Geraldine Sylvester, 88, of Barnegat, NJ, passed away peacefully August 9, 2021 in her home surrounded by her family and friends. She was born in New York City, in little Italy, and moved to Jersey City, where she met and later married her childhood sweetheart. She graduated from Ferris High School in 1950. After her marriage to her beloved Carmine “JR” in 1954 they moved to North Arlington, NJ where they raised a family and resided for nearly 40 years. She returned to the workplace in the 1970s where she began a career at Interpool, Inc. (now doing business as TRAC INTERMODAL) which leases intermodal containers in the United States and abroad. She became the Manager of Technical Services for the Company, a position she held until her retirement. After she and her husband retired in 1999, she moved to Barnegat, New Jersey. She and her husband also spent winters in Naples, Florida.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Family and friends came first before her own needs. She devoted all her energy to raising and caring for her family and friends along with her husband with whom she remained inseparable from until his death in 2014. She was intelligent, hardworking, organized, witty and enjoyed a good laugh. Her family and friends appreciated her love and advice even when experiencing a bit of “tough love” from her. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary or special occasion and made every attempt to attend every family function to which she was invited. She will be missed.
She is predeceased by her husband, Carmine; her parents, Lucia and Angelo Perna; her brother, Anthony Perna and her sister, Angelina Nadolski. She is survived by her sisters, Rose McCabe and Stephanie Slevin; her son, James Sylvester and wife Kathleen of Rumson, NJ; her son, Steven Sylvester of Mahwah, NJ; and her daughter, Maria and her Husband Joseph Fantozzi of Toms River, NJ. She is also survived by and was beloved by her grandchildren, Nicole, Joseph, Winton, Jordan Elizabeth, Matthew and Julian.
Visitation is 4-8 PM Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Barnegat Funeral Home, 841 West Bay Avenue, Barnegat, NJ 08005. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 747 West Bay Avenue, Barnegat, NJ, with a Burial Service to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Manahawkin.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 or The Community Hospices of America Foundation (CHA), c/o Hospice of New Jersey, 400 Broadacres Drive, 1st Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
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