A mass of Christian burial was celebrated Oct. 15 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Jersey City, for Mary Ilvento, 84. She passed away Oct. 12. Affectionately known as ‘Nonna,’ she was a lifelong resident of Jersey City and the wife for 62 years to Peter Ilvento. Other survivors include her children, Maria (Alex) Zolli, Joseph (Judy Dean) Ilvento, Christina (Jim) Tiedemann; grandchildren Alessia (Jason) Lloyd, Luciana (Tom) Herman, Matthew (Kristen) Tiedemann, Juliana, Christina and Luisa Ilvento; great-grandchildren Alexander and AJ Lloyd. She was preceded in death by her parents, Salvatore and Josephine Militello, and brother Rev. Benedict Militello.
Partners in both life and business, Mary and Peter owned the Jersey City restaurant, ‘Ilvento’s’ for 48 years. She was a fixture in the dining room greeting guests, while Peter worked in the kitchen. Mary was by her patrons, most of whom she knew by name, what they liked to eat and where they liked to sit. The family restaurant operated for 67 years on West Side Avenue before closing in May 2000. Mary and Peter met as children and grew up together before marrying at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jersey City in 1949. Mary was a lifelong and faithful parishioner there, serving on the Rosary Altar Society and as a member of the 50+ Club. Born on Sept. 7, 1927, she was the valedictorian of her class at Dickinson High School in 1945. Services arranged by the Riotto Funeral Home, Jersey City.