Obituary of Frances Pennewill

Frances Corallo Pennewill of Toms River on Saturday, August 13, 2016 Frances Corallo Pennewill was born in North Bergen New Jersey on a beautiful day in May. She was the middle child born to Joseph Corallo and Concetta (Zago) Corallo who were from the same village in Ragusa, Sicily, but who met in the US. It became very clear to her parents that she was, in fact, special because her huge heart shone through. When she was five years old and attending afterschool daycare, the teacher asked her for a form that her father needed to sign. When the teacher read it she noticed that her "Papa" had signed it in the wrong place and called him a "greenhorn", to which five year-old Frances, in a dress and bologna curls yelled: "He is not a greenhorn!" The most honest, real person you could ever meet was beginning to develop. Frances was very close to her brothers John and Salvatore (Sammy) Corallo. They were inseparable, and would do anything for each other. Often it was Fran ready to take out the bully in defense of her brothers. Frances was eager to start her life and get out of Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey. She wanted to make her own money and buy her own clothes, which during that time many women were discouraged to do…or didn't want to do for that matter. She found herself a job with a friend at American Airlines on 42nd Street in New York City. She used the opportunity to travel everywhere , often hopping on a plane on a Friday after work and crossing her fingers that she would get a flight back Sunday night and make it back in time for work on Monday. There were many times she ran down 42nd Street in her high heels and custom made clothes, barely making it to work on those Monday mornings, but she still stopped for her coffee and bagel. She married Joseph Pennewill and had a daughter Jacqueline. She devoted her life to her. She was in awe of this life that grew inside of her and "couldn't believe" she made her. She often joke that she made Jacqueline all by herself. Frances loved to read, especially murder mysteries. She began taking her daughter to the library and she opened a world of wonder, not knowing how prominent it would be in Jacqueline's life as she later became an actress and a writer. The morning of Jacqueline's first day of kindergarten, Frances knelt down in front of her and said, "Remember what I told you. If someone calls you skinny, what do you say?" To which Jacqueline replied, "It's better to be skinny than fat." She then asked her daughter, "How did I teach you to protect yourself?" Jacqueline made fists with her tiny hands and put one in front of her face and one in front of her chest. Frances then said, "And remember as long as you get one good punch in, that's all that matters." "And", her mother said, "remember to sit like a lady." Frances walked her daughter to school and waited outside until Jacqueline's first day was over, and when Jacqueline saw her, she ran to her mom and hugged her. They walked home that day discussing her first day of school. Frances stayed very close to her daughter, working at the schools her daughter attended as a librarian – St. John's in Guttenberg, NJ and St. Peter's in Point Pleasant, NJ. Her life changed but her love of life didn't. She nurtured those around her. She taught her daughter not to be afraid, to be brave. To love life and live life and not take things so seriously. She passed her dark, wicked sense of humor onto her daughter, who will be forever grateful for her mom. People were drawn to Frances. She would often accompany her daughter NYC on auditions waiting in a local coffeehouse. When Jacqueline would come back, she would find her mom surrounded by people, usually men. Jacqueline would laugh and shake her head, and Frances would just shrug her shoulders, smile and introduce her daughter to those around her. It was always a party with Frances. She wanted people to be happy. She was happy when her daughter met Pete Konczal and they married. She loved to tease Pete who never knew if she was serious or not. They grew to become very close, sharing many of the same interests and tastes. Often they found themselves lost in conversation, chatting about family or just simple things that cracked them up. Pete became known as the "treat master" as he would constantly bring Fran her favorite desserts, including Blueberry Crumb Pie, knowing that Fran had always been there for him. Frances was classy, had the best sense of style. She was cool before there was cool. She loved to cook – hey, she was Italian, tease people, walk on the beach. When she was around, no one wanted for anything. She was there to cook a meal for you and would give you the shirt off her back. She also loved her puppy Shadow. The two would often share naps in the afternoon together. There's a story that Frank Sinatra tried to pick her up at a club in NYC and she said, "No, I don't like your music." She was always the most honest, real person you would ever meet. Her life…she did it her way… Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. & 7 -9 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Pable Evertz Funeral Home of Point Pleasant, 901 Beaver Dam Road. At 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 18 a Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at Saint Peter Church, Point Pleasant Beach, followed by interment at Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Jude Children's Hospital www.stjude.org For condolences and tributes please visit www.pableevertzfuneralhome.com