Ennio Menna, age 94, of Red Bank, died at Riverview Medical Center with his family at his side. Born in 1929 in Montefalcone nel Sannio, Campobasso, Italy, son of the late Pasquale and Isolina DeFanis Menna.
Ennio served in the Italian Army Medical Corps in the early 1950s. He trained as a master leather goods craftsman. He married his neighbor, Evelina Cordisco, in 1953 in Montefalcone. The family emigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1961 and then to New Jersey in 1963 where he made Red Bank his home until moved to Little Silver in 1972. He returned to Red Bank to reside with his son in 2022. He was retired from Ultimate Distribution in Edison.
Ennio was a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Red Bank. He enjoyed spending time with his family over homemade wine and cured dried Italian soppressata and sausage. He was proud of the fact that he grew Molisan figs in New Jersey from the roots of his fig trees in the Sannio Valley. Until his hospitalization, he would pick the fresh figs from his son’s tree every morning to share with his bride before he brought her espresso to start the day.
Ennio was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Fiorentino, Delfina, Rita, Giovanni and Emma. He is survived by his adored wife of 70 years, Evelina (Cordisco); his son, former Red Bank mayor, Hon. Pasquale Menna with whom he lived; daughter Mary Menna Darveau (Peter); grandchildren Danielle and Nicole; his devoted senior grandpup Lilly; his brothers-in-law, Lucio and Anselmo (Francine) Cordisco; and many nephews and nieces in the U.S., Canada and Italy.
Visitation was held Sept. 18 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Sept. 19 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Red Bank. Entombment followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
This article originally appeared in the September 21 – 27, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
