Obituary of Elisabetta Gencarelli

Elisabetta Gencarelli (nee Renne), 90, of Paterson, passed away on September 30, 2013 at home surrounded by her loving and devoted family. Elisabetta was born on November 22, 1922 in Luzzi, Italy to the late Giuseppe Renne and Angelina Ombrata. She was a midwife while in Italy and came to the United States in February 1968 with her husband and children to start a new life. She worked as a seamstress in USA Fashion Coat Factory in the old Silk District in Paterson. Following that, she worked at Ernesto's Restaurant in West Paterson (owned by her son) where she became famous for her "Chicken Grandma Salad". One of eight children, she lived her life as a devout Catholic. Her pride and joy was Sunday dinner at her house with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Though the two rooms were small, she managed to fit more than 40 for dinner, dessert and of course, espresso. Elisabetta looked forward to this all week. Elisabetta was the beloved wife of the late Santo Gencarelli. She is the adored mother of Frank and his wife Assunta, Assunta Basile and her husband Angelo, Joe and his wife Nancy, Angelina Gencarelli and her husband Pasquale, Ernesto, Ida Basile and her husband Armando, Tony and his wife Anne, Mario and his wife Rose and Maria Gencarelli. She was the treasured grandmother of Frank Gencarelli and his wife Katerina, Mark Gencarelli and his wife Tracy, Frank Basile and his wife Christine, Maria Fattorosso and her husband Mike, Sam Gencarelli, Lisa Matragas and her husband Matt, Joey Gencarelli, Ernesto Gencarelli, Jr., Kisha Yusuf and her husband Ola, Frank Basile and his wife Pina, Elizabeth Basile and her husband Eugenio, Cassie, Anthony, Vincent, and Michael Gencarelli, Anthony Gencarelli and his wife Rachelle and Monica Gencarelli and her husband Abraham and great grandmother to Alicia, Francesco, Gabriella, Gianna, Matthew, Mia, Luca, Lui, Niashia, Jamar, Kenneth, Shaquon, Isabella, Aurora, Chiara, Pasquale, Pio, Alex, Domenico, Giovanni and Armoni. She was the dear sister of Rosaria Gencarelli and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. A funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday at 10:00am at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 70 Murray Ave., Paterson. Guests may gather at 9:00am at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave., Woodland Park, NJ. Entombment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: Our Lady of Pompeii Church 70 Murray Ave., Paterson, NJ 07501 Phone: 973-742-1969