Obituary of Marion Bagnato

Marion P. Bagnato, 88, of Basking Ridge, died Sunday September 30, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. Born on July 2, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY, to the late Vincent and Gaetana Pavone. She was previously a resident of New York living last in Douglaston, Queens. She moved to Basking Ridge in 1994 to be near her son and his family. Marion began a commercial course in high school and quickly decided to switch over to the academic track attending New York University in the 1940's when tuition was $27 per credit as she was quick to point out. She was accomplished pianist and aspiring soprano having studied piano and voice for many years. When she entered the work force it was to pursue a career in accounting. She worked for several firms in NYC including Deak-Perera International, the foreign exchange firm and the prominent jeweler, Buccellati. She worked into her 70's and having always been active found retirement difficult. In 1953, she met Arturo Bagnato at the home of mutual acquaintance, who had come from Italy on a student visa to study English. They fell in love and were married in City Hall a few months later, despite their marriage at City Hall and because of her father Marion continued to live with her parents and Arthur with his uncle until their church wedding 3 months later on June 6, 1953. Marion and Arthur had 2 children, Joseph and Adrienne. She enjoyed reading and playing the piano. She travelled extensively visiting extended family in Italy as well as more exotic locations including China, Japan, Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia. She particularly enjoyed the Alaskan cruise and National Parks tour. During her peak travelling years she and a friend always managed to take one international trip and one domestic trip a year. She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur and her beloved son Joseph. She is survived by her daughter Adrienne, her daughter in law, Elizabeth, her grandsons Alex, Wyatt and Xavier. She also leaves her brother Peter and his wife Josephine of New Providence, NJ and her brother John and his wife Marie of Smithtown, NY. She has many surviving nieces and nephews in the US, Canada and Italy. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 pm and from 6 to 8 pm on Wednesday, October 3, at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge. There will be a funeral mass at 10 am on Thursday, October 4, at Saint James Church on 184 South Finley Avenue. Interment will take place immediately after at Holy Cross Cemetery on Mt. Airy Road in Basking Ridge; repast shortly thereafter at the home of Liz Bagnato. For more information please contact the funeral home at 908-766-0250 or to light an online condolence candle visit our website www.gcfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society.