Jennie Madeline Scalise

Jennie Madeline Scalise (née Pascuzzi), 101, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away peacefully at her home on November 3, 2023. Jennie was born on May 8, 1922 to Fortunato and Sadie (née Cardamon) Pascuzzi in Des Moines, Iowa. After Jennie graduated from Des Moines’ Saint Joseph Academy High School in 1939, she began her 35 year-long career with the Federal Government. The majority of her tenure was as a punch card operator for early IBM data processing systems. Jennie met Dr. Edward (Ed) Scalise, O.D., also from Des Moines, Iowa, and the two were united in marriage on December 19, 1964. The nuptials were exchanged in Seoul, Korea where Ed was serving as an Optometrist for the U.S. Coast Guard. The couple lived in Korea for 4 years and then resided in California for several years before they retired to Arizona in 1976. Ed and Jennie traveled extensively and enjoyed ballroom dancing before Ed passed away in 1981. Jennie had many passions including travel, tennis, dancing, and playing the piano. She was highly cultured and had a true appreciation for music and arts. Jennie was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for more than 50 years which united women in cultural development and pursuit of the liberal arts. Over the years, she generously volunteered her time to a couple Phoenix west valley art museums and also to Sun City Meals on Wheels. Jennie was a devoted daughter to her beloved widowed mother, Sadie, who lived with her for 19 years before Sadie’s 1999 death. Jennie was strong-willed and feisty and will be most remembered for her extraordinary generosity and thoughtfulness. Jennie was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Scalise; her parents, Fortunato and Sadie Pascuzzi; and her two younger brothers, Robert D. Pascuzzi, Sr. and Arthur Pascuzzi. She is survived by her brothers’ families. Private services will be held. Any memorial donations can be directed to her church, Saint Elizabeth Seton Roman Catholic Church in Sun City.