Plan for the Future
Carol Zoni, 70, of Chatham, NJ, lived a beautiful and gracious life. A sensitive and generous woman, she thrived on the happiness of others and asked little for herself. She passed away on November 21, 2022.
A funeral mass Celebrating her life will be held at St. Patrick Church, 85 Washington Ave. in Chatham on Tuesday, November 29th at 10am. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours at Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main St. in Chatham on Monday, November 28th from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm.
Carol was born in Newark, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Palmisano) Cataldo. After graduating from Archbishop Walsh High School, she married Bart who would love, adore, and occasionally irritate her for the next 51 years. After agreeing that two Barts would be better than one, they welcomed a son in 1979. She taught him to be modest, empathetic, vulnerable, and curious. Carol also encouraged him to laugh (even in challenging times), in part by charitably half-believing even his most absurd, deadpan jokes.
The Blessed Mother waited 30 years for her son to find his calling. Carol had to wait 33 years for her son to find her beloved daughter-in-law, Anna. The greatest joys in her life soon followed: grandchildren Natalia and Andrew. With them, she shared a pure and unfiltered love that will be in their hearts forever.
Carol was a passionate believer in Catholic Education and served at St. Patrick School in Chatham for 31 years as a teacher’s aid and later as an administrative assistant. She retired in 2016. During this tenure, it’s been said that she prepared and shared over 50,000 cups of Lipton tea with friends and loved ones. She was an active parishioner at St. Patrick Parish and will be fondly remembered for her devotion to family and church.
Carol is also survived by her father John Cataldo, her sister Diane Luizza and husband John, and her nephews: John Luizza and his wife Kristen, Vincent Luizza and his wife Jenn, and Christopher Luizza and his wife Samantha. She recently noted, “I always worried and prayed for you boys, but you all found amazing partners and I am so unbelievably happy.” To her family, Carol leaves an eternal love that will be forever cherished and honored.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Carol’s memory may be made to St. Patrick School, 45 Chatham St., Chatham, NJ 07928 or online at https://payit.nelnet.net/form/EPQtIUWj.
