Lenora Elizabeth Tarabella

Lenora Elizabeth Tarabella died the morning of December 24, 2025 at the age of 90 years old with two of her children by her side. She was born April 11, 1935 in New York City. She grew up a city kid spending most of her time with her beloved grandmother, Margaret. She attended St. Cecillia High School in Englewood, NJ. Lenora was an excellent student excelling in her studies; learning how to speak Latin and French and graduated at the top of her class. She was involved in theatre at school and became an accomplished dancer. Lenora was always a hard worker, dedicated to mastering whatever she put her mind to. While working at New Jersey Bell she was promoted from a Customer Service Representative to the Liaison to the C-Suite between the public and upper management. In addition to NJ Bell, Lenora was an instructor of modeling and poise at the Marnee Steffens School of Poise and Modeling. At the prompting of her best friend Pat, she went to The Wiz Skiers Club one evening and met the love of her life, Bob. He was very taken with the green-eyed redhead and quickly made it his mission to ask her on a date. A whirlwind romance ensued; they met in October and were married the following June.
They welcomed their first their child Lori Marie to be followed by Bobby, Didi, and Jimmy. A few years later the young family moved to South Florida and started a successful residential construction company and then a busy upholstery company all while raising four children. Lenora always worked side by side with Bob in every business venture. She kept the books, did the ordering, and went on appointments with her husband in the evenings. They started the next great adventure about 30 years later when their children settled in North Georgia. They relocated to be closer to their grandchildren.
Her faith was the pillar in her life she relied on daily. She could often be seen with her lips moving while doing daily tasks. When asked she would respond that she was saying the Rosary. She was so dedicated to the Rosary that her rosary beads made of cut crystal had edges that were rubbed smooth from her prayers.
She was a devoted, wife, mother, daughter, and friend. Her sense of humor was quick witted and silly. Her greatest joy in life was her children and grandchildren; her heart swelled when she filled a pew in church with her kids. She had a wonderful eye for color and design. She was an accomplished chef able to re-create dishes from taste. She lost the love of her life in May 2024 and said it was like losing her right arm. Now she is reunited with Bob and they dance for all eternity.
Lenora is preceded in death by her daughter, Lori Tarabella Majid and her husband, Robert Tarabella. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Marie Busbee (James Busbee); sons, James Robert Tarabella (Angela Tarabella) and Robert Mark Tarabella (Leslie Anne Tarabella); her grandchildren, Michael James Majid, Harrison Tarabella (Abbie Tarabella), Alexandra Lenora Busbee, Joseph Tarabella, Thomas James Busbee, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Tarabella, and Anthony James Tarabella. She will be greatly missed.
A viewing for family and friends will be on Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 10:00 - 11:00AM at the Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Avenue, Rockaway, NJ. Lenora will be laid to rest later that day next to her Bobby in St Cecilia's Cemetery in Rockaway, New Jersey.
Condolences may be sent to: RockawayFuneral.com