Santa Sanzero, 95

Rockaway Township, NJ

Born in Naples, Italy, Santa Sanzero survived the atrocities of World War II. During those years, Sanzero served as a secretary for the Allied forces. But she also worked to protect her own family — including her four younger siblings — from falling bombs.

“She had a 5-year-old brother, and her responsibility was to tuck [him] under her arm and run into the shelter,” says Lucille Eller, one of

Sanzero’s two daughters.

During the war, she met an American named Nicholas Sanzero, who also worked in the

Naples office. They married in 1944. In

1946, they arrived in

America, settling first in Nicholas’ hometown of Scranton, Pa., before moving to New Jersey.

“She loved America more than I can even tell you,” Eller says. “Really, her whole life was about family and country.”

Sanzero, who passed away on May 1, loved to bring family together under one roof and cook dishes such as pasta e fagioli, gnocchi, and gravy and meatballs.

“Her house always smelled like delicious food,” says Grant Van Eck, one of her five grandchildren. “As soon as we pulled up, I could smell the kitchen.”

Sanzero also doted on her nine greatgrandchildren, regaling them with stories and jokes about her life in Italy and living between two different cultures. Later, whenever Van Eck went to visit her assisted-living center, she’d be in the lobby surrounded by neighbors in stitches.

“It was incredible — this little Italian lady with everyone around her laughing,” he says.

Sanzero also had a razorsharp memory — never forgetting anyone’s birthday, and memorizing addresses and phone numbers to maintain contact with people she knew from wartime Italy. She also stayed in touch with other families who came to America when she did.

“Those connections with phone calls and cards were lifelong,” Eller says.