Angie Zettel

WANTAGE - Angie Zettel passed away on May 30, 2016, at the age of 93.
Angie was an inspiration to so many people and touched many lives. She always had a smile and an encouraging word to impart. Angie was a survivor. She overcame many obstacles in her life and knew the meaning of perseverance. Angie had to leave school at 16 to work and help support her family. She met her husband, John, and married soon after. Two months later, John was sent overseas to fight in World War II. Angie always said her most important accomplishment was her family. Her most cherished moments were being a wife and mother. She and John had five children and for 15 years led a happy, fulfilled life.
It was when her youngest daughter was 4 that she decided to pursue her other dream of becoming a school teacher. John was so proud of her and encouraged her to fulfill her dream. Angie enrolled in a GED program when she was 36 to complete her high school education. She then enrolled at Paterson State College (William Paterson University). She loved going to school. She was a full-time student with five children and a husband.
It was during her freshman year at college when tragedy struck. The love of her life, her rock, her husband, was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was a grueling two years of taking care of her husband and children, continuing school, and working part-time at Bamberger's. Sadly, John succumbed to the disease. It was a difficult time for Angie, but she knew she had to continue with her college education, this time for different reasons; it was now a matter of being able to secure a career to care for her five children, ages 5-15.
Of course, Angie had the love and support of her sister, Gloria, brothers, Charles and Edward and her dear mother to help her emotionally through those rough times. Angie would let nothing stop her from graduating, many times taking her youngest daughter to class with her. It was also during this difficult time that Angie opened her heart and home to an adolescent who became a third son to her. She always had room in her heart and her home.
Angie graduated and became an English teacher, first at Passaic No. 12 school for two years, then moved her family to Howell and was an English teacher for the next 25 years at Brick High School in Brick. Angie loved teaching English. She not only taught her students literature and grammar, but life's lessons as well. She frequently had her students over for spaghetti dinners and conversation. She went on numerous class trips to New York museums and plays; she knew the value of teaching out of the classroom. She attended all the football games and every play. She was the students' loudest cheerleader. Angie never had the luxury of spending her summers relaxing or vacationing. Being a widow, she had to work every summer. Aside from teaching summer school, she worked as a bank teller, as a department store clerk, and a toll booth collector on the Garden State Parkway. There was never a roadblock that Angie couldn't plough through; she would just persevere.
After 25 years of teaching English, Angie retired from Brick High. But staying still was not in her genes. She then became a part-time nurse's aide at Wallkill Hospital in Sussex. She always said if she were younger, she would have liked to pursue a nursing career, too. She loved being a nurse's aide and approached that career with the same passion she had for teaching. However, Angie was not ready to leave education. When Angie was in her 70s, she became a substitute teacher at the Sussex Middle School. Here, she was back in the realm that she loved best, surrounded by students and books. Angie always said teaching keeps one young and this she proved to be true.
She also became an avid Civil War buff. Angie read countless books about the Civil War and its generals and battles, and when she wasn't reading, she was completing a daily crossword puzzle. Angie loved her mornings relaxing over coffee at the Sussex A&P. It seemed as though nothing could keep her from enjoying her morning coffee there, not heat waves, blizzards, or hurricanes, she was there having her first cup with the crossword puzzle. Also, another of her most cherished times was relaxing at the Sussex-Wantage pool during the summers; it was truly an extended family there.
Angie's legacy will always be first and foremost her love of family. Her Thanksgiving dinners were legendary! She was always there to give support and guidance. She was the matriarch of the family. It was not easy being a widow raising children but Angie managed to persevere with love in her heart and optimism by her side.
Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration honoring Angie's life on July 17 at the American Legion in Sussex. Angie was predeceased by her brothers, Erasmo and Charles Piazza. She is survived by her sister, Gloria Insano (John), her sons, John Zettel Jr. (Chrisi), (Marjorie), Kenneth Zettel (Nancy), and Joseph Wagner (Cheryl) and her daughters, Gail McShane (Ed), Gloria Zettel (Glen),and Cynthia Orinski (John). Angie is survived by her 10 grandchildren, Aimee Zettel, Kenneth Zettel, Jaime Zettel, Jodie Zettel, Joey Wagner (Cheryl), Willie Wagner, Allison Kaufmann (Marc), Emily VanSaun (John), Melanie Danko (Matthew), and Carrie Orinski. She is also survived by her niece, Gloria Lisa Virginio (Celeste), and nephew, John Insano, and her niece, Sherill Insano, and her nephews, Christopher Virginio and David Insano.
Angie was not one to let life pass her by. She was always active. Her favorite poet was Emily Dickinson, and she especially loved this first stanza:
"Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality"
Enjoy your ride, Angie. We know you are looking down on us with your blessings and love.