Obituary for Clara Pignatello
Clara Pignatello, (Maffeo) left us on Monday January 16, under a month shy of her 95th birthday, to join
her beloved husband Rocco, who predeceased her 26 years earlier.
Clara was born in Avellino, Italy in 1928, and was one of 15 siblings. She left her family there in 1959 to marry Rocco Pignatello who was living in the United States. She married in Italy, moved to New Jersey, became a U.S citizen like her husband, who immigrated here from Italy many years earlier, and raised a family. Clara was a most wonderful and loving wife and mother and grandmother. She expressed that love with unwavering
support and care for her family and was an expert cook who was in the kitchen and still making
incredible meals into her 90’s. She made frequent visits to Italy to spend time with her many relatives
there. Clara lived with her family in Montclair, Verona and, later in life, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
Clara is survived by her son, Dr. Robert Pignatello and his wife Amy; daughter Cora Ciaramello and husband
Artie; and four grandchildren: granddaughters Teresa Pignatello and her fiancé Chris Outwater; Ava
Pignatello and Jesse DiCocco; Gianna Ciaramello and Anthony DeRosa and grandson Angelo Ciaramello.
She is also survived by two brothers: Pasquale Maffeo and Vittorio Maffeo and a sister Elena
Deguglielmo along with dozens of nieces and nephews in Italy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be
made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of NJ at https://www.alz.org/nj/donate
All services are private
her beloved husband Rocco, who predeceased her 26 years earlier.
Clara was born in Avellino, Italy in 1928, and was one of 15 siblings. She left her family there in 1959 to marry Rocco Pignatello who was living in the United States. She married in Italy, moved to New Jersey, became a U.S citizen like her husband, who immigrated here from Italy many years earlier, and raised a family. Clara was a most wonderful and loving wife and mother and grandmother. She expressed that love with unwavering
support and care for her family and was an expert cook who was in the kitchen and still making
incredible meals into her 90’s. She made frequent visits to Italy to spend time with her many relatives
there. Clara lived with her family in Montclair, Verona and, later in life, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
Clara is survived by her son, Dr. Robert Pignatello and his wife Amy; daughter Cora Ciaramello and husband
Artie; and four grandchildren: granddaughters Teresa Pignatello and her fiancé Chris Outwater; Ava
Pignatello and Jesse DiCocco; Gianna Ciaramello and Anthony DeRosa and grandson Angelo Ciaramello.
She is also survived by two brothers: Pasquale Maffeo and Vittorio Maffeo and a sister Elena
Deguglielmo along with dozens of nieces and nephews in Italy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be
made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of NJ at https://www.alz.org/nj/donate
All services are private