Obituary of Elda M. Aquino

Elda M. Aquino (nee Marone) was born in Haledon on May 12, 1919 to the late Constantino and Palmarina (Ballada) Marone. Her brother, Joseph, passed away in 1951. After the early death of her mother, she was raised by her maternal aunt and uncle, Ernida and Leonardo Valle, the parents of her beloved cousin the late Bernice DeZerga. Mrs. Aquino was a graduate of Haledon grammar school and Central High School in Paterson. After attending Drake Business School, she was employed as a secretary for several companies, most notably the Book of the Month Club in Manhattan. In December 1940 she became engaged to her high school sweetheart, Louis E. Aquino. They were married at St. Michael's Church in Paterson, on June 22, 1941. The couple lived on many military bases during World War II while Mr. Aquino rose to the rank of army Lieutenant. When they returned to New Jersey, they established the Aquino Colonial Funeral Home in Paterson from which they retired in 1971. They maintained homes in Upper Greenwood Lake, West Palm Beach, Florida, and since 1982, Haledon. Mrs. Aquino was a member of several local organizations: she was a founding member of the Don Bosco Ladies Auxiliary in 1948. She was a member of the Haledon Loyal Lee Ladies lodge, The Pasquariello Bradle Post Ladies Auxiliary, the Haledon Veterans Auxiliary, Deborah: Totowa-Wayne Chapter, AARP, and St. Gerard's Church. She loved her family and friends, the opera, knitting, travel, children, playing cards and slot machines, and the Yankees! Mrs. Aquino, whose husband Louis passed away in August of 1994, is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Carol Palma Stryker and Harry J. Stryker, Jr. She also leaves her niece Sandra Batte and Family; her DeZerga cousins and their children: the family of the late John: Faith, Denise, Randy, Michael and the late Jackie; and the sons of the late Robert: Bob, Jeff who was her godson, and the late Rick. She is also survived by her host of Aquino family nieces and nephews and their families: Bette Kurtz, Charles Aquino, Teresa VanDerMeer, Jerry DelVecchio, Rose DelVecchio, Judith Cuccinello, Louis DiCristofaro III, Thomas Aquino, Aris Pomarico, Anthony Aquino and the late John and Michael DelVecchio. Her many friends both local and afar also survive her, especially Frank, Laura and Michael Felice. The family wishes to acknowledge with sincere appreciation her doctors, especially Dr. Hafez, Dr. Ismail and Dr. Martino; the doctors of Advanced Cardiology Practice; the staffs of St. Joseph's Hospital and CareOne both in Wayne; and the Visiting Health Services of New Jersey in Totowa. Funeral from DeLuccia - Lozito Funeral Home, 265 Belmont Avenue, Haledon, NJ on Monday at 10:30 AM. Funeral Liturgy at St. Gerard's R.C. Church, Paterson, NJ at 11:30 AM. Entombment, Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ. Visiting on Saturday, 7-9 PM and Sunday, 2-7 PM. Donations to Deborah Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 820, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 would be appreciated. Mrs. Aquino was a lady in every sense of the word. She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed. Mom, you were the greatest, we will always miss you, now rest in God's eternal peace.