Obituary for Agnes Colaneri
She was known as “Aggie” to her family and friends.
Aggie was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, with her eight siblings. She attended St. John the Baptist Grammar School in Jersey City and St. Michael High School in Union City. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in English, Secondary Education, from Seton Hall University. She was awarded a Master’s Degree in Reading from New Jersey City University and pursued additional graduate study in Special Education.
Aggie taught in the Humanities Department at Emerson High School in Union City for 32years. During her career at Emerson, she participated in a number of groundbreaking educational efforts, created and presented numerous professional workshops, and moderated school activities. She also served as an adjunct professor in Special Education at New Jersey City University and was an educational consultant to Scholastic Corporation. She loved to travel, read, and cook; to attend the theater, ballet, and concerts; and to visit museums. She enjoyed watching football, basketball, and New York Yankees baseball.
So that is Aggie’s biographical sketch. But this is Aggie:
Above all, she loved her family and friends. She was an adoring companion to the man of her dreams; a caring and devoted daughter; a fiercely protective and fun-loving sister to her siblings; a warm and generous aunt to her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and a steadfast partner in crime to those who counted her as a friend. She nurtured our children by taking them to New York City to attend the theater, visit museums, and dine out. She shared her collection of children’s books, whether written in English or in French, in the hope of sparking a lifelong love of reading. And, for a lucky few, there were those trips to Paris and Brussels.
She has been called “an extraordinary woman and a phenomenal teacher.” Her professional and personal achievements were many, among them the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher Award and the Big Sister Outstanding Service Award. But a list of her accomplishments could not begin to capture who she was inside and what she meant to so many people. Throughout her life, she gave unwaveringly of her talents and her time to any child who needed her, whether family, friend, or student, whether the child was at risk or just wanted to expand his or her cultural horizons. She was an active and engaging teacher (a taskmaster to be sure), a ferocious advocate, and an inspiring role model.
Aggie was courageous in the face of a devastating illness and gave us all the strength to support her in her journey. She died at her home in Rutherford on October 1, 2015, surrounded by her many loved ones, who will miss her beyond words.
She is survived by her beau, Rocco Martone; her sisters, Mary Ann Mastrolia (Nicholas), Sr. Angela Colaneri, Francine Colaneri (Chet Cardinali), and Germaine Caporino (Rick); her brothers, James Colaneri and John Colaneri (Ruth Mary); and her sister-in-law, Christina Colaneri. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Joseph Colaneri (Jackie), Christopher Colaneri (Tricia), Joanne Fiume, Nicholas Mastrolia (Michele), Peter Mastrolia, Michael Colaneri, Justin Cardinali, Cristen Sacca (Ralph), Jarod Caporino (Diana), and Nicole Caporino; fourteen grandnieces and grandnephews, and a host of wonderful friends.
Aggie was previously deceased by her cherished parents, Anne and Joseph Colaneri, her dear brothers Joseph Colaneri (Angela) and Dominic Colaneri, and her beloved (and a little crazy) canine companion, Mackenzie.
Rest in peace, beautiful Aggie. May you dance with the angels and skip along the stars.
If so desired, donations in Aggie's Memory may be made to:
Relay for life / American Cancer Society / Annie's Angels
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/anniesangels2016
Aggie was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, with her eight siblings. She attended St. John the Baptist Grammar School in Jersey City and St. Michael High School in Union City. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in English, Secondary Education, from Seton Hall University. She was awarded a Master’s Degree in Reading from New Jersey City University and pursued additional graduate study in Special Education.
Aggie taught in the Humanities Department at Emerson High School in Union City for 32years. During her career at Emerson, she participated in a number of groundbreaking educational efforts, created and presented numerous professional workshops, and moderated school activities. She also served as an adjunct professor in Special Education at New Jersey City University and was an educational consultant to Scholastic Corporation. She loved to travel, read, and cook; to attend the theater, ballet, and concerts; and to visit museums. She enjoyed watching football, basketball, and New York Yankees baseball.
So that is Aggie’s biographical sketch. But this is Aggie:
Above all, she loved her family and friends. She was an adoring companion to the man of her dreams; a caring and devoted daughter; a fiercely protective and fun-loving sister to her siblings; a warm and generous aunt to her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and a steadfast partner in crime to those who counted her as a friend. She nurtured our children by taking them to New York City to attend the theater, visit museums, and dine out. She shared her collection of children’s books, whether written in English or in French, in the hope of sparking a lifelong love of reading. And, for a lucky few, there were those trips to Paris and Brussels.
She has been called “an extraordinary woman and a phenomenal teacher.” Her professional and personal achievements were many, among them the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher Award and the Big Sister Outstanding Service Award. But a list of her accomplishments could not begin to capture who she was inside and what she meant to so many people. Throughout her life, she gave unwaveringly of her talents and her time to any child who needed her, whether family, friend, or student, whether the child was at risk or just wanted to expand his or her cultural horizons. She was an active and engaging teacher (a taskmaster to be sure), a ferocious advocate, and an inspiring role model.
Aggie was courageous in the face of a devastating illness and gave us all the strength to support her in her journey. She died at her home in Rutherford on October 1, 2015, surrounded by her many loved ones, who will miss her beyond words.
She is survived by her beau, Rocco Martone; her sisters, Mary Ann Mastrolia (Nicholas), Sr. Angela Colaneri, Francine Colaneri (Chet Cardinali), and Germaine Caporino (Rick); her brothers, James Colaneri and John Colaneri (Ruth Mary); and her sister-in-law, Christina Colaneri. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Joseph Colaneri (Jackie), Christopher Colaneri (Tricia), Joanne Fiume, Nicholas Mastrolia (Michele), Peter Mastrolia, Michael Colaneri, Justin Cardinali, Cristen Sacca (Ralph), Jarod Caporino (Diana), and Nicole Caporino; fourteen grandnieces and grandnephews, and a host of wonderful friends.
Aggie was previously deceased by her cherished parents, Anne and Joseph Colaneri, her dear brothers Joseph Colaneri (Angela) and Dominic Colaneri, and her beloved (and a little crazy) canine companion, Mackenzie.
Rest in peace, beautiful Aggie. May you dance with the angels and skip along the stars.
If so desired, donations in Aggie's Memory may be made to:
Relay for life / American Cancer Society / Annie's Angels
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/anniesangels2016
