Virginia S. Cahayla

On Sunday morning, June 2, 2024, Virginia Cahayla passed peacefully at age 79 following a long illness.  She was surrounded by her loving family in her home where she had wonderful memories.

Born in Passaic on Nov. 4, 1944 to Nicholas and Violet Saccomanno, she is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Daniel; sons, David and Jason and his wife Kristina; 4 grandchildren Mia, Jillian, Zoe, and Amelia; and many cousins, extended family, and friends.

She attended Garfield schools, then graduated from Katherine Gibbs, and later studied at Rutgers and Arizona State.  She began work at Heyden Chemical as a secretary in the R&D dept. In 1989 she joined her father' s business, City Signs Inc, and soon became President of the company.

Virginia had a deep sense of commitment to family and community.  She was very active in St. Catherine church where she sang in the choir, was den leader in the scouts, and volunteered in the school.  She was also involved with the La Leche League, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club for 25 years.  When President of the Rotary, the club hosted a Belgian exchange student for a year and helped a young boy from Russia get a needed heart operation.  She enjoyed the camaraderie of the Wanaque Golden Age Club.

Virginia met her husband, also from Garfield, in Frankfurt, Germany by chance, 4 years after high school.  In high school, their homerooms were across the hall, but in all those years they never knew each other.  What were the chances for this to occur?  Both had the travel bug and soon thereafter wedding bells rang.  Virginia spent over 400 days at sea, visited over 100 countries, and all 50 states.  She loved her husband, sons, and grandchildren dearly and she will be missed by all whose lives she touched.