Miriam Napolitano (nee Eichel)

Born into tragedy, by the time her event-filled life ended Dec. 6th at the age of 84, Mimi Napolitano had proven that living well is the best revenge.

A survivor, she became a world traveler, a great athlete, a good cook, a wife, a mother.

Mimi was born Miriam Eichel in Warsaw, Poland on June 3, 1939. a terrible time and place to be born Jewish. Of her entire extended family, only she, her mother and an uncle survived the Holocaust.

Three months after her birth, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Her mother, father, and uncle escaped to Russia, where her father died in a Russian prison camp. Her mother and uncle, by constantly moving around, survived the war. In 1948, she and her mother emigrated to the United States, where they settled in Brooklyn and later moved to the Bronx. Her uncle emigrated to Canada. Her entire remaining family perished in the war.

After graduating from Columbus High School, she went to City College and later began her working career as a secretary. She met the love of her life, Mario, while working and it was love at first sight. After a wonderful courtship, they were married in August of 1968. The marriage lasted fifty-five glorious years.

During their time together, they traveled as much as possible. There were several trips to Italy, France, England, Germany and just a few years ago, she went back to see where she was born in Warsaw. They also traveled around the States since Mario moved around for his career. They lived in the Bronx, Pittsburgh, PA., Denver, CO. Westport, CT, and in Delanco, a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia, where in 2004 they were among the original residents of a new over-55 community called Newton’s Landing.

When she was not traveling, you could find Mimi on a tennis court. She played tennis wherever she lived and was quite good at it. The trophies she collected are proof of that.

She was a social facilitator who was able to bring everyone together. She enjoyed having friends and family gather at her home. Though a Polish Jew, she became a proficient Italian cook. She got that from Mario’s mother.

Miriam is survived by her husband, Mario Napoltano; her son, Louis Napolitano; her daughter, Anna (Paul) Armsby; and her loving grandchildren, Charlotte, Lucy, and Oliver Armsby.

Services for Miriam will be held at Sweeney’s Funeral home in Riverside, NJ, on a date in April to be announced.

Mimi’s final years were dimmed by Alzhaimer’s Disease. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Association of your local chapter.