Ascenza “Chenz” Monaco DiMattia, age 91, passed away peacefully at home in Jacksonville, Florida on April 18, 2018, holding no hard feelings toward anyone. Chenz was born May 15, 1926 in Wilmington, Delaware into a large Italian family, the second of eight ambitious children. Instilled with a solid work ethic by her parents, Antonio Monaco and Giulia Federico Monaco, she tirelessly worked summers in the family hotel business in Wildwood, NJ from a young age.
A true magician in the kitchen, experimental and creative, she probably missed her calling as a famous TV chef. In her early years she regularly served in her children’s classrooms as homeroom mother and held the title of neighborhood holiday theme queen.
Divorced in 1959 and never remarried, she was an independent woman and single mother long before those were catch phrases. She was a beautician into her 60’s and owned her own salon, A’la Chenz Coiffures, in Hollywood, Florida, where she relocated at the age of 46 to care for her aging parents.She later switched careers, working in retail, first for Chico’s and then the Gap, where she was employed full-time for 15 years, retiring at 87.
She had a wicked sense of humor, a fine eye for oriental and other collectables, volunteered at the Ft. Lauderdale Art Museum, was an avid music lover, especially Frank Sinatra, and was nobody’s fool. She was always the most stylish person in the room.
Final years were spent in Jacksonville living with her son, Steve DiMattia, and his wife, Yvonne.
Chenz was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Anthony and Jack Monaco, her sisters Dora Monaco Brown and Jeanette Monaco Szostak. She is survived by brothers, Albert Monaco (Chicago, IL), Donald Monaco (Wilmington, DE), and David Monaco and his wife, Judy (Ormond Beach, FL); sons, Sam Burnell (Lake Arrowhead, CA), Mark DiMattia (Newark, DE), Bruce DiMattia (FL), and Steve and Yvonne (Jacksonville, FL); grandchildren Tony and Jason Burnell, Victor, Julia, Jacque, Mario, Elena and Gina DiMattia; step-grandchildren Sean and Anisa Ferguson; great-grandchildren Max, Teagan, Rogan, Sean and Demi; and many nieces and nephews.
Her family thanks MCCI Medical, Dr. Brian Granger, Deepak Shah & Wall-Mart pharmacy staff, Heartland Rehab, Atkinson’s Home Health, Al Roberts, First Coast Neurosciences, Dr. John Harris, Mike Caudill & Jennifer Wells, Dr. Kunal Thakkar, NE FL Cardiovascular, Community Hospice and Harbor Chase for their support.
All participants in Chenz’s Celebration of Life service wore red, accessorized with elephants and added an oriental touch in honor of several of her favorite things. In lieu of cards and flowers, contribute in Chenz’s name to the Jane Goodall Institute @ http://www.janegoodall.org/make-a-difference/. The arrangements are under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services at Beaches Memorial Park, 1500 Main Street, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. 904-249-1166. Visit www.ferreirafuneralservices.com to sign the family’s guest book.