Antoinette Helen (Dewie) Campolei

Antoinette Helen (Dewie) Campolei was born on April 1, 1918 to Andy and Angela Maria Montella in Philadelphia, PA.  One of 9 children, she had a very happy childhood and told stories of how her dad would sit at the player piano and pretend to play while singing and she and her brothers and sisters would sing and dance.

She and her sisters loved to dance and would go to the dance hall on Saturday nights.  Her husband, Murray was a terrific dancer, and always danced with her girlfriends but never asked her.  So, one night she asked him to dance and that was the beginning of their life long love affair.  They were married a year later on May 17, 1942 and remained married until his death on January 28,2008.

They were both athletic and played on semi-pro tennis teams.  They also bowled on many different leagues.  They loved to travel and were always getting into some kind of mischievous trouble no matter where they went.  They loved Italy and travelled there many times always coming back with fun filled stories of their adventures.

Native Philadelphians, they moved to Riverside NJ in 1955.  They joined St Peter’s Church and were very involved with that community. Dewie was a member of the Altar Rosary Society and KofC ladies auxiliary. She worked on and ran many of the fund raisers and was best known for her meatballs!!!  No one has ever been able to duplicate them no matter how much we tried!! She also managed the school cafeteria for 15 years.

Dewie was an excellent seamstress. She loved to read and her 2 favorite authors were Danielle Steele and James Patterson.  After she read any book, she would “rate” it and write a note about it on the inside pages.  She was the BIGGEST fan of the Philadelphia Phillies.  She knew all the players and never missed a game on TV.  She would yell at them and cheer them on and always said they were the best whether they won or lost!

She was a wonderful gardener, and we would spend hours weeding while she would teach us about flowers especially roses. She was a great cook and taught us how to make simple delicious meals.

She loved her family and was a great friend.  When asked her secret for her long life she replied, “Have a glass of red wine every day, have good friends, and always help others.  Be kind to everyone,”

She is survived by her  husband, Americo (Murray)  Campolei, her children, Pixie, Richard and Ellie.  and Robert (pre-deceased 3/20/93), Grands: David O’Hara (his wife Amy), Amy Campanaro (her husband Michael), Robert Campolei (his wife Kelsey), Christopher Campolei (his wife Brielle), Robert Campolei and Nicky Campolei, Great grands: Meghan Robinson, Ava and Mikey Campanaro, Taylor and Dylan O’Hara and Liliana Campolei. All siblings deceased.  Many nephews and nieces

Come celebrate 105 years on Friday April 21, 2023 from 9:00am-10:00am at Sweeney Funeral Home, 337 Bridgeboro Street, Riverside NJ 08075. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30am at St. Joseph’s Church, Beverly. Interment Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson.

In Lieu of flowers people can donate to

Plainfield Area Humane Society

75 Rock Avenue

Plainfield NJ  07063

website:  PAHS.org