Nancy Montalbano

Nancy Montalbano, of East Brunswick, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. She was 99.


Born as Annuziata Sgarlata, in 1923, in a town called Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Italy, Nancy was the youngest of the Sgarlata family and came to this country in 1938 at age 15, with her sister. She entered elementary school at the New York City Public Schools and was placed in the sixth grade and continued to the eighth grade, where she received her diploma. After her schooling, she became a seamstress and worked for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union in NYC, for 43 years, before retiring in 1984. She was married to O'Nofrio Montalbano in 1949 and had a son Savotore Montalbano, and resided in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, before moving to East Brunswick 40 years ago.


A parishioner of St. Bartholomew RC Church in East Brunswick, she was devoted to the Blessed Mother and St. Jude, saying her daily rosary.


Nancy loved celebrating holidays and special occasions by sharing her exceptional baking and cooking skills. She also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and gardening. She was a member of the East Brunswick Senior Citizens and Crochet Club and donated her work to many causes.


She is predeceased by her husband O'Nofrio Montalbano (d. 1974), her son Salvatore Montalbano (d. 2002), her brothers Filippo Sgarlata and Mario Sgarlata, and her sisters Santa Sgarlata, Jennie Rando and Maria Vita.


Surviving are her grandson Salvatore Montalbano and her daughter-in-law Jean Montalbano, both of East Brunswick; her sister-in-law Josephine Guerriero of Hallandale, Florida, and nieces Donna Rando, Francesca Weinsinger, Francesca Montello, Tina Robbins, Barbara Camins, and nephews Larry Vita, Jack Rando, Francis Vita, Larry Sgarlata, Michael Guerriero.


Friends and relatives may call on Wednesday, January 25th, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm at The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N Main St.-at Riva Avenue, Milltown. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, 9:30 am, at St. Bartholomew RC Church, Ryders Lane in East Brunswick. Entombment will follow at 12:00 pm at St. Raymond New Cemetery, 2600 Lafayette Ave., the Bronx, NY 10465.


In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either Karma Cat Zen Dog, 39 N Main St., Milltown, NJ 08850, https://karmacatzendog.org/ or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, www.stjude.org