Obituary of Stella Maria Impaglia
Stella Maria Impaglia, age 103, a 41-year resident of Kenilworth, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Overlook Hospital, surrounded by family. She was born in the village of Andretta, Italy, to parents Giovanni and Guiseppa Colucci. She traveled to the United States by ship with her mother when she was 6 years old to meet her father, who had already moved there to settle in while her mother was pregnant. They made their home in Newark. Stella had 2 younger sisters whom she always took care of. She took them to many places, including Coney Island, when she was just 14 years old. Later in her education, instead of going to high school, she opted to go to a girl's vocational school. There, she learned to sew, make candy, and cook, and they also made all of the uniforms for the school. When she graduated, she went off to work. She lived in Newark, then Irvington, and worked in clothing factories sewing pieces.
Stella married her husband Chippie (Frank) who was a disabled war veteran in 1946 and they were happily married for 46 years before his passing in 1993. They share 3 children together. In 1981, Stella and her family moved to Kenilworth. She lived in one of the historic homes featured in a book on Arthur Terrace and resided there up until her passing. She was a talented seamstress and was both self-employed and worked for the Beverly Shop in Irvington, working on garments from her home. She still took customers up until she was in her early 90s.
Stella wasn't one to sit around. In her younger days, she enjoyed going to New York City and to the movies. She and her husband liked to dance and visit with friends and family as well. She loved to sew and to make her clothes for herself and others. Stella loved being outside "in the dirt" gardening, planting flowers, tending to her roses, her precious fig tree, and berry bushes. She enjoyed cooking but especially loved to bake. She continued to help prepare beloved family recipes even at 103 years young. She always said she loved food, especially Capri pizza and Jimmy Buff's Italian hotdogs. She had fun going to Atlantic City and on family vacations every year. She loved spending time with her family, all the celebrations, and taking care of all the kids through the years. In the evening, she loved to watch her game shows: Jeopardy, Family Feud, Press Your Luck, and Card Shark. Stella was still getting the #1 answers when playing Family Feud at get-togethers. She was such a fun-loving person who loved to laugh and was just a joy to be around. She was a true treasure and will be missed terribly by her family and all who knew her.
She is predeceased by her loving husband Frank "Chippie" Impaglia in 1993, her sister Pat Colucci and her daughter in-law Gun Impaglia.
Stella is survived by her adored sister Angie Zuckerman of Toms River and her loving children: daughter Rosanne Impaglia of Toms River, son John Impaglia of Matawan, and daughter Susan Morales and husband John of Warren. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Rachel Fossani of Toms River, Jennifer Steinbach and husband Wil of Brick, Monica Impaglia and husband Phil (Filemon) of Point Pleasant, Danielle Drecksage and husband Brian Jr. of Middlesex, Christopher Morales of Warren and her precious great grandchildren; Michael, Brian, Lucian, Abby, Sam, Riley, Emma & Antonio, as well as her dear cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Monica and Trudy, her wonderful aides, who stood by her side, took excellent care of her, listened to her, and, most importantly, became her friends and our extended family.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A second visitation will be held later in the day at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on the following day, Friday, March 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mount Chapel, 167 Mount Bethel Road, Warren, NJ. Following the mass, she will be laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, NJ.
