Ennio Menna, age 94, Red Bank died at Riverview Medical Center with his family at his side. Born in 1929 in Montefalcone Nel Sannio (CB) Italy, son of the late Pasquale and Isolina DeFanis Menna. He served in the Italian Army Medical Corps in the early 1950’s. 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 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 sopressata and sausage. He was proud of the fact that he grew Molisan figs in NJ from roots of his fig trees in the Sannio valley. Until his hospitalization, he would daily 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.
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) and grandchildren Danielle and Nicole, his devoted senior grandpup, Lilly; his brothers in law, Lucio and Anselmo (Francine) Cordisco, and many nephews and nieces in US, Canada and Italy.
Visitation will be held on Monday, September 18th from 5-8 pm at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 19th at 10 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 27 Oratory Way, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Entombment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown, NJ.
