Judith Lee Pavero Scarnecchia died peacefully on Tuesday, December 20th, in her home, with family by her side, after enduring a short but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

Judy was born on September 9th, 1939 in Jersey City, NJ to Albert and Edna (Mertz) Pavero and graduated from Weehawken High School in 1957. To continue her studies, she attended Jersey City State and after graduation in 1961, taught at Weehawken Elementary School. It was on the first day of college where Judy met the love-of-her-life and future husband, John M Scarnecchia, who predeceased her in 2009. By 1963 they were married and began laying the foundations to build their family in Bergen County, NJ and later moved to West Nyack, NY. Judy received her Masters in Gifted and Talented Education in 1984 from The College of New Rochelle; she was employed thereafter in Bergen County schools and finished her career in Washingtonville, NY. After retirement, Judy and her husband John, moved to Greenbriar OceanAire Retirement Community in Waretown, NJ where they enjoyed living near the beach and forging new friendships. Judy was always the life of the party and will be sorely missed by all.

 Judy enjoyed traveling throughout her lifetime and embarked on trips to Italy and most recently, California. She displayed her fondness for entertaining friends by throwing a massive Halloween costume party every year. The holidays brought her deep joy; she would bake her famous cookies and desserts that we all truly enjoyed. She routinely filled her days, weeks, and months by playing cards and games with her girlfriends and had quite a knack for winning! Judy enjoyed listening to music and constantly had her Easy Listening Channel on at home. A devout Catholic, Judy was very active in her Faith including being a Eucharistic Minister, Past President of the Columbiettes, and a former teacher of Youth Ministry. Most of all, Judy cherished being with her beloved family of 3 Children and 7 Grandchildren. Mother to: John P. Scarnecchia and his wife, Eileen (Hallett) of Gibsonia, PA; Amy G. (Scarnecchia) Garrett and her husband Bob of Corona Del Mar, CA and Jill M. (Scarnecchia) Salmon and her husband Jerry of Exton, PA. She was “Nana” to: Michael R. Garrett, Joseph P. Scarnecchia, Daniel J. Scarnecchia, Lia M. Garrett, Timothy J. Salmon, Kathleen (Katie) M. Scarnecchia and Lyla M. Salmon.

Judy is survived by her loving sisters, Kathleen (Chickie) Harrigan and her husband Peter, of Leesburg, Florida and Geraldine Daly also of Leesburg, Florida.

 Visitation will be at Layton's Home For Funerals 250 W. Lacey Road Forked River, NJ 08731 on Thursday, December 22, 2022 from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will be at Church of Saint Pius X 300 West Lacey Road Forked River, New Jersey 08731 on Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:00 am. The family will have a private cremation ceremony in the near future.