Sixty year resident of Glen Rock and former head of the Glen Rock Woman's Club, Mary Scanzani Novellino, 99, has died.

Mary Novellino was born on December 4, 1913 in Orvinio, Italy, a very small village, just outside of Rome. She came to the United States through Ellis Island when she was four months old. Her father, an excellent shoe and boot maker, relocated his family to Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Mary grew up in the picturesque south with six siblings. Fayetteville was a college town, the home of Arkansas University. Mary had the most wonderfully beautiful smile and was urged to enter the ‘Ozark Smile Contest' when she was eighteen. A young engineering college student at the university by the name of Joseph J. Novellino – also born in Italy – attended the smile contest. Mary won the contest and Joe's heart.

Smitten with Mary is to put it mildly. They dated for five years and were married on Oct. 10, 1937. After World War II, where Joseph became a Lt. Colonel, they moved to Paterson, where Joseph Novellino had lived. Soon after they moved to Glen Rock, where Mary lived for over sixty years.

A talented woman, Mary worked as a milliner in an exclusive ladies hat shop after she was married. She was also an accomplished seamstress. Her passionate talent was cooking; she was brilliant in any kitchen. She could prepare a dinner for ten unannounced guests in 20 minutes and it would be exquisitely served with a raise of her champagne glass announcing "Bona Petito".

Mary was extremely active in St. Catharine's Church Rosary Altar Society. She helped organize and produce annual Fashion Shows to raise money for the church, and with her movie star beauty, she was always asked to model in the shows, as well. She was also President of the Glen Rock Women's Club.

An extremely social and charming woman, she was always hosting lavish parties, and on Oct. 4, 1952, Mary assisted in entertaining Eleanor Roosevelt at a luncheon in Suffern, New York.

Mary raised three children and is survived by all three. Nino Novellino, an artist and president of Costume Amour, living in Goshen, New York; Rosemary Novellino-Mearns, a retired dancer, living in New York City; and Tina Novellino, a make up artist, living in New York City.

Mary will be extremely missed by anyone whose life she touched.

Visiting hours will be Tuesday 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Feeney Funeral Home, Ridgewood. The Funeral Mass will be Wednesday 10:00 a.m. at St. Catharine RC Church, Glen Rock, followed with interment in Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.

[Editor's note: The obituary was provided by Feeney's Funeral Home in Ridgewood and was unedited spare minor style changes.]
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