Anita Garbarino Obituary

Anita Louise Garbarino (maiden name Murphy) born December 11, 1932, returned peacefully to the Lord on January 28, 2023. Born in the Bronx, New York, she thrived as she grew up in a large extended family all living within a few blocks of each other. These early years set the stage for her welcoming personality and the great charm with which she embraced all people. In 1955, she married Joseph Garbarino and was not only a devoted wife but an excellent professional business asset because of her warmth and humor which forged lasting relationships vital to a corporate executive's work. Her children Joseph, John, Maryann and Joan were gifted with a mother who gave of herself completely in every possible way and taught them by example what it means to love.

Widowed in her 40s, Anita continued to put her heart and spirit into the care of family and joyfully welcomed the next generation as a hands-on caregiver while celebrating proudly her role as a very beloved Nonna.

Anita was a peacemaker who used her intelligence and insight to bring harmony to any situation. As a woman of great faith she recognized God's gifts in her life and expressed her gratitude by worshiping at daily Mass, recitation of the Rosary, and by leading a women's Prayer Group at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for decades.

Anita was a truly lovely woman both inside and out with a refined sense of style and a heart full of grace.

Among those looking forward to reuniting with Anita in God's Kingdom are her sons Rev. Joseph Garbarino, John Garbarino and his wife Mary and their children MaryBeth and husband Johnny, daughter Emma, Kathleen Garbarino and her husband Mark Mion, daughter Gabriella, Megan and her husband Brian Smart; Daughter Maryann Major and her husband John Seitz and their children Katie and her husband Vincent Rubin, grandchildren Zoey, Vincent and Jack, Briana and her husband John Parkinson and Matthew Seitz; Daughter Joan Orapello and her husband Jim along with their sons James and Patrick.

We celebrate Anita's new life in Christ with her favorite Scripture passage. "Rejoice in the Lord always." (Philippians 4) Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. She will be laid to rest at the Our Lady of Magnificat Cemetery, Kinnelon.

For those wishing to make a donation in Anita's memory, please consider St. Ann RC Church, 781 Smith Rd., Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ 07054.