Penelope Mariani Dies

Penelope Mariani (née Smith) of Livingston died on Thursday, June 22. She was 88 years old.

Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on February 3,1935 to Stanton McMasters Smith, Jr. and Marian (née Rayeur), Mrs. Mariani lived in Upper Montclair and West Orange. She attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Orange, where she received her RN.

Mrs. Mariani married James Joseph Mariani, Jr. on July 1, 1956.

The couple moved to Livingston, where they raised their family. Mrs. Mariani worked at West Essex General Hospital in Livingston as a floor nurse and then at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orange until she retired.

Mrs. Mariani is predeceased by her husband James (2012); two sons, James III (1990) and David (2006); her brother, Bob (2015); and nephew, John D. Pflug III (2008).

She is survived by her sons, Brian (wife, Robin) and Mark (wife, Brenda); daughter, Jamibeth Ritts (husband, Ken); daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Mariani; and 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Raphael’s Church, Livingston, on Tuesday, June 27.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the Pine Tree Society in Maine in Mrs. Mariani’s name, which may be done by emailing info@pinetreesociety.org. Livingston’s first firehouse was erected on a lot at Oak Street and LivingstonAvenue, donated by Mrs. Sarah Harrison. The cost of the new firehouse was $2,090.