Obituary of Rosemarie Anzano

Rosemarie Anzano (nee Ferrara) peacefully passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at the age of 88 at CareOne Nursing and Rehabilitation in Oradell, NJ. Born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, Rosemarie lived in Lyndhurst for over 65 years with the love of her life, husband Leonard Anzano, and raised a family of five loving sons. After graduating Lincoln High School in Jersey City, Rosemarie attended nursing school at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ, earning her R.N. She went to work at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, NJ and then moved onto Passaic General Hospital where she served as an Operating Room nurse, then as the hospital’s first Patient Advocate until she retired. While she was caring for others in need, Rosemarie also was raising five boys and volunteering on the Lyndhurst Emergency and Rescue Squad. An avid reader, Rosemarie spent countless hours at the Lyndhurst Public Library, eventually volunteering there in her twilight years teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to local adults. Never one to sit idle, Rosemarie’s passion for dogs kept her busy, leading her to become an iconic figure walking daily in Riverside Park with her various canine companions. She also was a certified Master Gardener, a rug hooking enthusiast, and a talented sketch artist and painter, for which her family is grateful to enjoy these treasures. But if Rosemarie is known for one outstanding attribute, it was her love of cooking and feeding her large family. She was unmatched in preparing “soup to nuts,” laying out a table filled with delicious, homemade meals and desserts. Her willingness to share her recipes has created a new generation of Anzano chefs. Rosemarie was the smart, witty, gracious, generous and loving matriarch of a large, fun, extended family that will remember her with broad smiles and many memories. Predeceased by her devoted husband of 56 years, Leonard, Rosemarie is survived by her loving sister, Barbara (Bobbie) Tillou Stagg; her five sons, Leonard (Kim), Christopher (Jamie), Paul (Christine), John (Margaret) and Andrew (Susan); 15 grandchildren, Leonard Anzano-Harden (Leigh), Christopher Anzano-Harden (Samantha), Elsa Mimmo (Jonathan), Laura Umbach (Jason), Luke Anzano, Andrew Anzano (Helen), John Anzano, James Anzano, Bridget Anzano, Maeve Anzano, Amy Anzano (fiancé, Jose), John Anzano, Julia Anzano and Grace Anzano; four great-grandchildren; “daughter” JoAnn Pietro (Dennis Alessi), cousins, nieces and most importantly, her dog Fergus. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation held at Nazare Memorial Home, Inc., 403 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst on Monday, June 5, 2017 from 4 - 8 PM. All will gather on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, 9AM at the funeral home then to Sacred Heart Church, Lyndhurst, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment, Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosemarie's memory to the Lyndhurst Free Public Library, 335 Valley Brook Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071.