Obituary of Damiano Senatore

Damiano Senatore, 80, of Totowa, peacefully passed away last night at St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Roccapiemonte, Italy, Damiano emigrated in 1958 to the United States and lived in Totowa for the past 40 years. He was a faithful parishioner of St. James Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Before his retirement, he was a builder and contractor, having developed many properties in Passaic County. As a young man in Italy, he worked with his parents and 11 brothers and sisters on farmland they rented, and he dreamed of a better life. With only coins in his pocket, he followed his sweetheart, Gaetana, to Paterson, NJ, and immediately came to love his adopted country, a place, he said, where anything was possible with hard work. And work hard he did. When the sunset and darkness descended, he pounded nails by shining his headlights onto houses he was constructing. During the summers, he recruited his sons on his construction projects, waking them at dawn and showing them the meaning of a day's labor. "This is why you have to go to school. So you don't have to break your backs," he would say. In a gentler way, he delivered the same message and work ethic to his daughter. His wife Gaetana faithfully supported him in his endeavors, ensuring ample supplies of food for all workers on construction projects. Damiano was a great storyteller and loved telling tales about living through poverty, hardship, and war. He enjoyed playing cards, reading, and was an avid Yankees' fan. Each summer, he planted a large vegetable garden and gave the fruits of his labor away to friends and family. He is survived by his loving wife, Gaetana (DiGiacomo) of Totowa; daughter Vincenza of Wyckoff; son Anthony and daughter-in-law Jocelyn of Sparta; son Jerry and daughter- in-law Michele of Charlotte, North Carolina; brother Salvatore of Roccapiemonte, Italy. He leaves behind adoring grandchildren Kristen and Michelle Pratt of Wyckoff; Kaytlin, Rachael, Ryan, Rebecca, and Kasey of Sparta; and Samantha, Lindsey, and Michael of Charlotte. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Friday at 8:15 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. James R.C. Church, Totowa at 9:00 AM. Entombment at Calvary Mausoleum, Paterson. Friends may call Thursday 2-4 & 7-9 PM. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.