In Memoriam: Longtime Red Bank & Little Silver Resident, Evelina Menna, 90

Longtime Red Bank and Little Silver resident, Evelina Menna, died at 5:30 p.m. on May 23, surrounded by her children. She was 90.

Born on October 2, 1933 in Montefalcone nel Sannio in the Molise region of Italy, she was the daughter of the late Giovanni Cordisco and Maria Mascia Cordisco.

“She was the devoted wife of Ennio Menna for 70 years and has rejoined him in heaven. Evelina was a strong and courageous woman. She and Ennio emigrated in 1961 with their young family, moving first to Montreal, Canada and in 1963 moved to Red Bank. They purchased their dream home on Fox Hill Drive in Little Silver where they lived happily for 52 years. They returned to Red Bank to reside with her son in 2022.

“Evelina was an artiste. She helped thousands of women look their best on one of the most important days of their lives, their wedding day. She created stylish couture for countless mothers of the bride, bridesmaids, prom attendees and others in the Two River area for generations. She was a master artist of her craft. She worked at Love Lane Bridal on Broad Street for decades. She loved her work and had a fierce work ethic. She was a caring and giving woman who always put others first.

“A terrific cook, always hosting large family holidays and often making homemade pasta. Her most famous dish was her white lasagna with mini chicken meatballs. She and Ennio made delicious homemade charcuterie and wine. When their bountiful fig tree was replanted at the home of their loving next door neighbors, the Swiss family’s yard, they discovered that it had symbolically grown into two trees, one for each of them, Evelina and Ennio.”
Loved ones of Evelina Menna in her obituary

Evelina is predeceased by: her husband, Ennio; and her parents, Giovanni and Maria Cordisco.

She is survived by: her loving children, her son, former Red Bank Mayor, Hon. Pasquale Menna, of Red Bank, her daughter and best friend, Mary Menna Darveau and son-in-law, Peter Darveau; the shinning stars of her life, her granddaughters, Danielle and Nicole Darveau, all of Sudbury, MA; senior grand pup, Lilly; her brothers, Lucio and Anselmo (Francine); her cousin, Clara Cordisco Menna, of Montefalcone nel Sannio, who was like a sister to her; and many nephews and nieces in US, Canada and Italy.

Evelina was devout Roman Catholic and parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Red Bank.

Now reunited with her loving husband, they will celebrate their 71^st wedding anniversary in heaven on June 18.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. Mass of christian burial will be held on Thursday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 27 Oratory Way, Red Bank. Entombment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Funeral Home