Carol J. Whittaker

Carol Jane Whittaker (nee Tarasko), of Wayne, formerly of Rutherford, was called home to our Lord on Sunday, August 12, 2018. She was 71 years old. Carol was the devoted partner, best friend and wife of William Herbert Whittaker. The met at the Outrigger in Totowa on April 7, 1978 and began their united life together 36 years ago on June 13, 1982. She was the loving step-mother to her daughter, Wendy Holmberg & her husband Richard of Sarasota, Florida, and her son, Scott Whittaker & his wife Janet of Waymart, Pennsylvania. Being an only child brought a special closeness to the cousins in her family who were always very dear to her. Carol was born in Passaic on October 10, 1946 to Jane & Sylvan "Joe" Tarasko. The family moved to Rutherford when she was 5 years old and where she attended Union School. She graduated Rutherford High School (Class of 1964). Two months later Carol joined S. B. Penick & Company (later known as Penick Corporation in Lydhurst and Newark where she held various secretarial/administrative assistant positions totaling 31 years. Organizational skills at Penick led her to take charge of a multitude of retirement parties, company picnics and bowling banquets. Carol then pursued a position in the Regulatory Affairs Department of Organon Inc, located in West Orange and later Roseland from where she retired after 12 years of service. And for more than 33 years Carol and her mother (Jane Tarasko) were also Avon Representatives. Carol was a devoted bowler and in several leagues, holding all the various offices, and carrying a 172 as her highest average. Since her retirement you could find her on the computer either playing games on POGO, staying in touch with family and friends through e-mails, or just surfing the internet. Of course, that was when she was not in a casino in Atlantic City or Pennsylvania. She was a member of AARP. In the past she served as a Eucharistic Minister in Holy Cross R.C. Church in Wayne, N.J. She loved going on vacations - whether it was a cruise south to the Caribbean or north to Canada, or a car trip to Maine, Pennsylvania, or Tennessee and North Carolina. Holidays and birthdays were always very special to her especially since they were spent with her very dear cousins (and let's not forget Penny - their adorable dog who chimed in to sing "Happy Birthday"). Family and friends meant everything to her. Carol's personality, thoughtfulness, and smile will be dearly missed. Funeral Saturday 9 AM from the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 425 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst. Funeral Mass 10 AM St. Michael's R.C. Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received Friday 2-4 & 7-9 PM.

Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery
340 Ridge Road
North Arlington NJ 07031
US


Visitation
Friday, August 17, 2018
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home - Lyndhurst
425 Ridge Road
Lyndhurst NJ 07071
US
(201) 438-4664


Visitation
Friday, August 17, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home - Lyndhurst
425 Ridge Road
Lyndhurst NJ 07071
US
(201) 438-4664


Burial
Saturday, August 18, 2018

Holy Cross Cemetery
340 Ridge Road
North Arlington NJ 07031
US


Mass
Saturday, August 18, 2018
10:00 AM -
St. Michael's R.C. Church
624 Page Avenue
Lyndhurst NJ 07071
US


Funeral HomeIppolito-Stellato Funeral Home - Lyndhurst
425 Ridge Road
Lyndhurst NJ - 07071
US
(201) 438-4664