Peggy Ann Sanders Rapisardi

August 08, 1932 – December 27, 2022

Peggy Ann Sanders Rapisardi, 90, of Belleville, NJ, passed away early Tuesday morning with her son Dean and daughter-in-law Nancy at her side, after suffering a stroke 2 weeks ago.

Born in Bullock County Georgia, and growing up in Savannah, Peggy was the youngest of four sisters and one brother.

She was raised in a household where her lifelong guiding principles were instilled in her.

Kindness compassion fellowship and most importantly an unconditional devotion to anyone she loved was her calling.

Married at 20 to Angelo Rapisardi, she moved to Lyndhurst NJ to raise her own family in 1956.

Throughout her life she found employment as a waitress, bookkeeper in various accounting offices; a shipping agent for Tribert Sales in Carlstadt NJ; and was co-owner and manager of the family-owned Lamplighter Coffee Shop in Rutherford, NJ, from its opening until 1977.

An outstanding cook and baker, she was also gifted at crochet. She created unique holiday decorations, incredible detailed needlepoint and countless numbers of handmade afghans that became her signature calling card.

But the one defining endeavor of her life was motherhood and devotion to her family. That devotion carried over to anyone and everyone who might have the great fortune of coming into her circle of family, friends, and neighbors.

In 1995 Peggy's life changed direction beyond her greatest dream when she became Nana to her "Angel Face" grandchild, Ellis. The bond of love and admiration between them was made at first sight and later nurtured by countless afternoons of movies, crafting, baking cookies and trips to the park. The joy of their bond is the stuff of indelible memories.

She was predeceased by her parents, Arthur, and Lila Sanders of Savannah Ga. Her sisters Eloise Munn, Judy Allen, Martha Cook and her brother Inman Sanders, all of Savannah, Ga. her first born son, Dana Rapisardi of Kearny, NJ and the great love of her life and former husband of 28years, Angelo Rapisardi.

She is survived by her devoted son Dean Rapisardi and her equally devoted and loving daughter-in-law Nancy Nicaretta Rapisardi, with whom she shared a home during the past year in Belleville NJ. By her beloved grandchild Ellis Rapisardi of Brooklyn NY, her sister-in-law Fran Piromali of Lyndhurst NJ and multiple generations of nieces and nephews descending from the Munn, Myers, Chadwick, Hobbs, McElveen, Allen, Padgett and Betsill families in Georgia.

Visitation Monday 5 – 7 PM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton. Cremation Private.