Obituary of Joan Sodano

Joan Sodano (nee Cerciello), a lifelong Madison resident, passed away peacefully at home, with her family by her side, on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. She was 81.

Joan was born in Summit on June 16, 1939, to the late Vincent and Frances Cerciello. She was raised in Madison in a loving family of three children, and graduated from Madison High School.

After high school, Joan worked part-time at Chubb & Son. She married her beloved husband, Joseph Sodano, a day before her birthday on June 15, 1958. The couple remained in Madison where they raised their beautiful family.

Joan was primarily a homemaker who took great pride in caring for her immediate and extended family, but she also worked part time at Gruber’s Bakery while her children were growing up. After her children were grown, she worked part time at the Madison Pharmacy.

A faith-filled woman, Joan was a parishioner of St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison and a member of the Rosary Altar Society. She enjoyed travelling all around the world, shopping, and gambling at the casinos in Las Vegas (and anywhere else). She especially loved cooking for her family and friends. She even kept a journal of holiday meals with notes about each event. She loved people in general and was the matriarch of her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Joan was predeceased by her sister, Marie Davis and her brother, Sam Cerciello. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Joseph Sodano; her daughters, LuAnne Ubertaccio (George) of Green Village and Traci Geraghty (Hugh) of Long Valley; LouAnn Sodano Johns (Christopher) and Patricia ‘Pat’ Sodano; five beloved grandchildren, Joe (Layla), Tony (Sarah), Pasqualo ‘PJ’, Marissa, and Hughie; one cherished great-grandchild, Emma; her loving nieces and nephews, Frances Boardman, Frank Davis (Michelle), VJ Cerciello (Jen), and Sebastian Cerciello; as well as many great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family and close friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Joan’s life held on Monday, September 7 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 10:00AM at St. Vincent Martyr Church, Madison. For those that wish, you may attend the Funeral Liturgy virtually via live-stream by visiting www.svmnj.org and viewing the mass on the main webpage of the church beginning at 10:00AM. Interment will be held at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Madison.

**Visitors to the funeral home and church are asked to wear masks and practice proper social distancing. In order to maintain a safe number of people in the funeral home, we kindly & respectfully ask that after paying your respects you give others the same opportunity by making your visit brief.**

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that charitable contributions be made in Joan’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org/donate, or to St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ 07940 or online at www.svmnj.or/donation-page.