Eleanor LoBiondo

Eleanor Orlando LoBiondo was born on April 4, 1930 in Newark to Nicholas and Louise Orlando. She and her three older siblings Philip, Fermi, and Clara grew up in the Ironbound section of Newark, alongside many of her extended family members. This set the tone for the rest of Eleanor’s life: she was happiest when surrounded by the people she loves. Eleanor married Salvatore LoBiondo on August 31, 1952. They resided in Newark, living in an apartment above the family business, NJ Del-Pak, where she worked as a bookkeeper. Eventually they moved to Lake Hiawatha and then a few years later to West Caldwell where they raised four children who later went on to fill her life with ten grandchildren, and five great-granddaughters. She always said that after her husband Sal passed away in 1985, it was her grandchildren that filled her heart with love again. When she was affectionately called Honey by her first grandson Michael, the name stuck, and it didn’t take long for nearly everyone to call her by the sobriquet. It fit her perfectly, as she was a source of love, sweetness, and support to all who knew her. Honey hosted the best sleepovers. Songs have been sung about these epic sleepovers (“I’m sleeping over hey-hey-hey-hey!”). From sleeping bags on the family room floor to Honey agreeing to just one too many kids in her bed, it was always an adventure. There were always snacks (but no eating in the family room!) and ice cream to go with a movie night. From a well-loved VHS of The Brave Little Toaster to the Rogers and Hammerstein musicals taped off of cable television to Pete’s Dragon and Harry and the Hendersons – there are certain movies that will always be associated with Honey’s house. Her basement had a SEGA Genesis system, and while everyone else was quick to play ToeJam & Earl or Sonic the Hedgehog, Honey was a fan of playing Centipede. She had a piano in the living room and enjoyed listening to her grandchildren practice and perform for her. Honey even kept a stash of disposable toothbrushes so anyone could spend the night at a moment’s notice and still maintain their oral hygiene habits. By making her house a second home to her grandchildren, Honey created and nurtured a relationship with each and every one of them. Not a single person entered Honey’s house without her asking if they wanted something to eat – and she was a wonderful cook. She’d offer whatever was in the fridge, oftentimes an egg salad or tuna salad, or a piece of toasted Italian bread and a scrambled egg. She made the best eggplant parmesan, the best pasta fagioli, and the best macaroni and gravy. Her most well-loved (and well-shared) “secret” ingredient was Hormel pepperoni, and she loved to add it to a recipe for some extra flavor. She watched the Food Network regularly and enjoyed trying new recipes. Honey loved the ability to record live television, and often taped her “stories” if she wasn’t able to watch her CBS soaps As the World Turns and Days of Our Lives when they aired. There was a closet full of toys to play with (or, for some, to eat…) and shelves full of games to play. Pokeno, Sorry, The Game of Life, Uno, and literally countless hands of Contract Rummy were played around her kitchen table (“And don’t call me Hugo!”). Honey enjoyed every minute of being a grandmother. She attended school musicals, sports events, plays, recitals, graduations – and just about anything else that would give her the opportunity to beam with pride while watching her grandchildren. As they grew older, Honey shared family recipes, told them stories about her childhood, gave advice, and was always there to listen, no matter the subject. When Honey was gifted a digital photo frame, she often said it made her feel like her family was with her all the time. From silly selfies and vacations to wedding pictures and birth announcements, she had a first hand glimpse into everyone’s life, no matter how near or far they lived from her. One year, Honey decided that she was going to crochet afghan blankets for her entire family. Every single blanket is unique, as each afghan recipient drove her to Michael’s Craft Store in pursuit of the perfect skein of yarn. And if the afghan recipient was too young to drive, Jojo happily volunteered to drive her because she loves the vibe of the yarn aisle. Honey didn’t hold back when she casually explained that she wanted to give everyone something to remember her by when the time comes. She ultimately crocheted more than twenty afghans. With her family, she traveled to Italy, France, The Netherlands, Disney World, Alaska, and Montauk, NY. She made weekly grocery shopping trips to ShopRite, and even devised a custom route that allowed her to make all right-hand turns. Honey tied a red ribbon around every steering wheel of her family members’ cars for good luck. She kept a fully stocked crystal dish of Werther’s Original butterscotch hard candies in the dining room. She never missed a birthday – she always sent a card and called to give her love. Her Tupperware collection was seriously impressive and well-organized. Honey was the queen of kitchen gadgets and was always excited to demonstrate her latest find. She regularly drank decaf tea with milk. She had zero tolerance for anything spicier than Hormel pepperoni. On very rare occasions, she would decide to sip a Tom Collins. Honey liked dogs and would often tell stories about Bonnie, Tiny, and Coco. Honey loved reading and even had a Kindle before Oprah. She did her best to embrace technology and learned how to text, email, and to FaceTime her grandchildren so she could see their faces. “Isn’t this amazing?” she used to say, simply full of joy over the ability to see her family regularly, no matter where they were in the world. There are so many memories that could be shared about her, but they would all fall short of conveying Honey’s essence and how truly special she is. She was an unwavering source of unconditional love, kindness, and support; there was never a moment in which her love wasn’t felt, no matter how far you were from her. Her family always knew that no matter what the circumstance, she was in their corner, no questions asked. It’s well known that Honey held one day especially close to her heart: Christmas Eve. She practically lived in the kitchen for weeks prior to that night to make sure that all seven fish were prepared and the macaroni and gravy was ready – in addition to having baked copious amounts of cookies for dessert. The evening traditions always included a visit from Santa Claus with a trap door and some pretty solid Dad Jokes that made Honey laugh year after year. And while most of her time and energy was spent in the kitchen, the best part of the night for her was to be surrounded by everyone she loves in the midst of all the Christmas magic. Looking at her Christmas Eve dinner table, Honey would see the people she loved with all of her heart. She would see the people who called her Mom, Elly, Honey, Grandma, and Aunt Eleanor. She would see the people whose lives were shaped and enriched by knowing her, loving her, and being unconditionally loved by her. Her son John and her daughter-in-law Kathleen; her granddaughter Christina and her husband Lou, her great-granddaughters Mia, Sophia, and Lucia; her granddaughter Melissa and her husband Jay; her granddaughter Julianna; her grandson Matthew. Her son Salvatore, Jr. and her daughter-in-law Lisa; her granddaughter Gina, and her grandson Salvatore III. Her son Leonard and her daughter-in-law Liz; her grandson Michael and his wife Sofy, her great-granddaughter Francesca; Leonard Jr. and his wife Kim, her great-granddaughter and namesake Eleanor; her grandson John; and her grandson Nicholas and his wife Ellen. Her daughter Joanne and her son-in-law Dave Weaver; her bonus grandson David and his wife Toni, her bonus great-grandsons Theodore and Jackson; her bonus granddaughter Kimberly. Her niece Michele Cirminello and her husband Irving Rodriguez. Though Honey’s grandchildren may endlessly debate who her favorite was, the beautiful and inexplicable truth is that every single one of them was her favorite. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Honey's memory to the West Essex First Aid Squad.

Friends and family are invited to come celebrate Honey's life on Monday from 8:30 to 11 AM at Galante Funeral Home, 54 Roseland Avenue, Caldwell. 

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church in Montville at 11:30 AM.

Interment will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Caldwell.