Life Story for Frances "Patricia" Jannicelli
In the early morning hours of December 7, Frances “Pat” Jannicelli, 90, of Rutherford passed away in her home surrounded by her family. Frances was born on December 12, 1932 to Harold D. Mead and Frances T. (nee Dever) Mead in Brooklyn, NY. Pat lived in Queens, the oldest of two along with her younger sister, Elizabeth Ann Mead.
At age 12 Pat’s family moved to Nutley, NJ where she lived until she married. She met her future husband while playing softball in Branch Book Park in Newark. They married, and she, her husband George Jannicelli Sr., and their five children ultimately moved to Rutherford in 1967 where she would spend most of the remainder of her life. She enjoyed singing, needlepoint, and ceramics and created many beautiful gifts that are treasured by her family and friends. She worked in various secretarial positions including at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Manhattan for many years until her retirement.
Her love of the outdoors developed at an early age while hiking with her father and planting gardens with her mother. Thanks to those moments with her parents, she shared that love and appreciation with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and the many Girl Scouts whose lives she touched in over 60 years of scouting. Known as “Mrs. J,” Pat shared her love of giving back to others through volunteering and various community programs. She mentored many young women as a Scout leader, was involved in Rutherford’s Community Chest and was a member of Starfish, a volunteer program that provided transport to residents in need. As a member of St. Mary Church, she performed with the bell choir each Christmas season and was also a member of the Rosary Altar Society.
Pat was a fun-loving, warm and welcoming woman. Her courage and determination in facing personal, medical and daily challenges was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her. She was a force of nature, the likes of which, we will never see again. To say we are devastated is an understatement but she left us with a legacy of strength, determination and most importantly, love, that requires us to live our lives honoring the way she lived hers.
Frances’ greatest joy was her family — a large one at that. To her, this was her greatest accomplishment. She found great comfort, particularly near the end of her life, in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and our spouses and partners. She is predeceased by her father, mother and sister and her former husband. She leaves behind her five children: Frances and her husband Chris McCarthy, Madeline Jannicelli, George Jannicelli Jr. and his fiancé Terry Keene, Mark Jannicelli and his wife Donna, and Mary-Louise Jannicelli-Clare and her husband John. Her grandchildren Christopher McCarthy and his wife Jennifer, Alicia Jannicelli and her partner Salvatore Bonanno, Michelle Balouskas and her partner Phil Harris, Brittany Clare and her partner Ernest Dellipaoli, Megan Jannicelli and Shannon Clare; and her great grandchildren Kaitlyn, Alyssa and Lauren McCarthy and Leon Harris. She will also be remembered by her Goddaughter Elaine Hughes and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visiting Thursday 7-9pm and Friday 2-4pm and 7-9pm in Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home,Rutherford
Funeral Saturday (all gathering) 9am in Funeral Home for 10:30am Mass in Saint Mary Church, Rutherford
Interment to follow 11:45 at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington
For donations to the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey please use the link below:
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=gsonnj&id=24
At age 12 Pat’s family moved to Nutley, NJ where she lived until she married. She met her future husband while playing softball in Branch Book Park in Newark. They married, and she, her husband George Jannicelli Sr., and their five children ultimately moved to Rutherford in 1967 where she would spend most of the remainder of her life. She enjoyed singing, needlepoint, and ceramics and created many beautiful gifts that are treasured by her family and friends. She worked in various secretarial positions including at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Manhattan for many years until her retirement.
Her love of the outdoors developed at an early age while hiking with her father and planting gardens with her mother. Thanks to those moments with her parents, she shared that love and appreciation with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and the many Girl Scouts whose lives she touched in over 60 years of scouting. Known as “Mrs. J,” Pat shared her love of giving back to others through volunteering and various community programs. She mentored many young women as a Scout leader, was involved in Rutherford’s Community Chest and was a member of Starfish, a volunteer program that provided transport to residents in need. As a member of St. Mary Church, she performed with the bell choir each Christmas season and was also a member of the Rosary Altar Society.
Pat was a fun-loving, warm and welcoming woman. Her courage and determination in facing personal, medical and daily challenges was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her. She was a force of nature, the likes of which, we will never see again. To say we are devastated is an understatement but she left us with a legacy of strength, determination and most importantly, love, that requires us to live our lives honoring the way she lived hers.
Frances’ greatest joy was her family — a large one at that. To her, this was her greatest accomplishment. She found great comfort, particularly near the end of her life, in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and our spouses and partners. She is predeceased by her father, mother and sister and her former husband. She leaves behind her five children: Frances and her husband Chris McCarthy, Madeline Jannicelli, George Jannicelli Jr. and his fiancé Terry Keene, Mark Jannicelli and his wife Donna, and Mary-Louise Jannicelli-Clare and her husband John. Her grandchildren Christopher McCarthy and his wife Jennifer, Alicia Jannicelli and her partner Salvatore Bonanno, Michelle Balouskas and her partner Phil Harris, Brittany Clare and her partner Ernest Dellipaoli, Megan Jannicelli and Shannon Clare; and her great grandchildren Kaitlyn, Alyssa and Lauren McCarthy and Leon Harris. She will also be remembered by her Goddaughter Elaine Hughes and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visiting Thursday 7-9pm and Friday 2-4pm and 7-9pm in Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home,Rutherford
Funeral Saturday (all gathering) 9am in Funeral Home for 10:30am Mass in Saint Mary Church, Rutherford
Interment to follow 11:45 at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington
For donations to the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey please use the link below:
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=gsonnj&id=24