Marie Natalie Koll (nee Granzotto) (Dec. 24, 1926 – Apr. 15, 2026) of Somerset, N.J. and formerly of Waldwick, N.J. and Newark, N.J. passed away at the age of 99. In the tradition of the "Greatest Generation", she was one of the strongest women to walk this earth. In her youth, with her flaming red hair and quick temper, she was a little spitfire and a force to be reckoned with. She found herself being a single Mother in the 1950's and entered the workforce to provide a wonderful and happy life for her child. She was devoted to her Catholic religion and always had a rosary handy.
She was born in Wanaque, New Jersey in what is now the Wanaque Reservoir. Her parents arrived from Italy through Ellis Island where the family now has a plaque on the island announcing their arrival. She was one of 5 children, having a twin sister who died a few days after their birth, as well as a brother who passed very young. She attended Arts High in Newark and was the first to graduate high school in her family. She was a talented artist and seamstress. She worked for the Butterick Pattern Company creating their patterns. Later in life she worked for Tiffany and Co. making their signature suede jewelry boxes.
She was a devoted Mother to her only child, Eileen Marie Sartori (nee Koll) and Eileen's deceased husband, Anthony Sartori, and to her two granddaughters and their spouses, Andrea Marie Sartori and Michael Sala and Jessica Ann Asik (nee Sartori) and Ugur Asik, and to her Great Granddaughter, Alina Rose Cino. She was their biggest cheerleader and supporter, as she was always at all of her granddaughters' school and sports activities, handmaking their Halloween costumes or play props, and she truly loved every moment. Her daughter and granddaughters would not be the women they are today if they didn't have Marie (Mom/Nonna) as their matriarch and loving example.
She is predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph Koll, her mother and father, her sisters Anna Savoca and her husband Joseph and Angie Wilson and her husband Wayne and many cousins who were practically sisters and brothers to each other in Newark, where they all resided within a few blocks radius and grew up and lived a great life together.
Services for Marie will be held at Caggiano Funeral Home in Montclair on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 1-3 pm, with a service to occur at 2:30pm therein, and a repast to follow. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to St. Jude's Hospital, as that was one of her favorite charities.