Obituary of Antoinette Coppa

Coppa, Antoinette (nee Zambrano) of the famed, Zambranos Bakery, died Monday, at Wayne,St. Josephs Hospital. She was 88.Mrs. Coppa was born on December 11, 1919 in Paterson. Her parents, Antonioand Grazia Zambrano, immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s. Antonio openedZambrano's Bakery in 1919 on Marshall Street in Paterson, where theydelivered bread to area residents by horse and wagon. In 1929 Zambrano'smoved to 668 Mc Bride Avenue in West Paterson where the family quicklybecame known for their homemade pizza and even handed out slices onHalloween to neighborhood children.Antoinette, the oldest of seven children worked in the bakery alongside herbrothers, John (who died in WW IIat The Battle of The Bulge), Frank, Carmen,Lucy andthe late Ralphand Mary. Antoinette started her workday at 4 am, managing the store until late in the evening. The bakery closed its doors in 1985. "People stopped my Nanny in the grocery store and told her they missed the pizza!" says, Granddaughter Christine M. Coppa.She married Domenic Coppa in 1948 at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson.Her son, Carlo J. Coppa was born in 1949. Her husband passed away in 1969and she never remarried. Mrs. Coppa is survived by her son Carlo J,. Coppa,Sr., a Daughter in Law Jacklyn, three grandchildren, Carlo J. Jr., Christine and Brian. Her great grandson,Jack Domenic was born on August 30, 2007. Her grandchildren collectively agree they will remember her fondly for her Sunday meatballs, generosity in everysense of the word, and of course, her spirited wit as well, as her devotion to her family. Mrs. Coppa is survived by her younger siblings: Frank Zambrano, Lucy Roccoand Carmen Zambrano. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa on Friday at 8:30 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Michaels R.C. Church, Paterson at 9:00 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may call Wednesday 7-9 and Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.