Jennie “Gemma” Soprano, of North Cape May, the mother of Father Ernest Soprano, pastor, St. John Neumann Parish, died peacefully at the rectory of St. John Neumann on Thursday, Dec. 9.
The youngest daughter of Clotilda and Giovannibaptista Gatta, she was born in Farrell, Pa., and outlived her parents and all her siblings: Josephine Samuel, Antoinette, Louis, Ernest, Albert, Phyllis and Rose.
She married Ralph Soprano in 1936 and raised their children Amelia, Louise, and Ernest, first in Delaware County, and then in Mantua, Gloucester County.
Mrs. Soprano was always involved in her children’s lives at school. She was an officer of the PTA at Gloucester Catholic High School from 1955-60. She loved her parish, Church of the Incarnation, Mantua, and was an officer in the Altar and Rosary Society there for many years. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters for 50 years.
After 50 years in Mantua, Mrs. Soprano moved to be with her son Ernest, after her husband’s death, and lived at St. Francis Rectory, Vineland, until moving to North Cape May in 2009 to the St. John Neumann rectory.
She is survived by her son, Father Ernest; her daughter Amelia (Glen) Thompson of High Point, N.C.; her grandchildren: Joseph A., James R., John M., Jeffrey T. Sarbello and Jennifer (Kent) Shore; six great-grandchildren, and son-in-law Joseph Sarbello (Debbie Walker).
She was predeceased in death by her daughter, Louise Sarbello.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, Dec. 13 at the Parish of St. John Neumann at St. John of God Church. Interment followed at St. Bridget Cemetery, Glassboro.
In place of flowers and Mass cards, donations in Jennie’s memory are requested to the Parish of St. John Neumann, St. John of God Church, 680 Town Bank Rd., North Cape May, NJ 08204-4413.
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