Itala Verderame

Itala Verderame (née Molisse), a woman of profound strength, faith in God, and devotion to family, passed away on June 11, 2026 at the age of 89.

Born on June 7, 1937, in the small town of San Biagio located in Serino, Italy, Itala was the cherished first-born child of the late Filomena (née Mariconda) and Francesco Molisse. Her early childhood was marked by the resilience that would define her life; between the ages of 2 and 9, she was raised by her mother and grandmother while her father served in the Italian army and was detained as a prisoner of war during World War II.

At the tender age of 15, Itala married Carmine Verderame and shared a lasting marriage of nearly 53 years until his passing in 2005.

A woman of remarkable work ethic and stamina, Itala worked in Switzerland during her twenties before returning to Italy to own and operate a successful coffee shop in her hometown. In March 1970, she immigrated to the United States with her husband and two young daughters. The family settled in Paterson, New Jersey, where they lived for 19 years before moving to Bloomingdale, which remained her home for the rest of her life.

Itala began working in the textile industry after arriving in New Jersey. She worked for over 25 years as a skilled sewing machine operator at Style Sportswear Inc. in Paterson, until the factory moved their operations overseas. She continued working by helping her daughter Lina at Lina’s Ristorante in Bloomingdale. Well into her 80s, Itala assisted in the chef’s kitchen making homemade mozzarella, fresh pasta, and traditional specialties that delighted patrons and family alike.

Itala’s greatest passion was her family and sharing Italian traditions and telling life stories of how it was in the old days. She was an exceptional cook and baker and enjoyed listening to her favorite Neapolitan songs.

Itala’s legacy of love, hard work, and family devotion lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her two devoted daughters and sons-in-law, Lina and Sal Pagliarulo, and Teresa and Carlo Romaniello; her five beloved grandchildren, Joseph, Carmela, Elissa, Tina, and Francesca; and her three cherished great-grandchildren, Giovanni, Lorenzo, and Siena.

Visitation will be held at The Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, NJ, on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at St. Anthony's RC Church, Butler, NJ. Interment to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Butler, NJ.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

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