Philomena Vecchione Clark, 87 of Long Branch, entered her eternal reward on August 19, 2012. We believe she now shares heaven and God's peace and love reunited with all her deceased loved ones. She was born on April 30, 1925 in Camposano, Italy, while her mother was visiting her family during her pregnancy. She emigrated as a babe in arms to the United States shortly after, brought to Ellis Island in New York by her mother, father and two older sisters Yolanda and Phyllis. She returned 70 years later on a Sunday morning to that same village and saw the second floor room where she was born. The whole village came out to greet her. Philomena, five sisters and one brother were raised in a little 3 bedroom house on Prospect Avenue in Asbury Park. She graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1942 and attended Monmouth Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as a Cadet Nurse. She did postgraduate work in obstetrical nursing at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital. She met her husband, pediatrician John James Clark, at Monmouth Medical. They were wed in 1948 and married for 40 years until his death in 1988. They settled in Long Branch and raised 4 children-Barbara, Joan, Cheryl and John. A fifth child, Judy, died at birth… In the mid 70's she returned to Monmouth College for her bachelor's degree and then taught long term care to nurse's aides at Monmouth Vocational School, retiring at 75. After retirement, she often encountered her students who told her and her children what a great teacher she was. Predeceased by her parents Antoinetta and Antonio Vecchione, husband, Dr. John J. Clark, and daughter Cheryl, sisters Phyllis Gorman Reed, Mary Stasio Soden, Yolanda Appenzeller, Clementina Vasseur, Theresa Sassola and brother Andrew Vecchione, Philomena is survived by her three other children, Barbara Compton andTom Biancamano , Joan and Jim Malespina, John and Mary Clark, four grandchildren, Scott Compton and Marni Popowcer, Joseph and Elissa Malespina, Jared and Brandon Clark, and one great grandson-Matthew Malespina. Aunt Fay will also be remembered by the many nieces and nephews, and other loving relatives and friends, who loved her and called or came to visit her in hospice to share the last week of her life. She was a special person, with a unique approach to life, the last of the Vaccines in the 'greatest generation'. Visitation will be Thursday, August 23rd, 9 to 10:15 AM at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch. Funeral mass will be celebrated, Thursday, 11:00 AM at St. Jerome's RC Church, Wall Street, West Long Branch. Interment Mt. Carmel Cemetery, West Long Branch. You may light a candle of condolence by visiting www.woolleyboglioli.com.