Funeral, Visitation Set For West Orange Teacher Killed By Car

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The family of former West Orange teacher Patricia Villarosa will hold a funeral mass for the recently deceased educator on Wednesday, March 14. Visitation will be held at Caggiano Memorial in Montclair on Tuesday, March 13.

Villarosa, 64, a first-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School, was hit by a car last month as she was walking to a Board of Education meeting at West Orange High School. After weeks of treatment, she passed away on Friday at University Hospital in Newark, West Orange officials said.

• See related article: West Orange Teacher Dies 'Surrounded By Family' After Car Strike

West Orange Schools Superintendent Jeff Rutzky released the following statement to faculty and staff:

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague, Patricia Villarosa. She passed this morning at University Hospital in Newark surrounded by her family. Patty worked at Washington Elementary School for more than 20 years. Please keep Patty's family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers."

The below obituary comes via Caggiano Memorial Home:

“Patricia Villarosa, 64, (nee Cerreto), of West Orange, passed away on Friday March 9th 2018. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 am on Wednesday March 14, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange. Interment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Upper Montclair. Visiting will be held on Tuesday, March 13 from 4 to 8 pm at Caggiano Memorial, 62 Grove St, Montclair.

“Patricia was a teacher at Washington St. Elementary School in West Orange for 23 years, and was an active parishioner and Eucharist Minister at Our Lady of Lourds Church.

“She is survived by her son Nicholas, her sister Joanne, her brother Frank and his wife Lisa, and several nieces and nephews, she was predeceased by her husband Stephen Villarosa, by parents, Frank and Marie Cerreto, and by her brother Robert.

“In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to StJude.org would be appreciated.”

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Photo of Patricia Villarosa courtesy of Washington School