Viola Julia Penza

1932 - 2025

Viola Julia (Merkord) Penza

September 26, 1932 - June 21, 2025

Viola Julia Penza (Merkord), 92, passed away on Saturday, June 21st, at the Atlantic City Medical Center. She had heard her sister, Dorothy, calling her on Friday and on Saturday she followed Dorothy home. Viola grew up on the family farm on Odessa Ave in Pomona, NJ. She attended grade school in Pomona and graduated from Egg Harbor City High School. She was active in the chorus, the orchestra playing the violin, and was a member of the safety patrol. She also was a majorette in the school marching band. In 1951 she married Thomas Penza and in 1953 they moved into their home on Washington Ave in Egg Harbor City where they lived throughout their married lives. Viola worked for a short time at Petrilli's Factory in Egg Harbor and also helped her husband with the bookkeeping for his fuel oil business which was for a time run from their home. Viola dedicated her life to her husband, her children, her family, and many friends. Along with her husband she enjoyed entertaining in their early years in the finished basement of their home hosting many New Year's Eve parties. In the summer she loved to sit in the sun while her daughters enjoyed the water at the city lake. She was an avid walker and walked uptown, or as we said, up the street, to shop at Ruth's Fashions, Vignali's Shoe Store, and the 5 & 10. Sundays she spent out on the Merkord farm with Tom, daughters, Bonnie and Debbie, all of her sisters, their husbands, and all of their children. On Saturdays Viola and Tom were frequent diners at Sweetwater Casino and Oyster Creek Inn, enjoying dinners out with good friends. The Penza home was always welcoming to the neighborhood friends of her daughters. Viola and Tom traveled frequently with their friends. Favorite destinations were Boca Raton in Florida, St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and Bird-in-Hand in Lancaster County. Once granddaughters, Shelley, Faith, and Hope, arrived she was a dedicated Mom Mom. The grandkids enjoyed the pool, dinners out, walks through the neighborhood, and even fishing. Every holiday she made sure the house was festively decorated and each granddaughter had special holiday gifts. Viola always treated them to their favorite meal of chicken nuggets and Kraft macaroni and cheese! Viola always made sure to send a card for everyone's birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. She loved sending and receiving cards! And she never missed an occasion or a milestone! Viola is predeceased by her mother, Christine and father, Herman Merkord; her sisters, Marguerite Bader, Elaine Seibert, Gertrude Jones, and Dorothy Berchtold; bothers-in-law, Norman Bader, Arthur Seibert, Gildas Jones, and Howard Berchtold; and daughter, Debra Rech. She is survived by daughter, Bonnie Bertino (Joe); and granddaughters, Shelley Bertino, Faith Rech, and Hope Rech; her brother, Herman Merkord of Maine; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 28th, at Wimberg Funeral Home , 400 Liverpool Ave in Egg Harbor City. Visitations start at 9:30 to 11 a.m., memorial service at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: C.A.T.S. 959 Asbury Ave Ocean City, NJ 08226 or to the Animal Welfare Society of Cape May County 40 Route 47 South Cape May, NJ 08210. For directions and condolences, please visit Wimbergfuneralhome.com.

Wimberg Funeral Home

Egg Harbor City- Galloway