Obituary of Mildred Paige Passarella

Mildred “Paige” Passarella, 81, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2023, at St. Clare’s Hospital.

Paige was born in Dover on July 28, 1942, to Samuel Francis and Fannie Bell (nee Holdaway) Jennings. Upon her marriage on June 5, 1965, to the love of her life, Charles, they moved to Parsippany then Rockaway Borough for over 50 years before moving to Boonton Township and to Victoria Mews Assisted Living within the last year.

Paige started her career as a secretary at RCA in Rockaway. For 35 years, Paige was the bookkeeper for the family business, Charles the Florist, in Madison, at the same time also being a homemaker raising her two sons. Paige volunteered many years with The Arc of Morris where she touched countless lives with her kindness, loving nature­, and empathy. Her willingness to help others were qualities that made her truly exceptional.

Many of her loves in life were her trips to Atlantic City, Lakeland bus trips with friends, and her enthusiasm with sports – especially Rutgers football, Giants, and Yankees. She was known as the “Weather Girl” in recent years for her daily weather reports that others enthusiastically looked forward to. You could also find Paige enjoying her weekly bingo nights with her hope of yelling “bingo!”

The greatest joy Paige found was in the presence of her family and friends. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Paige was always ready to offer a listening ear or a comforting hug. Her spirit will live on in the stories we share, the lessons she taught us, and the love she showered upon us all.

Paige is survived by her son, Charles Passarella III, her son, Samuel Passarella and his partner, Christine Cicenia; her sisters Kathy Robey (and late husband William Robey), Reba Rotondo (and late husband John Rotondo), and April Haseltine and husband, Mark Haseltine; sister-in-law, Florence DeMarzo (and late husband Joseph DeMarzo); many cousins, nieces, nephews, and an abundance of friends.

She is predeceased by her loving husband of 47 years, Charles “Junior” Passarella, who passed away in 2013. Also predeceased by her brother, Larry Jennings.

Visitation: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Friday, August 18, 2023, at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (www.tuttlefh.com).

Funeral Mass: 9:30 AM on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at St. Cecilia Church, Rockaway.

Interment: Locust Hill Cemetery, Dover.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests any donations be made in her name to The Arc of Morris County, P.O. Box 123, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 (or online), or Rockaway Borough Fire Department, 1 East Main Street, Rockaway, NJ 07866.

Visitation

When: Friday 08/18/2023 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: (At Funeral Home: 272 State Route 10 West; Randolph, NJ 07869)

Funeral Mass

When: Saturday 08/19/2023 9:30am

Location: St. Cecilia Church
90 Church St
Rockaway, NJ 07866

Interment

Location: Locust Hill Cemetery
168 N Sussex Street
Dover, NJ 07801