Connie Maconi Zappia

Connie Maconi Zappia (nee: Concetta Parisi), a long time Penns Grove resident and loving mother, sister, and friend, passed away on November 6, 2024 at the age of 100.
Connie was born on January 19, 1924 in Philadelphia to Alfio and Camilla (Consoli) Parisi. She is one of four sisters, Mary, Lena, herself, and Josephine (Jo) along with her brother, Nick. She was raised in Penns Grove, N.J. by her mother and stepfather, Nick Caggiano on Poplar Street which was an active Italian neighborhood in its day. At age 17, she married Joseph L. Maconi, who became a renowned carpenter/cabinet maker in the area. Together, they raised five sons and were active in supporting their community including involvement with the Altar and Rosary society at St. James Church and with Babe Ruth Baseball. Connie spent most years as a deeply committed homemaker while administratively assisting her husband Joe's woodworking business. Along the way, Connie worked briefly at DuPont's in Deepwater, and later at VWR Scientific where she excelled but she mostly loved being home with her active family.
In her youth, Connie had a passion for singing. She had a wonderful voice to match her beauty and sang solos in several of her high school music programs. She was also part of the Drum Majorette Corp at Penns Grove High School. She thought that in different times, she might have been able to utilize her talents professionally.
The Italian cooking gene ran deep in her family as she and her siblings were all excellent cooks. Family dinners at her house were looked forward to by everyone; her spaghetti and meatballs, sausage and homemade "gravy" were famous and world class. "Sunday Dinners" and all day Thanksgiving/holiday meals were especially celebrated.
Connie belonged to a knitting club with a group of her friends. She would have been a great detective as she had "eyes in the back of her head" in raising her boys. Later in life, she loved to play bingo and give all of her prizes to friends and family members. She was known for being a strong, feisty woman and holding her own.
Connie is survived by her five children, Steve, Mike, Bob, David (Denise) and Joseph (Chelle), along with her loving and attentive sister Jo, her brother Nick Caggiano, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, (notably Angie Freas who treated "Aunt Connie" as her own mother) and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first and second husbands, Joseph Maconi and Mario Zappia, and her sisters Mary and Lena.
Services will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at the Adams Funeral Home, 64 Broad St., Woodstown NJ 08098. The viewing will begin at 10 AM with the service following at 11 AM. Burial will take place at St. Joseph's RC Cemetery in Woodstown after the service. www.adamsfuneralhome.org