Virginia Ann “Sweetie” Carafa, age 94 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the Hunterdon Care Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born on August 22, 1924 in New York City, NY, she was the daughter of the late Gregory and Sarah Calli Iavarone. Raised in Clifton, NJ, Sweetie had lived most of her life in Wayne, NJ.

Retired from Western Publishing, Wayne, NJ, where she worked for over twenty-five years as a Keypunch Supervisor, Sweetie and her late husband, Anthony John Carafa, moved to Raritan Township in 2006 to be closer to their only child, Debra, and their family. Family was always important to the couple, and they were always put first and foremost in all of their decisions.

Meeting at a dance, Sweetie and Anthony enjoyed a wonderful relationship and were married on September 19, 1950. He idolized her and they truly were best friends. This included him driving her to have her hair done every Saturday morning, and not once complaining about it. Sweetie was not one to drive other than to and from work, so it was more of a job for Anthony, although his smile would make anyone assume he had the best, “job” in the entire world. The couple enjoyed over fifty-nine years of marriage when Anthony died in 2009.

Though small in stature, Sweetie’s heart could fill several football stadiums.  Her affectionate nickname, “Sweetie,” was most appropriate not just because of her kind nature, but it was most apropos for her strong affinity for cookies, candy, mallomars, and all things store-bought and sweet. Not a fan of homemade edibles, she put the the sweet in sweet tooth!

Caring and nurturing, she was known to be a fantastic listener who would give advice when appropriate and just be there when advice was not warranted. She made certain those in her life knew they were loved and that she was proud of them. This applied especially when she earned the title of, “Grandmother” and subsequently, “Great Grandmother.” She was so proud of her grandchildren and lived to see them smile.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Michael Coraggio, M.D.; a grandson and his husband, Michael A. Coraggio and Ryan Burrows; a granddaughter and her husband, Jennifer E. and John Cecilian; a great granddaughter, Stella Grace Cecilian; three siblings, Dennis Iavarone and his wife, Virginia, Alex Iavarone, and Yolanda Sottosanti and her husband, James; several nieces, nephews and extended family; and many dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, February 15, 2019 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ, to help celebrate Sweetie’s life and legacy.

This gathering will be followed at 6:00 p.m. by a Life Celebration Service to which all are welcomed.

Cremation was private at the Chapel of Ewing Crematory, Ewing Township, NJ under the direct supervision of the Wright & Ford Licensed Care Team Family.

Please visit Sweetie’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Sweetie’s honor.