Cecille A. Calderaro

We called her Mom, Cecille, Sis, Mom-Mom, Aunt Sis, and she was loved by all. She was a remarkable woman whose influence and guidance profoundly shaped the lives of those around her. She was a pillar of strength, a beacon of stability, offering unconditional love and support when it was needed most. Her home was a sanctuary, and she was an incredible mother, a role she embraced with grace and dedication.

Cecille was the second oldest of five children and together with her sister Vivian, took care of their three younger siblings. She was a very pretty cheerleader at Jonathan Dayton High School, and she had a pack of girlfriends that remained close into their final years. While her girlfriends were all out partying as teenagers, she taught herself how to sew. She made all her bridesmaid and flower girl dresses and years later she made prom coats for her nieces. She also sewed dresses for herself and her children, which we still have.

She worked in the billing department at Prudential Insurance in the 40’s and traveled with their dance team entertaining. She also played basketball, which was very unusual for women in those days.

Sis married Frankie in 1955 and relocated to Texas, Florida, and then Ohio, and along the way they had three kids. When Frankie left to train for United Airlines, she moved the family to New Jersey, all by herself, where they eventually stayed and added two more kids to the bunch.

She was a master entertainer: her cooking was amazing, and she specialized in delicious homemade desserts. She hosted many parties, including every single bridal and baby shower in the family, and friends too. (Maybe that’s why all her children were so good at throwing high school parties when she was away.)

She learned how to decorate cakes, and she made many for her grandkids. Some of us have tried to follow her lead, but they never came out quite as fancy.

Holidays at Sis’s were highly anticipated, because of family and friends, delicious food, homemade cheesecake, and apple and pecan pies. She could entertain many people at short notice, set a beautiful table and serve an awesome meal. No one was allowed to leave the table and stacking dishes was forbidden. She was the boss of her kitchen (“Get out of my U!”), and a few of her offspring carry on that tradition.

Sometime in the early 60’s, her sister Vivian convinced her to rent a house on Long Beach Island and from there, a tradition was born. Two week stays became summers, as Sis and Frank eventually purchased a house in Brant Beach and the island became a very special place for her family. Her children came for weeks at a time, and they often left their kids there in Mom-Mom’s care. There were a lot of rules, and everyone learned to follow them. Wet towels on the bed were unacceptable! The LBI tradition still lives on as Christy and Patti both now own houses.

In the early 70’s Frankie was offered an opportunity to fly airplanes in Holland, and the family moved to Amsterdam for the summer. Life was very different there, and somehow Sis made it all work, with five kids in tow.

The Martinsville house was a welcoming home for everyone, and friends were embraced as family. The doors were always open, and she readily took on the role of a mother for anybody who needed one.  

Sis played cards—a lot of cards. Continental Rummy was the family game and she played to win. Actually, everyone did, and bragging rights were taken very seriously. Let the record show she beat Christy last week!

Sis imparted valuable life lessons through her wisdom and resilience. She taught the importance of inner strength, the power of self-reliance, and the ability to overcome adversity. Her firm yet loving guidance helped mold everyone into a reflective, determined individual, instilling a resolve to face challenges head-on and aspire to a brighter future.

"Everything in moderation" was one of her favorite sayings, a mantra she lived by. She always strived to make the world better for us; she recycled for as long as we can remember. She steered clear of discussing religion, politics, or money, focusing instead on what truly mattered—her family. We affectionately called her Mom-Mom because she was twice the mom anyone could wish for. One of her greatest gifts was knowing when to let go, all while remaining steadfast in her support. She inspired us all to keep moving forward, to build on the foundation she created, and to empower the generations that follow.

Cecille is survived by five children, Frank Calderaro and his wife Lisa, Sue Bee and her husband Jim, Christy Mayer and her husband Bill, Craig Calderaro, and Patti Hausherr and her husband Michael. Cecille was also the cherished Mom-Mom of 14 grandchildren, Marc, Jenna, Beth, Carly, Sara, Jeff, Laura, Nikki, Zack, Dewy, Katie, Julie and Nina and 7 great grandchildren, Emanuela, Max, Carter, Skadi, Vienna, Celine, and Wylie. She is also survived by her sister Vivian Moroli. She is predeceased by her husband Frankie, her grandson Anthony, her sister Joan, and her brothers Richie and Joe.

We are planning a Celebration of Life on Thursday, from 3 to 7.

All family and friends are welcome.

For details, please call Frank Calderaro @ 609-364-3200.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Anthony Calderaro Memorial Fund @ 1753 Woodfield Road, Martinsville, NJ  08836

Or

The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice

3600 State Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753

The incredible care from Audrey, our hospice nurse on the day our mother passed, was immeasurably the kindest and most compassionate anyone could ever have. Mom-Mom passed peacefully with all of us with her.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cecille A. Calderaro, please visit our floral store.