Obituary of Louise B Mastrobattista

Louise B. Mastrobattista, 92, formerly of Center Valley, PA, was called to eternal life on Wednesday June 10, 2020 with her family at her side, after a long illness. Born in Bernardsville, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Virginia (del Monte) Baldassarre. Louise was also the beloved wife of the late Alexander J. Mastrobattista who predeceased her in 2013. Louise is survived by her son David and his wife Linda, along with the family’s ever faithful and lovable Black Lab Zuke who was always at Louise’s side. Louise was a proud graduate of Bernards High School in 1946, where she had a keen mind for business classes which eventually brought her to a local job in Bernardsville — working for Gianquitti’s Hardware Store as a secretary and bookkeeper. She met her future husband Alex, who was then working across the street from Gianquitti’s at the Bernardsville bank. Louise and Alex were married in 1953 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Bernardsville, NJ, where they were active parishioners for years. Louise “retired” from Gianquitti’s in 1959, when the couple started their family. And she became a full-time homemaker, Mom, and consummate Italian household chef for decades thereafter. Her residence in NJ and then subsequently in PA could easily rival anything that House Beautiful Magazine would feature. And few cooks could rival her homemade Italian recipes that to this day only existed in her head. When asked about her secrets, she often winked and said she used just the right amount of this… and the right amount of that — which magically resulted in meals having an unmistakable, authentic taste of Old World Italy. Louise and family moved “westward” to Center Valley, PA in 1971, when Alex’s job at Mack Trucks, Inc required a relocation to the company’s World Headquarters in Allentown, PA. Louise was 43 years old at the time of the relocation. And up to that point in her life, she had been a resident of her hometown of Bernardsville, a town she never expected to leave. Fifteen years later in 1986, when Alex retired from Mack Trucks Inc., Louise and Alex embarked upon their “leisure years” — often working ever-so-meticulously around the grounds and flower gardens of their Center Valley, PA residence. Louise and Alex were married just shy of 60 years before Alex’s passing in 2013. And they were blessed to have 25 of those years together in retirement. In the 7 years following Alex’s passing, Louise missed him immensely, but enjoyed spoiling her “grand-dog” Zuke with her fabulous foods. She lived for — and was truly devoted to — her family, and will be missed by all who knew her. Visitation will be held on June 15, 2020 at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 from 10:00 - 11:00am. Funeral Service will follow at the funeral home at 11:00am. Entombment will be at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Louise’s name may be made to Abramson Hospice, 1425 Horsham Rd, North Wales, PA 19454 or The Seeing Eye, Inc., 10 Washington Valley Rd., Morristown, NJ 07960.