Jeanette (Mistretta) Scrittorale

In her almost 95 years of life, Jeanette Scrittorale was surrounded by family, friends and love.  Born in 1925 to Grace and Carmello Mistrette, Jeanette grew up in Passaic, NJ.  She was the oldest daughter and the 6th child in a family of 8 children.  When she was 15 years old, she was playing jacks on the family’s front porch with her younger sister, when her older brother and his friends returned home.  In that group of friends was Carmine Scrittorale, of Garfield NJ, who was immediately taken with the young lady and decided then and there that he would marry her one day.

When World War II began, Jeanette left school to help her mother, as her older brothers all left home to fight in the war.  After the war, her brothers, and Carmine returned home and the two were married at St. Anthony’s Church in Passaic in what Jeanette called a “football” wedding.  

In their 71 years of marriage, Jeanette and Carmine raised two daughters - Kathleen and Janet.  Jeanette made sure her daughters were well educated and well loved.  She taught them how to cook, care for a home, be a working woman and raise a family.

Her talents in the kitchen were gifts she passed along to her daughters and grandchildren.  Upon entering her home, Jeanette could almost always be found, wearing her cobbler apron, in the kitchen - stirring a pot of sauce, cutting up potatoes or baking her vanilla butternut pound cake (always kept under a glass cake dome).

Jeanette lived in many houses throughout her life, but her home was always with her family.  She loved bingo, Atlantic City, sleepovers with her grandchildren, playing cards, tiramisu, scratch-off lottery tickets, crocheting, puzzles and being surrounded by her family and loved ones.

She was predeceased by her husband Carmine and her daughter Kathleen Barbetta.  She is survived and will be missed dearly by her daughter and son in law, Janet and Dennis Interdonato, her son in law Michael Barbetta and his wife, Jeanne, her granddaughter Kristin Cumiford and her husband Sean, her grandson Dennis Interdonato, granddaughter Stacey Bruce and her husband Ricky, her grandson Kevin Interdonato and his wife Amanda, and her great granddaughter Gemma Mae Interdonato, as well as her sister, Gloria Andreotta, sister in law Mary Mistretta, lifelong friend Frank Naso, a number of nieces, nephews, and close friends.

          Private funeral services will be held followed by entombment at East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Please CLICK HERE on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 11:45 am to view wake and prayers via live stream.

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