Obituary of Paolina Riggio

Riggio, Paolina, age 95, of Elmwood Park, passed away on Sunday, August 12^th, 2018.  Paolina was born in Johnstown, PA, grew up in Sicily, Italy and moved to NJ in 1954.  Paolina was a seamstress by trade for many years.  She enjoyed cooking Italian cuisine, baking her special cookies and gardening.  Paolina is survived by her four loving daughters – Dora Battista, Angela Mangano and her husband, Joseph, Lillian Harris and her husband, John, and Adele LePera and her husband, Joseph; her grandchildren – Mario Battista and his wife, Monica, Elena Wertheimer and her husband, David, Paulette Szalay and her husband, Keith, Joseph LePera and his wife, Greta, Marlana LePera and David Harris; her great-grandchildren – Kristina Arocho and her husband, Javier, Olivia, Bianca, Carina, Joey, Leah, and Gianna; and her great-great-grandchild Catalina.  Also surviving is her brother Orie Manuele, and his wife, Gloria, her step-son Carmelo Riggio and his wife, Teresa, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-step-children, all spouses, extended family and family friends.  She was predeceased by her husband, Vincenzo, her son-in-law, Vincent “Jimmy” Battista, her granddaughter, Carla Harris, sisters Ninetta Barbagallo, Salvatrice Sabina, Francesca Piccolo, Vincenza Castiglia, brothers Enzo and Salvatore Manuele, and stepdaughter Tina Ferraro.  The family will receive friends on Friday, August 17^th from 4-8pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 18^th at 9:30am at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church, 276 Diamond Bridge Ave., Hawthorne, NJ.  Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 58 McLean Blvd., Paterson, NJ.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Paolina’s memory can be made to St. Jude’s Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.