July 16 1920 July 23 2019
Jennie Mele (nee Giansanti) – 99, of North Cape May, NJ and Wilmington, DE passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home with her family at her side on July 23, 2019. Jennie was born in Marche, Italy, July 16, 1920. She came to the United States with her mother, Maria Giansanti, in 1925. Her father, Cesar Giansanti, was already in Wilmington, DE. They lived on DuPont Street right across from St. Anthony’s Church. When Jennie went to kindergarten, the teacher asked for her name. Jennie replied “Giavonna,” the teacher then asked her to spell it but Jennie didn’t know. So, the teacher proclaimed her “Jennie” and that became her legal name. Jennie learned sewing and cooking at an early age from her mother. She and her mother did finishing work on men’s suits; hand-sewing button holes, top stitching and over casting seams. In her teens Jennie worked at a factory that manufactured women’s nylons, “Peds.” Her sewing ability and fashion sense earned her the title “Miss DuPont” as she lived on DuPont Street. Jennie was an excellent cook making homemade pasta, cookies (“biscuits”) and other desserts like rum sponge cake layered with ice cream. Holidays were always special because she prepared so many wonderful dishes. She married Alfred Mele in June of 1945. Together they built a successful motel business starting with a small apartment building they built on Ocean Ave., Wildwood, NJ, the A & J. They acquired a rooming house and another rental property in Wildwood before building the Villa Nova Motel in Wildwood Crest, NJ in 1964. Jennie and Alfred ran the motel together and their children continue to run the motel today. Jennie loved bingo, the slot machines in Atlantic City, sweets, traveling and most of all her family. She lived to celebrate 99 years and we will cherish the memories of that wonderful party. Jennie is dearly missed and forever loved by her family which includes her three children, JoAnn Schiffer (Harold) of Hockessin, DE, Albert Mele (Lenna) of Newark, DE and Annette Bower (Gale) of N. Cape May, NJ; six grandchildren, Karen (Jon), Kristine (Sean), Thomas, Matthew, Stefanie and Kyle; four great grandchildren, Katherine, Madeline, Olivia and Alyssa. Jennie’s graveside service will be held on Tuesday (July 30th) at 11am at the Cathedral Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel, 2400 Lancaster Ave., Wilmington, DE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Heartland Hospice, 2111 New Road – #100, Northfield, NJ 08225.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jennie Mele July 16 1920 July 23 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Cape May, state: New Jersey