Obituary of Agnes Rotondo

Agnes Rotondo, 85, of Denville, New Jersey, passed away on July 17^th at Center for Hope Hospice Care in Scotch Plains, NJ.  Agnes was born on August 28, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, to Salvatore and Angelina Formisano, both of whom had emigrated from the island of Ischia, Italy.  She grew up as part of a large, vibrant Italian-American family in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood and graduated from Prospect Heights High School in 1952.  In the early 1950s, Agnes worked at the Dime Savings Bank where she met her future husband, Joseph R. Rotondo.  They lived in Gravesend, Brooklyn, for sixteen years, moved to Bergen County, New Jersey, in 1970 and retired to Toms River in 1997.  After her husband’s passing in 2016, Agnes moved to the Oaks Senior Living Community in Denville, New Jersey, where she developed many wonderful friendships and connected with fellow Brooklynites.

Agnes is predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph, of 61 years, her sisters Cecilia Sharkey and Mary Lynch, her brothers John Formisano and Michael Formisano, her sisters-in-law Mary Formisano, Lillian Formisano, Claire Formisano, Rose Formisano and Antoinette Vitiello, and her brothers-in-law Robert Lynch, Anthony Vitiello and Santo Dimichino.  She is survived by her five children:  Maria Colonna and husband Joseph, James V. Rotondo and wife Rosanne, Angelica R Donohue and husband Michael, Salvatore J. Rotondo and wife Nao, and Joseph A. Rotondo and wife Kimberly, by her twelve cherished grandchildren Laura, Katherine and husband Ryan, Christine, Eryn, Michael, Angelina and husband William, Joseph Rocco, Gianna, Joseph George, James, Juliet and Jonathan, and by two great grandchildren Joseph Ryan and Rosabelle Agnese.  Agnes is also survived by her brother, Jerry Formisano, her sisters-in-law Julia Dimichino, Ruth Rotondo, Anna Williams, Rose Rotondo, and brothers-in-law Vincent Rotondo and John Williams as well as many nieces and nephews. 

During her adult life, Agnes encountered several chronic health challenges.  Blessed with the gift of courage, she accepted these challenges, faced them head-on and did not let them interfere with what brought her great joy in life: spending time with family and friends.  Agnes was especially fond of the holidays and made them particularly festive through her enthusiasm for family gatherings, her gift of hospitality and through her preparation of elaborate meals.  In addition to time with her family, she enjoyed interior design, baking, travel, dancing and sharing stories of Italian heritage with her grandchildren.  Agnes was a woman of faith, was very fond of the Psalms, and actively sought to reconcile with those she loved.  A nurturing, loving, creative, outgoing and young-at-heart woman, Agnes will be deeply missed by all who knew her. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 23rd at 10 am at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 10 N Pocono Rd, Mountain Lakes, NJ. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, 56 Cedar Grove Rd, Toms River, NJ 08753.

Relatives and friends are welcome to visit with her family on Wednesday, July 22nd from 4 - 8 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ.

Donations in Agnes's memory may be made by way of www.inmemof.org to ensure receipt of your donation to Feed the Children. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, and share your favorite memory of Agnes here to continue to celebrate the incredible life she shared with us.

COVID Alert: Due to current restrictions on allowable numbers inside the funeral home, it is requested that those attending the visitation be courteous by limiting their time inside in order to allow others the opportunity to pay their respects as well. Also, we kindly ask you to follow all specific guidelines on social distancing - the family is appreciative that you are willing to come out during a time like this, in the middle of a pandemic, and they also appreciate you understanding that masks must be worn at all times inside the building and hugging will not be allowed. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this necessary matter.