Obituary for Catherine Palaia
On April 21, 2022, Catherine Palaia, 94, passed away peacefully at home. Catherine was born in 1928 in Hickory, Pennsylvania, and moved to her parent’s hometown of Girifalco, Italy, when she was four. Catherine lived in Italy through WWII and married her husband, Saverio (Sam), in 1948 before returning to the United States in 1949 and moving to Long Branch. In 1977, she moved to Oceanport, where she resided until her death.
Catherine worked as a seamstress in Long Branch for over 30 years, but her true passion was her family and friends. She was an active woman known for her immense cooking, gardening, and sewing talents. Catherine treated her friends and loved ones to hundreds of dinners over the decades and cooked food for her children, grandchildren, and friends for pick-up. Catherine tended to her impeccable garden and shared her string beans, basil, and tomatoes with everyone. Aside from cooking, Catherine helped so many people in a crunch, altering suits and dresses on her classic sewing machine for special occasions at the last minute. She could make dresses, outfits, and accessories from scratch and even kept busy during pandemic lockdowns by making masks. Aside from her creative and renowned skills, Catherine was always “out and about,” walking around her neighborhood with friends and enjoying getaways and vacations whenever she had the opportunity. Perhaps her fondest memories were trips to Italy and the several Caribbean cruises she enjoyed with Saverio and 16 members of her immediate family in tow. Catherine was a proud member of the Oceanport Senior Citizens Club and a communicant of Precious Blood Catholic Church in Monmouth Beach. She was well-known in the community and will, without a doubt, be missed by all who knew her.
Catherine was predeceased by her husband, Saverio Palaia; parents Rocco Stranieri and Elizabeth Stranieri (née Saraceno); and brother Thomas Stranieri. Catherine is survived by her sister Teresa Scicchitano of Long Branch, NJ; her three children Franc Palaia (Eve) of Rhinebeck, NY; Rosina (Steve) Rivenburg of Ocean, NJ; Rocco (Beth) Palaia of Annapolis, MD; her four grandchildren Michelle Rivenburg (Ryan) of Ocean, NJ; Thomas (Tiffani) Rivenburg of Ocean, NJ; Lily Palaia of Hyde Park, NY; Abby Palaia of Annapolis, MD; and four great-grandchildren Maggie, Lucy, Tommy, and Nicky as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 4-8 pm Monday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, Ocean Township. Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:30 am Tuesday at Precious Blood Church in Monmouth Beach followed by entombment at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fulfill (Monmouth County Food Bank), 3300 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.
Catherine worked as a seamstress in Long Branch for over 30 years, but her true passion was her family and friends. She was an active woman known for her immense cooking, gardening, and sewing talents. Catherine treated her friends and loved ones to hundreds of dinners over the decades and cooked food for her children, grandchildren, and friends for pick-up. Catherine tended to her impeccable garden and shared her string beans, basil, and tomatoes with everyone. Aside from cooking, Catherine helped so many people in a crunch, altering suits and dresses on her classic sewing machine for special occasions at the last minute. She could make dresses, outfits, and accessories from scratch and even kept busy during pandemic lockdowns by making masks. Aside from her creative and renowned skills, Catherine was always “out and about,” walking around her neighborhood with friends and enjoying getaways and vacations whenever she had the opportunity. Perhaps her fondest memories were trips to Italy and the several Caribbean cruises she enjoyed with Saverio and 16 members of her immediate family in tow. Catherine was a proud member of the Oceanport Senior Citizens Club and a communicant of Precious Blood Catholic Church in Monmouth Beach. She was well-known in the community and will, without a doubt, be missed by all who knew her.
Catherine was predeceased by her husband, Saverio Palaia; parents Rocco Stranieri and Elizabeth Stranieri (née Saraceno); and brother Thomas Stranieri. Catherine is survived by her sister Teresa Scicchitano of Long Branch, NJ; her three children Franc Palaia (Eve) of Rhinebeck, NY; Rosina (Steve) Rivenburg of Ocean, NJ; Rocco (Beth) Palaia of Annapolis, MD; her four grandchildren Michelle Rivenburg (Ryan) of Ocean, NJ; Thomas (Tiffani) Rivenburg of Ocean, NJ; Lily Palaia of Hyde Park, NY; Abby Palaia of Annapolis, MD; and four great-grandchildren Maggie, Lucy, Tommy, and Nicky as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 4-8 pm Monday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, Ocean Township. Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:30 am Tuesday at Precious Blood Church in Monmouth Beach followed by entombment at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fulfill (Monmouth County Food Bank), 3300 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.