Obituary of Serena Salvatoriello

~~     Serena Salvatoriello (nee Petrozzi) passed away unexpectedly after surgery at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center on November 17, 2017. Serena was born in Newark, New Jersey.  She was preceded in death by her son Paul Scalea, her mother Genoveffa (Colletta) Petrozzi, her father Ferdinand Petrozzi, her brother Sam Petrozzi, and her sisters Josephine and Rosemarie Petrozzi.
     Serena worked in sales in the paper industry and also in pharmaceutical manufacturing.  She was retired for more than 25 years.  When her grandson Julian was born, she joyfully provided childcare for him until he started preschool.  Being Julian’s “Nana” brought her immense happiness.
     Serena loved life on Long Beach Island.  Barnegat Light and the Surf City beaches and were among her favorite places.  She especially enjoyed the summer, when family and friends would gather.  She was an avid gardener who brightened her home and nurtured wildlife with her beautiful flowers and bountiful vegetable garden.   Serena also found comfort and relaxation in cooking, and liked to make enough to share with an elderly or ill friend.  She loved a good yard sale and spending an occasional afternoon in the Atlantic City casinos.  She felt civic pride in serving as a poll worker and volunteering for the health department.  She was also an exercise leader in the Healthy Bones group, where she forged some enduring and special friendships.  Serena was a steadfast caregiver to her family, seeing them through serious illnesses and life challenges.
     Serena is survived by her loving husband Anthony, devoted daughter Jean Marie Scalea Bjugstad (John), beloved grandson Julian, son Richard Scalea, sister Chancie DiNicola, and brother Fred Petrozzi, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.   Cremation will be private.  Kindly remember her with a prayer or moment of reflection in a place of meaning to you. 
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
—Robert Frost