Obituary of Donata Reilly

Donata Mary (Cirelli) Reilly, 100, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, February 15, 2014 surrounded by family members. Donata was a true family matriarch, devoting her life's work to her husband, their four children, 11 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren, and found her fulfillment in her faith and her family. Donata Reilly was class president and salutatorian of the first graduating class of Sacred Heart High School in Vineland in 1931, and three years later married the class valedictorian and her childhood sweetheart, Charles V. Reilly, with whom she spent the next 59 years until his passing in 1992. She left her job at Limpert Bros. in Vineland following their marriage, and dedicated the rest of her life with him to raising their family. Donata was a member of St. Isidore's Church of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, and a longtime member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the church's Altar and Rosary society. She also served as a volunteer at the Bishop McCarthy Nursing Home in Vineland until her mid- '80's. Always happiest surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she took great pride in having crocheted an afghan blanket for each. Donata was an avid reader, excelled at crossword puzzles, and loved to play board games and 500-rummy with all the young ones. But nothing pleased her more than preparing big dinners for however many of the family would gather, regularly on Sundays for many years, and most especially on Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving. Donata Reilly was predeceased by her parents, Guiseppe (Joseph) and Mary Cirelli, husband Charles V. Reilly, Sr., sons Charles V. Reilly, Jr. and Thomas A. Reilly, her sister Elvira M. DeMarco, and brothers Joseph Cirelli and John A. Cirelli. Survivors include daughter Ann Marie (Vito) Fantini of Upper Deerfield Twp., son Francis J. (Bonnie) Reilly of Vineland, grandchildren: Daniel (Nancy) Reilly of Ledyard, CN; Susan Reilly, Kissimmee, FL; Kate Reilly, Portland, ME; Maria Fantini, Pennsville, NJ; Anthony (Dana) Fantini, Millville, NJ; Paul (Karen) Fantini, Kinnelon, NJ; Barbara (Gary) Schneider, Pennsville, NJ; David Reilly, Churchton, MD; Stephen (Emily) Reilly, Arnold, MD; Sarah Reilly, Harrisonburg, VA; Amy Jett, Woodstock, VA, cousins: Vi Janelli, Springfield, PA; Piero (Kay) Riciardi, Montefuscone, Italy, 21 great-grandchildren, many nieces & nephews and beloved caregiver Manana (Mimi) Bakradze. A Church Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 19 from 8:45am to 10:45am followed by a Funeral Mass at 11am at Christ The Good Shepherd Parish - Church Of Saint Isidore The Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland, NJ. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland, NJ. Donations in memory of Donata may be made to: Christ The Good Shepherd Parish - Church Of Saint Isidore The Farmer, 1655 Magnolia Road, Vineland, NJ 08361-6598 Hospice of New Jersey Foundation, 400 Broadacres Drive, 1st Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. Arrangements are under the supervision of Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360. To send online condolences please visit our website at WWW.RONEFUNERALSERVICE.COM