Annamarie Margotta

Annamarie (Cimolo) Margotta, 85, of West Orange, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in 1940, Ann grew up on 3rd Street, which was an Italian American stronghold in the heart of Newark. It was an idyllic time for the city, an area of close-knit neighborhoods filled with children playing in the streets and teeming with life, and Mom reveled in it. She carried those memories with her all of her days and recounted them to us when she and my grandparents moved to West Orange during the 1970s. The images, humor, and warmth of her stories were palpable for us as young kids. She desperately wanted us to have the same experiences, albeit in the sleepier confines of suburban life which West Orange provided, and we pretty much did. Playing outside in the summer months from sunup to sundown with neighborhood kids, and after school for the rest of the year, it was a great place to grow up.

But raising two mischievous boys and a daughter by herself was not for the fainthearted. Nonetheless, Mom was up to the challenge. She gave us copious amounts of love tempered with discipline.

Occasionally, the need for correction led to her losing her cool. Mom was a hand biter. This was how you knew you were in trouble. At a loss for words for the amount of aggravation, we inflicted on her, she would bite her hand. When it got to this point, attempts to evade the impending punishment were futile. It would only make things worse. It was best to just take the bitter medicine and live to talk about it the next day.

But live we did, her love for us a constant source of strength. She believed there was a divine plan for our lives. This belied a firm belief in God, and she prayed for us without relent. She was very attuned to when something was bothering us, even as adults. It was a sixth sense, and there was no hiding your troubles from her. If you tried, she would eventually pry it out from you.

Mom also had many talents. She was a wonderful artist in her youth, gifted at song and dabbling in poetry. She also became a terrific cook. We later became the beneficiaries of these skills, especially around the holidays, when she decorated the home, assisted with school projects, and helped prepare the holiday feasts for our family with our grandparents. Her taste was impeccable. She did all she could to make these days memorable.

But for me and my siblings, these are not the memories that are the most profound. It was the little things, especially in her later years when her energy and talents waned. It was the routine phone call whenever there was snow to ensure our safety. The encouragement she would give us before a job interview or some other important undertaking. She always required an update. It is these types of things, including the annoyances, that we will all miss the most.

When my grandfather died, it left a hole in the family, because you cannot replace the patriarch. But my mom’s life left a hollow that God carved into each of our lives. It was always a place we, as her children, could turn to for safety, comfort, love, and correction. A place of refreshment. But her work was done. God, who loves her more than we ever could, has called her from the depths. Farewell, Mom, but never goodbye. The hollow remains through our memories of you forever. We will always be tethered to your humble life, even through the great divide.

Devoted mother of Anthony J. Alonzo and his wife Mary, Joseph G. Alonzo and his wife Brigida, and Dana C. Margotta. Cherished grandmother of Anthony and Gabriel, Nicholas and Gabriella, and Jayden. Also survived by her sister-in-law, Karen Cimolo, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The memorial visitation will be held at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Thursday, February 12th from 4-7pm. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Annamarie Margotta, please visit our floral store.