Obituary of Carmelita Ennis

Carmelita Ennis passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 24 th , 2024 in her home in Sparta, New Jersey.

Born in New York in April of 1935 she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from East Tennessee State University, where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She went on to teach in various cities, including New York City where she met and married the love of her life, Walter Ennis. The pair shared many years of happiness together while raising their 3 sons in Rockaway. Most recently, Carmelita worked as a pre-school teacher at the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway, but her real career was being an amazing mother. She was a wonderful cook, enjoyed arts and crafts, and reading; all of which just aided in her strong connection with her children.

In her free time, Carmelita liked to travel the world with her husband, spend time with her friends and volunteering at various local organizations. After all this, you could find Carmelita relaxing at home, with a good book in her hands, and her adopted stray cat snoozing at her feet.

The people that knew Carmelita will remember her as a kind and caring woman who was fiercely dedicated to her family. Though we are all saddened by her passing, we take comfort in knowing that she is reunited with her husband Walter who passed in 2022 and her son Walter Jr. who passed in 2003. We now look to those Carmelita leaves behind to carry on her memory of love and kindness. Her survivors include her sons, John Ennis and his wife Donna and Tom Ennis and his wife Krista; her cherished grandchildren, Joseph Ennis and his wife Samantha, Brooke Ennis and her fiancé Dante Focarelli, Michael, Katherine, and Daniel Ennis; her treasured great-granddaughter, McKenna Ennis; and many more extended family and friends.

Hours of Public visitation for Carmelita will be held on Thursday, February 1 st from 4:00 to 8:00PM at Norman Dean Home for Services. The following day, February 2 nd , there will be a Funeral Mass held at 10 AM at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church of Rockaway. All are welcome to come and celebrate the life of this wonderful woman. Memorial Donations are being accepted to National Brain Tumor Society by way of inmemof.org. Please share a memory, leave a condolence, or light a candle to continue to let Carmelita`s life shine!