Robert I. Cartabona

Robert I. Cartabona passed on to Heaven on April 11th after a short illness. He was an avid sports fan and loyal fan of the NY Mets. He was born on July 3, 1934, at home in Verona New Jersey to Sebastian and Angela Cartabona, Italian immigrants. He was the youngest boy of 12 siblings. Robert, "Bob" Cartabona graduated from Verona High School, was co-captain of the football team and maintained friendships with many schoolmates. He went on to a career as a master plumber with Local 24 in New Jersey. He then went on to build a very large company, "Midway Mechanical Inc.", working with the plumber and pipefitters unions to complete jobs for Budweiser, American Cyanamid, Union Carbide, Exxon Refinery, and other large corporations, having a staff of over 100 employees. He also owned a restaurant, "Roberts" in Asbury NJ.

He married the love of his life, Betty Jane Pantley, after High School, and they raised 4 children. They parted ways, after 30 years and he was remarried to Karen Staudt, where he took care of and showed Russian Wolfhound dogs for many years. He is survived by his first wife, Betty Jane, whom he lived with for the last year of his life. He is also survived, by his daughter Lisa Finley and her husband John, daughter Lori Oraschin and her husband Bill, Son Robert Cartabona, and his wife Lucy, and son Louis Cartabona and his wife Laurie. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by 3 of his sisters, Joan Steinfels, June Peter, and Delores Ryan.

We had a large family 90th birthday celebration less than a year ago, a celebration of life while he was still with us, so have decided to not have a funeral. He passed on at home with BettyJane surrounded by his family. We want thank St Luke's Hospice for all of the wonderful care and support which allowed us to keep him at home until we could say goodbye for now until we meet again in Heaven.