Ella Jane Keegan

Ella Jane Keegan, 88, of Haworth, NJ and Bennington, Vermont, passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2021. Born in Jersey City, NJ she lived in Padua, Italy, Englewood, NJ, Bennington Vermont and Fischer Island, Florida before moving to Haworth ten years ago. Ella Jane earned her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Columbia Teacher’s College and two Masters degrees in nursing and gerontology from Columbia University. She worked variously as a registered nurse, licensed audiologist and Administrator of Allendale Nursing Home, which she co-founded in 1967 with her first husband, Dr. Hector R. Giancarlo, M.D. With her second husband, Eugene Keegan, she operated the Vermonter Motor Lodge and Sugar Maple Inn in Bennington Vermont. She was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Haworth. Ella Jane is predeceased by her first and second husbands. She is survived by her children: Charles Henry Giancarlo and his wife Dianne, J. Christopher Giancarlo and his wife Regina, Michael Damian Giancarlo and his wife Melissa Bertsch Giancarlo, Timothy Paul Giancarlo and his wife Sandra, Ella Jane’s step-children by her second marriage: Anne Grady and her husband Arthur, William Keegan and his wife Loreen and Robert Keegan and his wife Aniko, and her seventeen grandchildren: Gianna, Marielle, Andrew, Emma, Luke, Henry, Isabella, Christian, Giovanna, Julian, Christopher, Clare, Kevin, James, Stephen, Dennis and Shannon and her two great granddaughers and namesakes: Ella Rose and Ella Winnie. Ella Jane is also survived by her brother, Dr. Henry John Schwarz and his wife Maureen, and her niece Alicia Schwarz D’Torres and her husband Armand D’Torres and nephews Henry John Schwarz Jr. and Michael Brian and nieces Danielle and Lauren and nephew Pace. Ella Jane died surrounded by her family. They will gratefully will receive friends from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, October 5 the Barrett-Leber Funeral Home, https://www.barrettleberfuneralhome.com, 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:30 am on Wednesday October 6 at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, NJ. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ell’s memory can be made to the charity of your choice.