Lena Sardo, (nee DiLuigi)  Beloved wife of the late John. Devoted mother of Dominick Sardo and MarySharon Mitchell (Edward). Loving grandmother of Edward and Juliana. Dear sister of the late Emedio and Thomas DiLuigi.

On 8 January 2021, at the age of 93, our beloved Lena Maria Sardo passed away peacefully, with family, in her home of many years in Westmont, NJ — but she wasn’t just, “Lena Maria Sardo,” and it wasn’t just her, “home.”  To most, she was: Mom, Grandmom, Mommom, “Dolly,” “Ms. Nice Lady,” “Aunt Dolly.”  And her home in Westmont was a place we all remember as a gathering place for Sunday dinners and holidays, where she would — by herself — manage to host and cook for the whole family.  It was also a place where she raised her children, MarySharon and Dominick, took care of her mother, Mary, her brothers Mio and Tommy, and most importantly, her grandchildren, Juliana and Eddie.  She was a caring woman, always putting her family first.

Things that will be remembered the most are those days spent riding the speedline to Philadelphia to spend the day walking through the Reading Terminal & The Gallery, or having lunch at Wannamakers after enjoying the famous Christmas light show; walking into Haddonfield, riding the bus to the Echelon Mall, or taking a walk up to the Bread Board for ice cream after dinner.  She was always cooking something for somebody.  Her home in Westmont is a home that has never seen a take-out menu.  No matter what time of day you stopped in or for how long, you would be greeted with some kind of homemade macaroni and a piece of pound cake.

Most of her life was spent as a seamstress.  She always maintained those seamstress skills, making countless Halloween costumes for her grandchildren, hemming pants, repairing clothing, and making other alterations for friends and family.  She also spent a long while working as a lunch aid at Edison Elementary School in Westmont — this is where she was coined, “Ms. Nice Lady,” by the neighborhood kids. There were always countless stories from people in the neighborhood, somehow revolving around Lena helping them. She was a loving neighbor to all, really the gem of the block as people came and went throughout the years.

One of the phrases that could often describe Lena is, “they broke the mold when they made her.”  She was such a strong woman — broken hip, broken wrist, raising her children, caring for her mother and brothers  — there wasn’t anything she could not or would not do for anyone.  The simple times spent with her around the kitchen table after dinner with a little glass of Miller Highlife or Carlo Rossi and something sweet, watching the cooking channel, will be missed the most.

Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing Wednesday 9-10:30 AM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Road, Washington Twp. Mass of Christian Burial 11:30 AM at Christ the King RC Church, Haddonfield. Entombment, Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lena’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or click on the link.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering”