Obituary of Santa Prochilo

Santa Prochilo (nee Imbesi), age 83 of Sewell, formerly of Pennsauken, passed away peacefully in her home, with her loving family by her side on April 21, 2019. 

She was born in Varapodio Reggio Calabria, Italy on January 1, 1935 to the late, Luigi and Maria Grazia Imbesi (nee Malarbi).  Beloved wife of Joseph for 59 and a half years.  Devoted mother of Josephine DiBabbo and her husband Robert, Mary Grace Armento and her husband Thomas, Clementina Jarecki and her husband Thomas, and Sandy Bonomo and her husband Daniel.  Loving Nonna to seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Joseph, Isabella, Alexa, Adam, Matthew and Gabriel.  Dear sister of Concetta Prochilo, Vincent Imbesi and his wife Alice and the late Maria “Lena” Imbesi and Anthony Imbesi.  Also survived by sister in law, Joanna Imbesi as well as several loving nieces and nephews.

Santa and her family emigrated to the United States from Italy in 1956.  Her family sailed on the SS Andrea Doria to NY and settled in Camden, NJ.  Her loving husband Joseph, emigrated from Italy in 1957 in search of his beautiful bride and were married on October 25, 1959.

She graduated from Istituto Accademia Prof. Magda de’ Lazzari in Florence, Italy, where she became a successful dress maker.  However, her family was her proudest and biggest accomplishment.  She will be most remembered for the endless family traditions and holiday and Sunday dinners. 

Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation and Funeral on Friday from 7-9 PM at the Falco/Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Rd and Saturday from 10-11 AM at the Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main St in Mantua.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11 AM.  Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Penn Comprehensive ALS Center, 330 South 9^th St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 OR the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter 321 Norristown Rd Suite 260 Ambler, PA 19002.