Arsenia (Irizarry) Vattay

Arsenia (Irizarry) Vattay, 89, of Keyport NJ, passed away surrounded by her loving family Thursday, November 9, 2017, at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel.  Born in San German, Puerto Rico, she lived in Jersey City for 50 years, prior to settling in Keyport.  She worked as a manager with a stationary company in Jersey City retiring in 1988.

 “Grandma the Beautiful” was the name her grandson Patrick gave her. Not just because of her outer beauty and her sweet smile, but because of the beauty that always shone from within. She was also remembered as the Grandma with Grit.  She had a firmness of mind and spirit; an unyielding courage in the face of hardship. To know Arsenia, is to know she had Grit. She worked hard and loved hard. She moved to New York from Puerto Rico at 19 years young, where she took English classes in NYC. Arsenia understood how success was achieved in our society. If anyone had a reason to make excuses, it was her, but again, she had Grit. She refused to be a victim of any kind.

It was in NYC where she met the love of her life, Anthony. Together, they raised their two children, Janet and Anthony, to achieve great success. She showed them unconditional love and taught them, along with their grandchildren, to never give up or to make excuses. Arsenia was an artist with food. She fused together Spanish flavors with Anthony’s Eastern European favorites. Her rice and beans with kielbasa was love at first bite. Her famous turkey gravy will be greatly missed this Thanksgiving, but we will be grateful for the 89 plus years God gave her in our world. She is now free to fly with the birds in the sky she always loved and cherished.

Arsenia was predeceased by her beloved childhood sweetheart and husband of 63 years, Anthony Vattay, on October 6, 2015; her parents, Henry and Arensia (Ortiz) Irizarry; and her nine brothers and sisters.  She is survived by her two loving children, Dr. Janet Mahoney of Keyport and Anthony Vattay Jr. and wife Celia of Boston, MA; three cherished grandchildren, Patrick Mahoney and wife Allyson; Michele Taylor and husband Jason, and Anton Vattay III; and three grandchildren, Braedon, Avery, and  Bryce.  She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by family and friends.

At the direction of the family, Arensia was privately cremated.  A Memorial Mass will take place on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 10AM, at St. Agnes Church, 103 Center Ave., Atlantic Highlands, NJ.  Day Funeral Home, 361 Maple Place, Keyport, NJ  07735, was entrusted with the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, it is re quested that memorial contributions be made to the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies at Monmouth University for the Vattay Scholarship, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 or the woundedwarriorproject.org.   To post a condolence to the family, please visit www.dayfuneralhome.com.