Picarella, Stella B. (nee Barrett), 87, of Township of Washington, NJ, died peacefully surrounded by family on April 4th, 2016. Adored wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Stella brought light to every room she entered with her bright smile and warm personality. She was born in New York City to parents John and Norah Barrett and was the second eldest of nine children. Stella met her husband, John, while dancing at the YWCA in NYC; something they both enjoyed doing for many years. Stella had a thirst for knowledge. She was an avid reader, who was blessed with the “gift of gab” and deeply rich in her faith. Stella and John raised their family in Bellerose, NY, prior to moving with John’s job to Fremont and then Sepulveda, CA, only later to return to the East Coast and settling in the Twp. Of Washington in Bergen County, NJ. Stella always had a knack for fashion and politics; at an early age she worked for the fashion buyers for Montaldo’s specialty store in Manhattan, and in various Executive Secretarial positions and political campaign committees prior to becoming a homemaker and raising her children. She later worked for ITT Gilfilin in Los Angeles, CA and Lehn & Fink Inc. in Product Development in Montvale, NJ before her retirement. She attended Ohlone College studying Psychology and was a big advocate for nutrition and education (a higher degree of which eluded her – given life’s circumstances). Always active in her parishes with retreats, Renew, Why Catholic, etc., she was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector, as well as her true joy in teaching CCD classes to children. She is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, John J. Picarella, siblings Gerald Barrett, Dorothy Denison, Maureen Greene, and Rita Jobst; beloved children: John J. II and his wife Debra (of Middlesex, NY), Thomas and his wife Maureen (of Folsom, CA), and Maureen Picarella-Bivona and her husband Frank (of Franklin Lakes, NJ); her cherished grandchildren Jessica, TJ, Daniel, Christina, and Charles, and adored great-grandchildren Zachary, Joshua, and Breann. She is predeceased by her son James, grandsons Zachary and Jared, and siblings John, Roy, Stanley, and Rev. Kevin Barrett. The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, Westwood, NJ on Friday, April 8th from 4-9 PM. A Mass will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament RC Church in Franklin Lakes, NJ on Saturday April 9th at 10 AM, with interment at Ascension Cemetery in Airmont, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in name to the Maryknoll Fathers And Brothers at Maryknollsociety.org or to Little Sisters of the Poor at Littlesistersofthepoor.org
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18