Carmen D. Venticinque

Carmen Delia Venticinque (nee Norat), 83, of Pennsauken NJ (formerly of Willingboro NJ), passed away peacefully with family members by her side on December 18, 2025. Carmen was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico to Julio Norat and Justina Camacho Norat (both pre-deceased) and she had 6 siblings. Her family moved to Philadelphia when she was a teenager and it was there where she met and eventually married the love of her life, Theodore L Venticinque, in 1964. They moved to Willingboro NJ early 1966 and spent 50 years there before Carmen moved to Pennsauken in 2016 to be closer to her family.

Wife of the late Theodore; mother of the late Maria Venticinque, Jean Marie Venticinque; sister of the late Julio, Miguel, Monserrate, Maria, and Margie; she is survived by her loving daughter, Lisa Eckel (nee Venticinque); a caring granddaughter, Jennifer Howard and her husband Richard; two cherished great-grandchildren, Anthony and Jayson Howard; her dear brother, Tony Norat and his wife Doris; her beloved nephews, Curtis Hankey (Nicole), Stephen Hankey(Anna), Miguel Norat Jr (Becky), Michael Alicea(Barbara), and a host of other nephews, nieces, God children, and sisters and brothers in law on both sides of the family, as well as too many friends who are considered family. Special mention to nephew Edwin Norat who's weekly visits for years before he moved to Florida were invaluable and she loved him and his brothers dearly.

Carmen was a homemaker devoted to her family until her children were in high school, and at that time she got her first job as a travel agent, and she knew very quickly this was her passion and she was very good at it. Eventually Carmen and Ted decided to open their own travel agency, Delia Travel, located in Pennsauken, for 25 years. Carmen retired and closed the storefront in 2010 after her husband passed away, but she continued booking travel from home for the next decade. Cruising was something she loved tremendously, and she led multiple groups every year on cruises all over the world and even took her great grandchildren with her on a few cruises when they were toddlers and they still have memories of those trips.

One of the biggest highlights of her Travel agency career was being one of 1700 travel and tourism industry representatives from across the US, that were invited the first ever White House Conference on Travel and Tourism held in Washington DC in 1995 during the Clinton Administration.

Having the business in Pennsauken let her to connect deeply with the Hispanic community in the Camden area and this became a huge factor in the direction of her life and the life- long relationships she would form. She became active in the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade in Camden every year and was there at the beginning of the Camden Spanish Social Bowling League where she bowled for close to 40 years. She would bowl in international tournaments in many countries around the world.

Carmen was devoted to her church, Christ the Redeemer, in Mt Holly NJ. She was a Eucharistic Minister, member of the altar and rosary society, did readings every week and the Church family became a part of her own family. Here she met so many wonderful people who became her very good friends. Many of her cruise groups were made up of her Church family.

Carmen will be remembered as a kind and loving friend who would do anything for anyone. She was the life of the party and people gravitated to her vibrant personality. She never met a slot machine she didn't like. She was an amazing cook, and her rice and beans and pork chops were a family favorite. She loved her family fiercely and was a devoted sister to her 6 siblings, especially her big brother Mike who was her partner in crime, and her brother Tony who was her baby brother who she loved so much. She was the cool aunt both sides of the family. She took extra care of her nephews Curtis and Stephen as they always lived within a mile of her, they were her sons in every way and she loved them dearly.

She was the glue that held family holidays and traditions together. She hosted Sunday domino games with her brothers and nephews for years and loved poker games with the nieces and nephews. She was the biggest Phillies fan ever along with her brother Mike and that passion was instilled in her daughter to this day. They watched every game on TV and went to some in person, even when the team was bad. Carmen loved her only granddaughter beyond words and would do anything for her which may only have been surpassed by her fierce love for her great-grandchildren Anthony and Jayson. They kept her living and thriving and were the joyof her life.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Monday, December 29th from 6 to 8 pm at the Gaskill-Brown Funeral Home, 33 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am, Tuesday, December 30th at Mary, Queen of All Saints Parish, 4801 Camden, Avenue, Pennsauken. Interment to follow in Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson.