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We are SADDENED by the loss of CHEF Antonietta Pendleton
Antonietta Pendleton Services Saturday Sept 7th
Obituary
Antonietta Pendleton (nee Berretta) of Plymouth Meeting, passed away on Sunday September 1, 2024 at her home with family by her side. She was 89 years old. Born January 21, 1935 in Marana, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Luigi and Talinda (nee DiGiansante) Berretta and the beloved wife of the late Charles F. Pendleton, Sr., the love of her life.
Antonietta started her food journey at age six, standing on a chair to work at the table helping her mother cook. At age 13, because the German occupation in her town, Marana, was so intense, she was sent to work for a family in Rome, learning how to run a house. She remained with this family until a few weeks before her 21st birthday.
She arrived at Ellis Island a day before her 21st birthday and was allowed to enter as a minor, else she would have been shipped back to return with the proper documents. Once here, she worked in a taylor shop; however, food was her passion and sewing was not.
She went back to Italy in 1957 and purchased a pasta machine which is still functioning today. She then opened a small restaurant and made fresh pasta in the front window for passers-by to see and purchase.
From 1963-1975 she started a white-glove, main line catering company, all the food preparation took place in the basement of her house. When this space was outgrown, she purchased a club house in Norristown and converted the main floor to a large restaurant and continued manufacturing out of the basement. The decision was made to close the restaurant and concentrate on manufacturing. The growth was overwhelming and led to purchasing a 10,000 sq. ft. Plant in Harleysville - here she added the ability to be USDA certified. The business was sold in 1983 and she remained a viable recipe developer and executive sales person traveling the world doing food shows and demonstrations until she retired at the age of 65.
She was proud of her many accomplishments, but becoming naturalized in 1973; passing the exam to become a Certified Executive Chef in 1997; A Certified Food Stylist in 1988, an Honorary inductee into the American Academy of Chefs, earning her the suffix of Antonietta Pendleton, C.E.C., H.A.A.C. in 2010; and earning the coveted Chef of the Year award in 2015.
Retirement did not last long as she and her husband purchased and renovated a historical building in Norristown, spent time traveling the world with friends and family, and eventually, after her husband passed in 2002, started up her pasta manufacturing business again. This time she had a smaller, more specialized clientele list, and spent a lot of time developing new and unique pasta recipes requested by the various chefs.
Antonietta was an innovator. She was the first company to offer a boil-in-bag meal; precooked ravioli which saved kitchens a lot of preparation time, and portion controlled lasagna. She was always innovating, wrote a cook book for her company, and truly loved everything having to do with food.
She was an active member in the ACF, and attended all meetings since she joined until she was unable to do so.
Her biggest pride came from her family especially her grandchildren. She spent countless hours with them teaching them about food and cooking, spoiling them when they were little, and always being there for them at every milestone event. There was nothing that Antonietta would not do for her family and friends!
Antonietta is survived by her two sons; Charles F. Pendleton, Jr. and his wife Kimberly and David J. Pendleton and his wife Carmen, five grandchildren; Daniela, Casandra, David, Noah, and Caleb, and many extended family members and close friends. Above all, Antonietta will be remembered as a loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Relatives and friends are invited to share in Antonietta’s Life Celebration on Saturday September 7, from 8 AM to 9:20 AM at Boyd-Horrox-Givnish of East Norriton, 200 West Germantown Pike, 610-277-7000.Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 2007 New Hope St. Norristown. Interment will be at George Washington Memorial Park on Stenton Ave. in Plymouth Meeting. https://www.lifecelebration.com/obituary/antonietta-pendleton
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