Bella Berkowitz Ortelli

Bella passed away suddenly on June 24th, 2024, in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Born on March 24th,1933, in Scranton, PA, to Greek immigrants George and Aphrodite Gianas, she later moved with her family to Newark NJ, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, the late Jules Berkowitz (1932-1974).

A piano major at Beaver College in Glenside, PA, Bella spent a lot of her life as a piano teacher in Warren and Watchung NJ, later going back to school to receive additional education to become a medical assistant. She loved working with patients and never stopped being a caregiver to all around her until her very last breath.

In 2010, Bella retired and moved from Watchung, NJ to Bethlehem PA where she married her widowed neighbor, Edward Ortelli whom she loved immensely.

Preceded in her death are her parents, George and Aphrodite Gianas, sisters Mary Vasilow and Catherine Kassel, brother John Gianas and nieces Jeanne Gianas and Pamela Kassel.  She is survived by her sister Helen Patsis of Southbury, CT, daughters Elaine Murray of Bedminster NJ, Betsy Rovetto of Montville, NJ and Julie Simeone of Doylestown PA, grandchildren Robert Rovetto of Allendale NJ, Rebecca Rush of Highland Lakes NJ, Christine Murray of Jersey City NJ, Lauren Murray of Runnemede, NJ and Maxwell Simeone of Doylestown PA.   Bella is also survived by her great-grandchildren Lucy and Ruby Rush and Luke and Lily Rovetto. Nieces and nephews include Amy Allin Gianas of Westwood, MA, Melanie Ritter of Taos, NM, Melissa Gianas of Belmont, MA,  Elise Savnik of Berkeley Heights, NJ, Christine Damalas of Virginia Beach, VA, Louis Vasilow of Atlantic Highlands, NJ, Reenie Sherrick  of Southbury CT, Michael Patsis of Sparta NJ, George Patsis of Las Vegas NV, Phillip Kassel of Milton, MA, and Melissa Kassel of Boston MA.  She also loved her sons-in- law Robert Rovetto of Montville NJ and Vincent Murray of Bedminster NJ as if they were her own. Special thank you to Cathy Motta of Nazareth, PA who was her adored caregiver and friend.

Bella loved nature. She would swoon over a beautiful tree and get so excited about a colorful sunset or moonrise.   She adored her friends and family and made her husband Ed’s welfare her first priority.  She appreciated the smallest gestures of kindness and was always trying to feed all of her loved ones exorbitant amounts of food. Well known for her outer beauty, her inner beauty was just as noticeable. Bella loved Jesus and exuded a soft and gentle sweetness to all.  She will be dearly missed every single day by all who loved her.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 30th, 2024, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, at the Finegan Funeral Home, 4080 William Penn Highway, Easton, PA, with a Funeral Service set to immediately follow. The Interment will be at the Hollywood Memorial Park, 1500 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ on Monday, July 1st, 2024, at 1:30 pm.