Jean V. Saldarini

Our wonderful mom, Jean Saldarini, said goodbye to us from the caring, Craneville Nursing Home in Dalton, Massachusetts on December 6th, 2019. She left to join our dad so they could hug and kiss once again. She missed him terribly these past three and a half years. Mom is survived by her children Nancy Saldarini and Albert Saldarini, Jr, daughter-in-law Laura and grandchildren Nick Saldarini, Erin Saldarini and Bryce. Mom and Dad were married for 65 loving and adventure filled years. Dad spied her in 1951 waiting online to see a Radio City Music hall show. He had an extra ticket, offered it to her and the rest is history. Six months later in February, they married, spending a very cold and snowy honeymoon in Woodstock, Vermont. Mom was born in New Eagle, Pennsylvania on August 7th, 1927 to Katarina (Katy) Homolak (nee Romok), an immigrant from Czechoslovakia processed through Ellis Island. Katy traveled by boat as a young woman alone with a trunk and the clothes on her back to stay with relatives in Pennsylvania. She met Martin, who had also emigrated from Czechoslovaka, and they married in 1925. Grandma Katy gave birth to our mom Jean in 1927 and then her younger sister Lois 4 years later. Shortly after Lois was born, Martin succumbed to walking pneumonia and Katy had to raise both girls on her own. It was a hard life, cleaning bathrooms and providing as best she could. Katy loved politics, wrestling and the garden. Her daughters Jean and Lois grew up to be beautiful and compassionate women, and loving wives and mothers. Mom and her younger sister Lois would occasionally spar as children, especially when mom would iron her clothes the night before school, and the next morning Lois woke up early, and donned mom’s freshly ironed outfit. Honestly, we don’t know how that was even possible because Lois was a head taller than mom. They had a long and loving relationship, and trips to Brooklyn to see Lois and Frankie LaCapria's four children Donna, Carmine, Denise and Lori, were always an adventure and a highlight. Mom was an excellent homemaker and loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, grandma, aunt and great aunt. Her family was always number one and her life revolved around them. She was our very own personal ‘Julia Child’ whom we often called for some recipe advice. Amazingly, she never tasted the dishes she created, but somehow, they all turned out delicious. Dad was quite the food critic being that he was the Director of Flavor Research at Norda, but the piping hot meals she served to him at 5:30 pm every day like clockwork met with his approval. Her specialty meals like stuffed cabbage would take most of the day to prepare, but were worth every second and what's better than leftovers? Mom would iron sheets, pillow cases and dad's work shirts, the long sleeves dusting the floors (Dad was 6 feet tall and mom 5) as she ironed for hours. She would call it her ‘pressing pleasure’. Dad even bought her a little metal sculpture of a woman ironing clothes. Mom wasn’t upset about such a gift, but they did have a laugh over it. Jean co-led a small group of boys in Cub Scouts with Annie Hutsko when their sons were in elementary school and a wonderful friendship ensued between Annie and mom, till Annie's passing. Mom took driving lessons, passed the test, was awarded her driver's license but never drove afterwards because she was in her 50's by that time and feared an accident; she only used it as her check cashing ID. Since mom didn’t use her license for driving, dad would drop her off at the mall and pick her up 5 or more hours later and all she would have, was a small bag of jellybeans. Dad marveled that she could shop for hours and return empty handed. She could even walk the pants off Nancy and her dearest friend Heidi (Dad often said mom got her energy from Vitamin “S” shopping). Mom bought all Dad’s suits and clothing on her own because dad didn’t like to shop unless it was a tool or electronics store. When a new purchase didn’t fit dad, mom was more than happy to do the return. Weekday grocery shopping meant mom would walk down to the ShopRite in Nutley, purchase enough fresh food for the week and walk back home with those groceries. It was always freshly cooked meals morning, noon and night, except for the occasional leftovers and we never ate at fast food restaurants back then. Every summer, we spent 3 weeks while in elementary through high school camping in a tent as we traveled up and down the East Coast and Canada. Early on in a red, ‘61 Volkswagen Beetle, 4 of us, back seats pulled out to accommodate all the camping gear with the kids piled on top; no seat belts, mind you. Our grandparents even camped with us in their own tent occasionally These three summer weeks spent camping were no picnic for mom; no running or hot water, outhouses, no sink to wash dishes, clothing for the entire family packed in an oversized duffle, but mom was a trooper and never complained except when dad would pull the plugs on our air mattresses at 5 am because it was a pack up and travel day. We loved those camping trips and they gave us an appreciation and love for the outdoors that persists today. In fact, we still camp but with a few more conveniences. Thank you, mom and dad! Everyone was welcome in the Saldarini home; in fact, Nancy and Al Jr's friends would continue to visit mom and dad even after they moved out. When you'd cross over the Saldarini threshold, mom was there to ask what you'd like to eat and lickety-split, there would be a spread of food covering our kitchen table for all to enjoy with some entertaining, informative and lively conversations. Mom and Dad took great pride in the successes of their children, grandchildren and friends’ children. Sundays were big sit-down meals that mom spent the entire morning preparing. Those were the days when most families ate together..... days many of us miss. Starting in 1994 till about 2011, Nancy would pick up Mom and Dad in her SUV or high top conversion van and they would travel to their timeshare of choice up and down the entire East Coast. Mom much preferred this to camping and was thrilled with the luxurious accommodations and amenities. Dad was always Nancy’s co-pilot and mom was Nancy’s shopping buddy. The local tourist attractions were always high on the list, but we made it a point to visit any WWII museums. Eating in local restaurants to get a sampling of the local fare was also preferred by both mom and dad rather than dining at a chain. Mom and Dad would travel to 450th Bomb Group Reunions held annually throughout the United States. Dad was an aerial combat photographer during World War II and always had stories to tell and shared his black and white photos from World War II with other veterans. Mom and dad loved attending those reunions and meeting up with the veteran families that soon became their friends. We’d like to attribute our sense of humor, to mom as well. She found a good chuckle in some ‘out there’ concepts…ahead of her time. We see it in her grandchildren as well, and relish the acknowledgement of ‘where’d they get that from?’ We loved and cherished both our parents and hope they find each other quickly again. They shared a long and loving life together; people of great character and strong values who were admired and respected by all who were lucky enough to know them. So long Mom, till we meet again at the kitchen table to catch up on some lively and entertaining conversation. Give daddy a kiss from us. We already miss giving you hugs and kisses, so we're sending some on Angels’ wings OOO XXX. Love Nancy and Albie.

Jean V. Saldarini

August 7, 1927 - December 6, 2019