Sophie Jackapino, 91, of Holmdel, passed away Nov. 27, 2023, surrounded by her family.
Sophie was born in Newark and raised in Union Beach; she was a graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School. While there she unknowingly met her future husband, Anthony, but it wasn’t until years later when she went into his pharmacy that the two would begin their life together.
They married in 1961, moved to Holmdel to raise their family and worked side by side running their family pharmacy.
Her final years were spent at The Villas of Holmdel, where she loved spending her time with her friends and caregivers.
Sophie enjoyed embroidery, singing, cooking her best dishes – including her pumpkin pie and cornbread and her Sunday sauce – gardening, walking on the beach looking for shells, watching the Mets and Giants, her winters spent at her condo in Naples, Florida, puzzles with her friends, and just any time she could spend with her grandchildren.
Sophie was predeceased by her husband and lifelong friend Anthony Jackapino; her siblings Edwin Lembo and his wife Marita, Arthur Lembo and his wife Mary, Joseph Lembo and his wife Joan, and her brother-in-law Vince Territo.
Sophie is survived by her children, Tony Jackapino and his wife Raeann, Jerry Jackapino and his wife Gail and Teresa Tollevsen and her husband Keith; her siblings Marian Territo and Victor Lembo and his wife Jan; her beloved grandchildren, Amanda, Rachel and her husband Zach, Alexa, Lauren, Kayla, Matthew and Tommy; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Cooper and Layla Fike; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and an extended family who adored her dearly.
Visitation was Dec. 1 at the Holmdel Funeral Home, Holmdel. A Mass of Christian burial was offered at St. Catharine’s Church, Holmdel. An entombment followed at Holmdel Cemetery Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or The St. Vincent DePaul Society.
To leave a message of condolence or to share a favorite memory, please visit Sophie’s page at holmdelfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared in the December 7 – 13, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
