Lillian V. Vitarelli (nee Pelle), age 105 years of Pennsauken, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2026, at home surrounded by her loving family.
Lillian was the beloved wife of the late John J. Vitarelli; devoted mother of Carole A. Colangelo, John M. Vitarelli (Rosemary) and the late Lucielle Joyce Vitarelli; loving grandmother of John, Christina, Lesley, Andrea (Ciro), and Nicholas (Jillian); and great grandmother of Lorraine, Alessandro, Gia, Dante, and Liana. She was the dear sister of the late Samuel, Romeo, Dolores and Robert; and is also survived by Nick Colangelo Sr., sister-in-law, Carol Dolbow Vitarelli, special niece, Joan Marini, as well as many other nieces and nephews.
Prior to retirement, Lillian was owner of LiJon Boutique and Beauty Salon in Pennsauken for 15 years and then was a bus aid for Yale School in Cherry Hill. Lillian loved spending summers with her husband and family in Atlantic City and then Margate. She was a member of St. Peter’s Church Ministry and enjoyed bus trips with the Senior Women’s Club.
She enjoyed writing and journaling throughout her life and kept careful notes and reflections over the years. She spent a great deal of time outside in her yard, where she liked gardening, pulling weeds, and watching birds.
Lillian also had a gift for bringing people together. She loved entertaining in her home and was known for hosting memorable gatherings filled with conversation, laughter, and generous hospitality. Her home was a welcoming place where friends and family felt instantly at ease.
Lillian’s long life was marked by attentiveness to the natural world, and to the people she loved. She will be remembered for her warmth, her curiosity, and the many quiet moments of beauty she both noticed and created.
Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation and Funeral on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m, at the Falco/Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Rd. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Church, 43 W. Maple Ave. in Merchantville. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan Hospice, PO Box 71425 Philadelphia, PA 19176.
