Mrs. Jeanne Schultz-Cortese, 92, died on December 2, 2018 at her home in Wayne, NJ, surrounded by her loving family. Visiting will be at the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona on Saturday, December 8, from 2 to 5 p.m., with a service to be held at 4 p.m.
Born in Newark, Mrs. Schultz-Cortese grew up in Verona and raised her family there. She also lived in Little Falls prior to moving to Wayne in 2011.
A graduate of Our Lady of the Lake School and Verona High School, Mrs. Schultz-Cortese, a legal secretary, began her 28-year professional career with Essex County as a secretary to the 4-H agent and retired in 1993 as an administrative secretary for the Essex County Engineer.
She was an active member of the Verona (Chairlady), Essex County and New Jersey Democratic organizations, president of the Verona Democratic Women’s Club, president of the Essex County Democratic Women’s Club and a member of the New Jesey Democratic Women’s Organization.
Mrs. Schultz-Cortese was a guest on several occasions at the White House in Washington, D.C. – of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy at afternoon tea that included visits through many private rooms not open to the general public; of President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson at afternoon tea given for leading Democratic women leaders from all 50 states; of President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter at his Inauguration and the Inaugural Ball. She also attended a special meeting in the West Wing of the White House for Democratic Women leaders from the tristate area which included a personal visit to the Oval Office and Rose Garden.
Mrs. Schultz-Cortese was a guest with other New Jersey Democratic women at the governor’s mansion, Morven, in Trenton on several occasions.
She was a member of the F.N. Brown PTA, Verona High School PTA, Verona Rescue Squad Auxilliary, Our Lady of the Lake Rosary Society and the Golden Ages of Little Falls.
A special friendship of over 80 years was kept with her classmates from Our Lady of the Lake School. They had get-togethers several times a year for the past 30 years which included luncheons, dinners, theatre trips, travel and visiting each other’s homes. Mrs. Schultz-Cortese also enjoyed world traveling with her husband, Vito.
She was predeceased by her son, Richard Schultz, daughter, Nancy C. Riley and son-in-law, Dan Stefanelli.
Mrs. Schultz-Cortese is survived by her husband, Vito Cortese, her children, Robert A. Schultz (Marjorie), Kathleen Kalafut (Daniel) and Barbara J. Maulfair (Raymond), Vito Cortese (Carol), Gina Cortese and son-in-law, William Riley; grandchildren, Kevin Riley, David Schultz, Richard Schultz, Carl Maulfair, Mary Grace Cortese, Christina Cortese Savory, Mary Jean Stefanelli (Daniel Colon), Billy Riley and Debbie Riley West (Jeff); and great-grandchildren, Kelly West, Kyle West, Julianna Savory, James Savory, Isabella Savory, Cassidy Savory, Lucas Savory and Rosey Colon.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to the Verona Rescue Squad, 12 Church Street, Verona, NJ 07044 would be greatly appreciated.
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