Obituary of Jean G Giacchi

Jean G. Giacchi (nee Ereddia), 88, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2023.

Affectionately known as Jeanne, she was born on September 23, 1934.  She was raised on Huyler Street in Hackensack, NJ and graduated from Broadway Elementary School, State Street Junior High, and Hackensack High School, Class of 1952.  Jean was a consistent Honor Society student.  She excelled at accounting, and landed an office job at Grabe Fuel Oil while still attending High School.  She was one of the first people trained to use a mechanical adding machine at Grabe.  Jean would later work as an office assistant directly for Mr. Frank Packard at the iconic Packard's Department Store in Hackensack during the late 1940's.   Jean would meet her future husband Joseph while working as a proofreader at a printing company in Hackensack.  Joseph had just returned from the Korean War, and was starting his HVAC company in 1953.   They were married on April 24, 1955 at St. Francis R.C. Church in Hackensack. Together, they built a home in Oradell, NJ in 1959, raising sons Joseph L and Greg.  They remained in Oradell for 21 years.  They also owned a cabin on Lake Gerard in Sussex County during the 1970s.  In 1980, they moved to Kampfe Lake, Bloomingdale NJ where they spent the next 40 years.  Jean and Joseph together enjoyed four decades of lake life, gardening, family parties, travel and cruises, and Joe’s musical performances with his numerous bands, including his final group, The Joe Giacchi Swing Trio.  Jean could usually be found either front row, or alongside Joe during each and every gig.  Jean was an amazing cook and homemaker.  Her beloved Italian recipes trace back to family in Sicily, and will remain cherished by her children and future generations.  Jean was a breast cancer survivor of over twenty years.  Perhaps her favorite hobby was reading… books, newspapers, magazines, or anything with text.  The running joke was while spending the last two years living with son Greg and his wife Pam, Jean was well on her way to reading each and every book at the Pequannock Library. 

Jean is predeceased by her parents Anthony & Jennie, her brother Joseph Ereddia (Mabel), and three sisters Ida Vaccaro (Tony), Minnie Marciani (Dino), and Rose Baeli (Frank).  She is also predeceased by Joseph D., her loving husband of 65 years who passed on April 7, 2020. Jean is survived by her sons Joseph L. (Erin) of Basking Ridge and Greg (Pamela) of Pompton Plains, and three grandchildren Brianne, Nicholas, and Anthony, and numerous nieces & nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 pm Friday, February 10 at the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains. A service will be held 11:30 am Saturday at Garden Of Memories, Township of Washington.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Jean's memory to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness (www.komen.org) and/or The Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) would be greatly appreciated by the family.