Phyllis C. “Dolly” Cedola (nee Cicchelli), 88, of Roseland, N.J., passed away on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at her home.

Relatives and friends may visit with the family at Paul Ippolito-Dancy Memorial, 9 Smull Ave., Caldwell, on Thursday, May 31, 2018 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Orange, on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 10 a.m., followed by the entombment at St. Stephen’s Cemetery/Chapel at Short Hills Millburn Avenue.

For directions or to send the family condolences please visit, www.ippolitofuneralhomes.com
Born in Orange, Mrs. Cedola lived in Maplewood and South Orange for 39 years and was a resident of Parsippany for 11 years before moving to Roseland five years ago.

She was employed by the South Orange Board of Education for 41 years as an attendance officer at South Orange Middle School and was recognized in the 2007-2008 Cambridge Who’s Who as an honored lifetime member.

Dedicated to her Italian-American heritage, Mrs. Cedola was a trustee of the Federation of Italian American Societies of New Jersey, chairwomen of the Italian Festival at PNC Arts Center for many years and president of the Heritage Festival Ball, as well as chairperson in 2008 and 2017. She was a member of the Father Monella Center of Italian Culture Casa Italiana of South Orange, and Sons of Italy Lodge 2350.
Mrs. Cedola was the recipient of the 2011 Columbus Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade Committee, the 1998 City of Newark Award and Italian Tribune News Italian-American Woman of the Year Columbus Day Parade Award, and the 2004 Giblin Association Community Service Award – Heritage.

Active in the community, she was a longtime member of UNICO and was the first women in the country to both organize and chair a National Chapter in South Orange and Maplewood, and serve as a district governor. She was a trustee of Essex County College for many years, a member of the Paper Mill Playhouse Gild and Producers Circle and sang in the choir at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange for many years.
Mrs. Cedola worked on the Ethnic Advisory Council for three former governors, was a candidate for Essex County Clerk and the New Jersey Assembly. She served as Legislative secretary for Assemblyman Burke, an aide to Senator DiFrancesco, and a campaign aide for Congressman Dean Gallo.

She was the wife of the late Carman J. Cedola Sr.; devoted mother of Carman J. Cedola Jr. and his wife, Debbie, and Patrick S. Cedola; dear sister of Cosimo “Chic” and Nathan Cicchelli, and the late Frank, Sam and Johnny Cicchelli. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations to our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 103 South Center St., Orange, N.J. 07050, would be appreciated.