Obituary of Carole Fagella

Carole Fagella passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2016, peacefully surrounded by her family after a long and inspirational battle with ovarian cancer. Born in Jersey City, Carole lived in Warren for the last 30 years. She held several advanced degrees and was a guidance counsellor and French teacher In Union City, Rutherford and Bound Brook before her retirement several years ago. Carole was not just an educator, but also a dancer, artist, writer and inspirational speaker. She loved the arts, be it museums, theatre or music. The breadth of her interests was the result of her love of life and all it offers. She never let illness slow her down and ended her battle, as always, on her own terms. Carole loved to travel and did so with passion and intensity. She travelled throughout Europe and Asia, including China, Japan, India, Cambodia, Egypt, Peru and other destinations around the world. She loved prehistoric ruins, Asian art and foreign films. When illness struck, she became President of the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She was a dynamic speaker who raised awareness of the disease with women, doctors and health care professionals. She annually travelled to Congress to lobby for funding, and spoke to untold numbers of survivors across the country, allaying their fears and giving them hope that life could go on. She is survived by her devoted husband Robert Fagella; her son Alex, around whom her world revolved; her brother William Sippo, M.D, his wife Isa and their children Michael, Milllie and Isabel; Arthur Sippo, M.D; her aunts Norma D'Argenio and Carolyn Kassabian; numerous cousins and a world of friends and acquaintances who will miss her dearly. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 2:00-4:30 and 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Stony Hill Church, Watchung. Interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery, North Bergen, NJ In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Carole Fagella Memorial Fund, c/o Kaleidoscope of Hope, P.O. 1124, Madison, NJ 07940 www.kohnj.org or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in the name of Paul Sabbatini, M.D.