Nella (Van Hook) Brancato

Nella Brancato (nee Van Hook), age 101 years, died Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Fair Lawn, NJ at her home where she lived since 1950. Nella was born August 24, 1923 in Passaic, NJ to Daniel and Elizabeth (Roper) Van Hook the youngest of four siblings. Nella married Vincent Brancato. She is survived by 2 daughters, Judith Brancato and Christine (Brancato) Cavaliere-Bole and her husband David Bole. She also leaves 5 grandchildren, Tammarra (Drelich) and her husband Paul Mycoskie, Shawn Drelich and his wife Jamie Spadaro, Christopher Cavaliere and his wife Jen, and Lindsay(Cavaliere) and her husband Tony Romano. She was a loving great grandmother to 6; Paige and Abigail Mycoskie, Mason and Logan Romano and Nella and Neva Drelich. She loved and adored all of them and they cherished their GiGi. She took care, at one time or another, all of her grandchildren who she loved deeply and showered kindness and generosity upon.

Nella was pre-deceased by her sister Ann Fisher (Van Hook) and her brothers, Daniel, and Samuel Van Hook, her daughter Patricia Drelich in 2008, her son-in-law, George Cavaliere in 2003 and her loving grandson, Vincent Cavaliere in 2019.

Nella has many nieces and nephews, all who have always said how kind and loving she is. Doing for others was her motivation and motto throughout her long life. Over the years she and her husband Vincent shared their home with relatives hosting dinners, birthdays, celebrations, pool parties and BBQs. Nella loved to bake, especially Christmas cookies at the holidays that her grandchildren loved. Her Biscotti was a special treat she would share with family, friends, and even strangers, giving freely to others.

Anyone who was in her presence and knew her well, loved her and felt loved and cared for by her. She was a true servant, compassionate, kind and caring, but never thought of herself in that way. She was totally humble! Her family and friends will tell you she had a great sense of humor and was able to laugh at herself. Her long time friend Marion will tell you how they laughed when together or talking on the phone which happened a few times a day.

She often commented on how surprised she was that she lived so long, over 100 years, in fact just shy of being 102!
It is impossible to summarize the life of someone who lived so long and large in a few paragraphs. But memories will keep her spirit alive, living in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, GiGi, and friend. Nella, you are missed and there is an opening in our hearts only to be filled by love and light.

The Brancato family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff. A prayer service will be Wednesday 6:30 PM at the funeral home. Funeral services will be Thursday 10:00 AM at the funeral home followed by interment at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Montclair. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nella’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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