Obituary of Virginia F Ferrante
Edison- Virginia Ferrante, nee Fritz, 95, of Edison, NJ, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28, 2024, due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1929, to Esther (VanDeusen) and Walter L. Fritz Sr., she grew up in nearby Wethersfield, CT. After her marriage in 1951 to the love of her life, Gerald Ferrante, they moved from Connecticut to Illinois, then to Metuchen, NJ, and, eventually, in 1958, settled into the house they built in Edison. Virginia was predeceased by Gerald in 1983; her siblings Mildred, Madaline, Dorothy, Marjorie, and Walter Jr.; and her beloved sister-in-law Joanne Ferrante. She is survived by her children, Alane Ferrante and Alicia (Michael) Cupo; her nine grandchildren, Daniel (Faith) and Joseph (Teal) Scibienski, and Stephanie (Dave), David, Michael (Maria), Jeffrey (Nicholas), Joseph (Ann), Audrey and Christopher Cupo; and her eight great-grandchildren, Julia and Mateo Scibienski, Harper, Rowan and Tristan Krout, Evergreen Rhamati and Emily and Emma Cupo.
Virginia was a longtime member of the Oak Tree Presbyterian Church and throughout the years served as an Elder and a Deacon as well as on many church committees. She was the ministers’ go-to person to accompany them in visiting parishioners who were housebound, in the hospital, or in the nursing home. As Reverend Rick Oppelt noted, she was always his favorite partner on these outings, as she always knew what to do and say. Even in her final months, she would spend her days compassionately listening to her fellow residents of her assisted living facility and doing her best to cheer them up and make them smile.
For many years, Virginia ran the church’s Trash and Treasure sales and baked goods sales. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She sang alto in the church choir and participated in the local churches’ joint holiday celebrations. Having learned to play the piano as a child, she continued to share her talent in church activities. She was the favorite babysitter for the church members’ children. Virginia additionally worked for many years as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Oak Tree Nursery School and made lasting friendships with many students and their parents, many of whom continued to keep in touch with her until her passing.
Virginia was a lifelong volunteer. She worked in the school libraries when her daughters were young as well as the local public library later on in life. She assisted with the establishment of a local preschool program for low-income children, as well as volunteering in the area’s FISH program. Virginia was a longtime member of Church Women United. She took an active part in her community, working hard for decades to help those in need. Despite never learning to drive, she participated in Meals on Wheels for over 30 years and was involved with her Church’s efforts to feed the unhoused (as her grandchildren can attest, their Nana showed her love through food).
Virginia could bring any plant back to life and loved to garden, growing vegetables and flowers for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading cozy mysteries, crossword puzzles, needlework, crocheting, and knitting, using her talents to knit hats, mittens, and scarves to donate to those in need.
Virginia was forever a teacher. She taught her family to compassionately serve others less fortunate. She showed her love for her family through her baking and cooking, especially her grandchildren with the many personalized birthday cakes and countless gingerbread men and women cookies she made throughout the years.
To our Nana,
“May the blessings of a good life lived follow you into Heaven. Your footsteps can never be filled, nor your love ever forgotten. May God bless you and give you a new home in Heaven. You will be missed by all who knew and loved you. May your memory be a source of comfort, inspiration and strength to us all.”
