Obituary of Clara Joan McEnerney
Clara Joan McEnerney, 95, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 10, 2021 at home in Livingston.
Clara was born in Orange, New Jersey to Louis Fontecchio and Rita (nee Giancola) Fontecchio, who immigrated from Abruzzo, Italy.
When Clara met the love of her life, Francis “Sonny” McEnerney, they established their home in West Orange. While raising a family there they cherished wonderful neighbors on Shepard Terrace. Sadly, at the age of 42, Sonny passed away. Clara embraced raising their three children on her own. She worked at the West Orange Community House as a secretary before taking a position at West Orange Mountain High School. She retired after 25 years as the secretary of their Guidance Department.
Clara remained devoted to the memory of her husband; she continued her loving commitment to her children. In later years, she enjoyed spending much of her time with her 6 grandchildren. She was blessed with wonderful lifelong friends who fulfilled and supported her. Clara enjoyed cooking, but perhaps more importantly, she savored feeding her delicious Italian dishes to whomever graced her doorstep. Clara’s legacy will be her devotion to her family, her work ethic and her deep faith in her religion.
Clara is survived by her son, Francis/wife Jayne, and her daughters Barbara/husband Greg Fahey, and Karen/husband John Recchia. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Michael Black/wife Maria, Brendan McEnerney, Meghan McEnerney, Courtney Massimo/husband Alex Massimo, Bridget McEnerney, Gregory Fahey, Jennifer Smith, Jessica Smith, and great grandson Jake Black. In addition, Clara leaves her nieces and nephews Donald Mauro, Robert Mauro, Kathleen Maguire Moralda, Marian Maguire Bossard. She was predeceased by her sisters, brother, niece and nephews Louise Kelly, Mary Mauro, Alex Fontecchio, Sharon Maguire Staats, Kenneth Mauro, and Donald Maguire.
The family would like to thank Clara’s devoted caregiver Rasheek Douglas.
Services were private through Codey & Jones Funeral Home of Caldwell. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, July 29th at 11:00 A.M. in Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in West Orange.