Speranza Padovani (nee Magazzeni), 91, of Hammonton died peacefully on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at her home, after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.
She was born and raised in Castelli, Italy in the region of Abruzzo, a small medieval village belonging to the small club of the most beautiful villages in Italy, internationally known for its decorated ceramics. Speranza with her husband, Mario, moved from Abruzzo, Italy to Rome, Italy in 1953 after their marriage and started the “PADOVANI SARTORIA” in the Monte Sacro section of Rome on Via Nomentana. Their mom and pop tailor shop grew over the years to more than a dozen tailors producing garments for Cinecitta’ (Hollywood of Italy) including designing and manufacturing costumes for the infamous Swiss American Movie Director William Wyler including Roman Holiday and Ben Hur.
In 1968 in view of the unification of the three major labor unions and the period of retrenchment in Rome, Speranza and her husband immigrated to Hammonton, N.J. having been recruited by Chester Kessler of William B. Kessler, Inc. of Hammonton Park Clothes due to the surge of men’s tailored clothing at that time in South Jersey. Speranza worked as a seamstress for Kessler and also worked under her own label, HOPE OF ROMA, designing and manufacturing wedding dresses and attire including entertainers at the then Sweetwater Casino. While her career was important, she was completely devoted to her family which was her greatest love. Between cooking her famous Abruzzese dishes and taking care of her children and her husband of 68 years she was the most happiest at home with her family next to her.
Speranza is predeceased by her parents, Pasquale and Maria Magazzeni; brother, Gianni Magazzeni; and sister, Serafina Magazzeni Serpentini all of Italy.
Surviving are her devoted husband, Mario; son, Anthony Padovani, Esq. and his wife Roberta of Hammonton, N.J.; and daughter, Dr. Ileana Padovani Pezza and her husband Dr. Nino Pezza of Teramo, Italy. She is the loving grandmother of Alessandro “Alex” and Cristina Padovani and Stefano and Giulia Pezza.
Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing on her 92nd birthday on January 27, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N. Third St. Hammonton, N.J. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish, formerly St. Joseph Church, 3rd & French Streets Hammonton, N.J. Entombment will be in Greenmount Cemetery 124 S. First Rd. Hammonton, N.J.
Arrangements made by Marinella Funeral Home.