Obituary: Alice Virginia Cole, 88, of Deran, NJ
Alice Virginia Cole, 88, of Deran, New Jersey, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 27, 2026. Born and raised in Riverside, she graduated from Camden Catholic High School and spent much of her career working as a legal secretary for a law firm.
Services will be held on Monday, November 2, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home in Riverside. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo, located at 2500 Branch Pike in Cinnaminson, with entombment afterward at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Riverside.
A Life Defined by Meticulous Care and Precision
Cole was known by her family as a busy, intelligent, and fiercely independent woman whose life was guided by meticulous organization. Her home was immaculate, and she wrote everything down, keeping items carefully ordered down to her folded and stored plastic bags. That same precision extended outdoors, where she maintained her lawn using a push mower earlier in the summer.
Her care and attention shaped how she connected with her family. She is survived by her son, Daniel, and his wife, Erica Caldarale, as well as her grandsons, Matthew and Ryan. Cole made it a priority to be deeply involved in her grandsons’ lives, visiting three to four days a week while their parents worked to greet them after school, assist with homework, and help prepare dinner. When bus service from Camden Catholic ended during Matthew's junior year, she drove outside her comfort zone to pick him up, even learning how to use Google Maps to avoid potential traffic delays.
Cole Traveled with Husband and Cooked for Family
For 25 years, Cole shared a life of travel and adventure with her late husband, Sunny. The couple explored the country together in their camper. Family gatherings were frequently brightened by her cooking, including her deviled eggs, pineapple stuffing, and sloppy joes.
She was predeceased by her parents, Rudy and Julia Gambacorta, and her husband, Sunny Cole. She is survived by her son Daniel and daughter-in-law Erica; grandsons Matthew and Ryan; sisters Judy and Jean Gambacorta; and several beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.