Tribute Wall
Plant a tree in memory of Nicola
An environmentally friendly option
4 tree(s) planted in memory of Nicola Stampone
Giovanni Di Peco and family
and 4 others have purchased flowers for the family of Nicola Stampone. Send Flowers
Guaranteed hand delivery by a local florist
Loading...
A
Andrea Stampone posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
My name is Andrea Stampone. I’m here today to say a few words about my grandfather, Nicola Stampone. I would like to thank all of you that are here to be with us to remember my grandfather today. I’d like to share a few of his words with you first off: “be happy, be honest, be healthy. Do the best that you can.”
My grandpa was born on September 18, 1940 in a small town in Italy called Friane. He has one sister, Maria, who still lives in Italy. He married my grandmother, Maria in 1960. He had three children: Antoinette, Vincy, and Andre. My grandfather, like most people, was very proud of his heritage, often stating “nobody can cook like the Italians” after every single meal he would make.
He worked in construction for most of his life. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to visit Friane last year, where my Zia Marie showed me the bar he had owned and lived in for some time. I learned that he had built that entire building with his brother-in-laws after working in the fields all day. In the late 60s, he would travel by train to Switzerland for weeks at a time to work, leaving behind my aunts and my grandmother. Whenever I spoke to him about this, he would always tell me that although it was hard to leave his family behind, and although it was hard work, he would do it all again in a heartbeat. As he told me once, “be proud of yourself for everything that you do”.
He moved to the United States in 1973, first on his own, and then with the rest of his family. When he came to America, Uncle Ralph and Aunt Marie opened up their home to him. He stayed with his brother-in-law until he saved enough to bring his own family here. He has always talked about how grateful he was for their hospitality and generosity. In the States, he was an active member of the Frainiose society, and devoted to the Blessed Mother of Fraine. He was also praised in the city of Paterson, where he won Garden of the Year a few years back. Some of my favorite memories of my grandfather are working with him in the garden, picking tomatoes. He would always come visit us in Florida over the winters, but would refuse to stay past March, since he had to get home to his tomatoes, to make plants for the whole neighborhood.
He was such an incredible caretaker to me, my brother Nikolas, and my cousins Steven, Nicole, and Alessio. He would play with us for hours, oftentimes letting us do whatever we wanted. I remember playing catch with him, and he would always pick the ball off the ground with a toy robotic arm since he couldn’t bend down. When my brother was about three, he got a small car for his birthday but couldn’t reach the pedals; my grandpa would walk behind the car, pressing down on the pedal with a long stick so Nikolas could still steer it. He would do anything to be able to spend time with us.
Grandpa was a simple man. He didn’t care for money or material possessions. One of the biggest things that stands out to me about my grandfather is his incredible faith. During the time he spent in Florida, I could find him walking up and down the street, praying the rosary over and over again. Until the very end, he prayed the rosary everyday. He told me once, “we need faith and trust, the rest comes by itself”. He loved to walk, often going to Willowbrook mall before they opened to walk with his friends and share a coffee with them at Dunkin’ Donuts. Time with family and friends and a good meal were so much more important to him than anything else. He loved spending hours at the beach, and playing the accordion.
One point in particular that I’d like to highlight was his selflessness. He told us that one time, his father took him into a market. There, his father got him ice cream. To most kids, this would be a treat, and the ice cream would be gone within minutes. My grandfather had a different idea in mind though. He decided to put the ice cream into his back pocket, and bring it back home to his sister. As ice cream does, it melted all over his pants, and neither him or his sister ended up with ice cream. I love this story because I feel like it highlights how he constantly put others before himself, even as a young boy. These traits would carry on for the rest of his life, and he would raise his children and grandchildren with them.
As the patriarch of our family, my grandpa constantly encouraged our family to be strong. In his final days, he urged us to not cry for him and to have courage. Merriam-Webster defines courage as the “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. If I can think of one person that I have known who exemplified this trait, it would be my grandpa. From marrying my grandmother, to working in Switzerland, to moving his entire family overseas for a better life, he was the epitome of a courageous man, constantly doing things that most people during that time could not imagine doing. For this, my grandpa was my hero, and he always will be.
I would like to believe that in his final months, my grandfather became a Swiftie. I say this because while I was home for Christmas break, he watched the Eras Tour movie twice, which is more than a lot of people. I would like to add that he watched it because I had it on in the living room when it was too early for him to go to sleep, and he didn’t know how to turn the TV on in his room, so he was left with no choice but to watch it with me. I’ll always tell myself that he did enjoy the tour a little bit, so in the spirit of that, I’d like to share a few lyrics from a Taylor Swift song with you. The song is called Marjorie, and in it, Taylor Swift says, “What died didn't stay dead, you’re alive, so alive // and if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were singing to me know // if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were still around // I know better, but I still feel you all around // I know better, but you’re still around”.
V
Vincy Bruno lit a candle
Monday, February 19, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_palepink.jpg
J
Jerry, Liza &Dan Scala planted a tree in memory of Nicola Stampone
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
G
Giovanni Di Peco and family purchased flowers
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0014974_yellow-florists-choice.png
Giovanni Di Peco and family
purchased the Yellow Florist's Choice and planted a memorial tree for the family of Nicola Stampone.
Send Flowers
Deepest Condolences
Please wait
G
Giovanni Di Peco and family planted a tree in memory of Nicola Stampone
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
Deepest Condolences Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
L
Lina Carbone purchased flowers
Monday, February 12, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0004503_in-our-thoughts.jpeg
Remembering you and Nicola in our minds and in our hearts.
Please wait
D
Domenic, Laura, Francesco and Isabella purchased flowers
Monday, February 12, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0013713_tropical-tranquility.jpeg
Domenic, Laura, Francesco and Isabella
purchased the Tropical Tranquility for the family of Nicola Stampone.
Send Flowers
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please wait
C
Chris, Michelle and Paul Lagerbloom purchased flowers
Monday, February 12, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0014971_florist-choice-bouquet.jpeg
Chris, Michelle and Paul Lagerbloom
purchased the Florist's Choice Bouquet for the family of Nicola Stampone.
Send Flowers
With our deepest sympathy as you remember Nicola.
Please wait
T
Tina & John Caggia & Family purchased flowers
Monday, February 12, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0005167_peace-lily.jpeg
Tina & John Caggia & Family
purchased the Peace Lily and planted a memorial tree for the family of Nicola Stampone.
Send Flowers
We are thinking of you during this difficult time.
Please wait
T
Tina & John Caggia & Family planted a tree in memory of Nicola Stampone
Monday, February 12, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
We are thinking of you during this difficult time. Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
8
The family of Nicola Stampone uploaded a photo
Monday, February 12, 2024
/tribute-images/4557/Ultra/Nicola-Stampone.jpg
Please wait
A Memorial Tree was planted for Nicola Stampone
Monday, February 12, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Festa Memorial Funeral Home Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
111 Union Boulevard
Totowa, NJ 07512
Phone: (973) 790-8686
Robert P. Festa Jr. Manager N.J. Lic. # 4097