Mary Jane Cicchino (nee’ Robinson), of Kearny, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. She was 84 years old.

Mary Jane was born and spent her early years in Carbondale, PA. She came to NJ as a teen and graduated from Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Pete Cicchino. They would marry in April of 1955 and remain married for over 54 years until Pete passed away in 2011. All her life, Mary Jane was a loving and dedicated wife to Pete and mother to her five children, Sally, Janie, Peter, Billy all born 18 months apart and baby Jill who was born 10 years later. Mary Jane and Pete were amazing parents and created a home with so many happy and funny memories. Theirs was a home filled with so much hospitality, humor, unconditional love and acceptance no one could ask for more. Over the years, countless friends and family who walked through that door on Highland Avenue were lucky enough to witness this first-hand. But none more so than the children who grew up there.

Mary Jane always worked full-time yet she could whip up a delicious meal big enough to feed an army in a snap. Mary Jane and Pete hosted all the holidays and Sunday dinners with joy. She was known for many dishes, from her meatballs to her cheesecake, and everything in between. Besides being a fantastic cook, Mary Jane (and Pete) were social butterflies. She and Pete never missed a social event. They loved to dance, sing, tell stories, and were always the life of the party.

We know Mary Jane is happy and at peace now with her beloved Pete, and her loving son, Peter, looking down from that great party in the sky and raising her whiskey sour to toast her truly wonderful life.

Mary Jane is survived by her four children and their families: Sally Rooney and her husband, Michael; Jane Goretski and her husband, Jim; Billy and his wife, Elizabeth; and Jill Petriello and her husband, Joe. The eight grandchildren are Michael and Ian Rooney, Jessica and Lindsay Goretski, Julia and Emily Cicchino and Jacqueline and Joseph Petriello. Mary Jane is also survived by her son Peter’s partner, Jonathan Springer, the Robinson Family and the Cicchino/Abromaitis Family.

Visitation will take place at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy. 35, Wall, on Thursday, December 1, 2016, from 4-8 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecelia Church, Kearny, on Friday, December 2, 2016 at 11 AM, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Peter Cicchino Youth Project, Urban Justice Center, 40 Rector St, 9th floor, NY, NY 10006.