Obituary of Viola Y. Verilla

Viola Y. Natale Verilla, 91, of Toms River passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday exactly one month to the day after being unexpectedly and tragically diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her devoted son Joseph and his wife Betty, and her beloved daughter Marie Verilla and her husband Augustine Foglio II served as full-time in-home hospice care providers to their cherished mother during her illness exemplifying the values of strength and purity of heart with which they were raised. Viola was born the third of seven children to Italian immigrants in Springfield, Ill. and was always proud of her connection to the "Land of Lincoln." She was raised in Haledon, N.J. and lived there until she married in 1939 and moved to Paterson. Viola was an expert seamstress in the Paterson and Passaic garment districts for many years and was also a talented embroiderer. Prior to her retirement and relocation to Toms River in 1985, she was employed by the Paterson Board of Education as a cafeteria worker. Like her mother, Maria Santini Natale, Vi was a gourmet Italian cook and an organic gardener decades before such things became fashionable. She was well known for her batter fried zucchini flowers, homemade gnocci, deep dish pizza, eggplant parmigiana, and holiday i guanti and anisette cookies. Always young at heart with her chronological age being simply a number, Viola had a vibrant and engaging personality and was always good for a quip or two. She loved rock and roll music and was thrilled to have seen Dion in Atlantic City with Joseph and Betty in April. Just last week, Vi received a get well telephone call from New York City radio personality "Cousin Brucie" Morrow that put a smile on her face through the pain. Above all else, Viola loved her family and was especially close to her two grandsons, Neil and Jim, and very proud of the young men they have become. Truly a unique individual with a heart of gold, Vi will be sadly missed by all. Joseph and Marie would like to thank Fr. Mark of St. Justin's R. C. Church for visiting Viola at home and for his kindness and prayers. Viola was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, John D. Verilla, in 2003. She is survived by her son Joseph V. Verilla, Ph.D. and his wife Betty of Wayne; her daughter Marie Verilla and her husband Augustine Foglio II of Toms River; her adored grandsons, Neil John Verilla Foglio and James Austin Verilla Foglio of Toms River; her sister Nellie Fazio of Haledon; and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Wednesday at 9:30 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Anthony R.C. Church, Paterson at 10:00 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may call Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9.