L.A. Parker: Arrivederci Mary Jo Abbondanza
Abbondanza!
What a perfect onomatopoeialike name for a St. Francis Medical Center employee who accepted retirement Friday following an amazing career.
Mary Jo Abbondanza exemplifies her name which means abundance in Italian although the word sounds perfect as a segue to celebration, a toast, a sendoff.
Thanksgiving dinner salutation — Abbondanza! A welcome of grandchildren and their parents into her home as an escape from New York City during these frightening upward curved days of coronavirus — Abbondanza!
An appreciation and understanding of daily blessings and the gift of life — Abbondanza!
Of course, Abbondanza protested an article about her. She voiced an expected company line of self-deprecation and noted that others in the St. Francis Medical Center family deserved attention.
In due time, as Abbondanza clocked more than 50 years as a registered nurse, enjoyed a marriage that lasted just months shy of the golden anniversary mark with husband, John, deceased yet still around her and with her, plus raised a family that includes three girls and six grands.
Abbondanza, 73, boxed many hats during her 23-year history at St. Francis Medical Center, with five years time served before departure then a return for 18 more to finish off a career.
St. Francis Medical Center played a role in the Abbondanza hookup as Mary Jo Moore planned a dance event for a hospital community affair.
“I was in charge of finding a musical group for the dance,” she recalled.
And, by coincidence, Moore discovered the Ivy Four, a Chambersburg-based band with John Abbondanza playing hot notes on the Cordovox aka electric accordion.
Moore had just graduated from the acclaimed St. Francis Medical Center Nursing School. Love followed and she joined Abbondanza on East Brown St. in Trenton where they raised their female brood.
Mary Jo Abbondanza worked about 25 years in a doctor’s office then returned to hospital employment at Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton.
St. Francis Medical Center welcomed her back in 2002 where she headed a occupational health services unit until another offer surfaced.
St. Francis Medical Center needed a director of marketing.
Of course, Abbondanza excelled, “mainly because I knew Trenton and love to talk, especially about St. Francis and it’s valued history serving the area,” she explained.
“Next, the community outreach coordinator position came along and I loved it. I served as a liaison between St. Francis and the community. Nothing matched being out with people, especially visits to area churches,” Abbondanza said.
“Speaking in front of people in a crowded room is enjoyable but I loved the 1-on-1 conversations after with the people who stayed on. They had questions about surgery, concerns about a new medicine, that kind of stuff. I may be a talker but I loved looking a person in their eyes and listening. It was a special kind of nursing for me, something I will never forget.”
Abbondanza made work a celebration which meant she enjoyed every moment with no regrets.
Her second-floor office space in the Nursing School wing where her professional life began empties Friday afternoon as she prepared for an exit and a next chapter.
“Oh, my God. What am I going to do on Monday,” Abbondanza worried.
No doubt, something new and wonderful.
Abbondanza, Mary Jo.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.