Geneva M. Witalis

In the winter of 1921, Geneva Witalis was born December 1st in Thorpe, West Virginia to Amelia & Joseph Wieczorek, who were Polish immigrants. Her father worked in the coal mines of West Virginia, so she was truly a coal-miner's daughter. Her siblings consisted of 2 sisters and 1 brother. The family eventually relocated to Nanticoke, Pennsylvania where Geneva graduated from Nanticoke High School, after which she was employed doing housework and childcare in Manhattan. She moved to Newark, NJ in 1941 and during this time she met her future husband, David; they were married in September of 1943. Their family was completed with 4 children, 1 son, David and 3 daughters, Barbara, Theresa and Carole. Over the years she was blessed with 7 grandchildren and eventually 11 great-grandchildren.
During the WWII era she was proud to do her part for the war effort by working in a defense plant in Belleville and later in Port Newark as an electrician's apprentice. Afterwards she turned to the role of a full-time mother, raising her 4 children. Years later she returned to the workforce as a salesperson at Hahne & Company department store in Newark.
Upon retiring, one of her favorite pastimes was going by bus to Atlantic City to enjoy on of the buffets, walk the boardwalk, but most of all to play the slot machines, hoping to win big; though most often this was not the case, it didn't stop her from going back with her Atlantic City money. When she could no longer get on the bus because of her diminishing size, she would commandeer someone to drive her to casinos elsewhere! There was no stopping her!
Another of Geneva's pursuits was gardening in the hope of growing the perfect tomato. Always one to enjoy family gatherings, she fostered new traditions such as pierogi making, creative Rice Krispie Treats and bunny cakes with all these events being documents in the many photographs she took. Sending anniversary, holiday and birthday cards was almost a full-time job for her.
Geneva definitely had a sweet tooth with an intense fondness for all things chocolate with Mallomars and Dove dark chocolate at the top of the list!! During one of her housebound convalescences a visiting nurse commented on the various amounts of chocolate she had displayed in her dining room and dubbed it The Chocolate Buffet! Recently, while in the rehabilitation center, upon finding out Geneva was 95, a nurse asked what was the secret to living a long life; Geneva's answer was ... "Eat dark chocolate."
But most of all, Geneva's proudest accomplishment was her entire family, commenting to anyone who would listen how well the members of her family got along, visiting each other, helping one another when needed, and participating in various family gatherings; which she made us promise to continue even when she was no longer with us, and we won't let her down because she taught us well!!
As difficult as it is to have Geneva leave us, we are heartened by the fact that during her time here on this earth ... she enjoyed a Life Well Lived.
Visitation Tuesday, February 21, at 2-4 & 7-9PM at the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 425 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst. Funeral mass Wednesday, 10AM St. Michael's R.C. Church, Lyndhurst. Entombment Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to The Glaucoma Foundation, 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 700, New York NY 10038, (212)651-2501, www.glaucomafoundation.org.