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish education. Her first teaching position was at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls. After taking time off to raise her daughter, Cara, Roz earned her certification in elementary education at William Paterson University and began teaching at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Wayne. There, she taught first and second grade for approximately thirty years, retiring in 1995. Roz found her greatest satisfaction in opening her students to a world of possibilities, and especially loved teaching reading and writing.

Roz met her future husband, Frank Albora, at a family gathering in Upper Greenwood Lake, NY, in 1957. The two began talking and immediately hit it off. Frank asked Roz to be his wife just two weeks later, and they were married at Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson on Sunday, June 29, 1958. Following a honeymoon in Lake George, New York, they lived in Clifton and Paterson before moving into their brand-new house in Wayne in 1967, a house that would become a welcoming home to all even decades later. 

Family and friends were the cornerstones of Roz’s life. When she and Frank moved to Wayne, they became parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley Church, where Roz remained a devoted member.

Summers at Greenwood Lake continued after marriage. Roz and Frank purchased a powerboat and spent many happy days on the lake, creating the same cherished memories for their daughter Cara that Roz had enjoyed as a child. Roz loved to drive the boat—she simply loved to drive in general, continuing to drive her car up to age ninety. When she and Frank traveled, Roz was almost always behind the wheel, refusing to fly anywhere.  As a result, frequent trips to North Carolina to visit their daughter Cara, son-in-law Ben, and grandsons Aaron and Samuel “Frank” were always road trips, with Roz usually driving. Aaron and Frank loved it when Nana and Pop-Pop came to visit, as they were always treated to fun outings and a little extra spoiling.

Roz had a gift for touching hearts through her excellent cooking. Italian dishes were her birthright specialty, and in true Italian tradition, holiday meals always began with homemade pasta. She also took classes to learn how to prepare French cuisine, expanding her culinary skills. Growing up, Cara’s friends loved coming home with her, knowing they would be spoiled by Roz’s delicious food.

Roz’s definition of family extended to the canine companions she was blessed to have throughout her life. A childhood dog named Inkie and a poodle named Romeo were some of her beloved four-legged babies. After her husband Frank’s passing in 2018, Roz found comfort and companionship with a French Bulldog named Max. When Max passed, Roz felt she was too far along in years to get another dog, but her family thought otherwise and she soon welcomed her beloved Maltese, Fina. Her dogs were wonderful company as Roz enjoyed some of her favorite pastimes such as reading and watching game shows. Either immersed in a novel, often one by James Patterson, David Baldacci, or John Grisham, or having classic TV shows like Card Sharks, Tattletales, and Concentration on in the background, Roz would stay up for hours, a true night owl. 

Roz and Frank also greatly enjoyed the company of good friends. For over fifty years, they shared a monthly tradition of gathering for dinner and a night of playing cards at one another’s homes. This cherished card group continued to meet even after the passing of beloved members, Frank included. 

As the matriarch of the family, Roz will be deeply missed. Her home was always a welcoming place for family and friends alike, a refuge where peace and contentment were always found.  Her family takes comfort in knowing she is now reunited with her beloved husband Frank, whom Roz described as having a “good heart,” and with whom she shared what she lovingly called a “terrific marriage” for sixty years.

Rosalinda was the adored wife of Frank Albora, blessed in marriage for 60 years until his passing in 2018. She was the loving mother of Cara Shaw and her husband Ben of Raleigh, NC; cherished “Nana” of Aaron Shaw of Tokyo, Japan, and Samuel F. “Frank” Shaw of Wake Forest, NC; dearest sister of the late Carmen Panebianco;  beloved aunt of Lillian Pagano of Paramus, Joseph Panebianco of Haddonfield, NJ, and Jina Panebianco of Marina del Rey, CA; and cherished great-aunt to ten grand nieces and nephews: Carlee Pagano, Emily Pagano, Joseph Pagano, Jessica Pagano, Madelyn Panebianco, Morgan Panebianco, Joseph Panebianco, Lucius Panebianco, Jack Panebianco, and Faith Panebianco.  

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

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Rosalinda Albora.