Claudia Jane Gaitka, 77, of Cape May, NJ and formerly of Nutley, NJ passed away peacefully on May 31, 2023. Claudia was born on February 18, 1946 to Rose (nee Wantuch) and Thaddeus Gaitka. She graduated from Nutley High School and attended the University of Miami where she studied Phlebotomy.
Claudia grew up in the motel industry in North Wildwood, NJ. Her parents designed, managed and operated the Trylon Motel in North Wildwood. She then made her way into the Cape May area and became one of the longest active hoteliers in Cape May’s history; having purchased the Periwinkle Inn in 1973 and operating it for 51 years until her passing. Throughout her career Claudia touched many families with her hospitality, making her guests feel like “family”.
She was very active within the Cape May community where she started the Easter Egg Hunt and the Hydrangea Festival. Claudia was known for her culinary expertise! She enjoyed cooking and travelling all over the world with her children, engaging in adventurous activities like swimming with the sharks in Australia and participating in the Tomato Festival in Spain; she was fearless!
Claudia appreciated where she lived and worked and thoroughly enjoyed the view from her living room above the Periwinkle.
Claudia is dearly missed and forever loved by her family which includes her son, Gerry Pagano; her daughter, Jennifer Pagano; her sister, Pamela Gaitka Burns; as well as her nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be offered on Tuesday (June 6th) from 12:30 pm until 1:20 pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 525 Washington St., Cape May where Claudia’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 pm. Interment will be private at a later date. Immediately following the Mass, the family invites all guests to attend a luncheon in her honor at Sapore Italiano Restaurant in Cape May from 2:30 pm until 4 pm.
For friends and family in North Jersey, please monitor Claudia’s webpage through Spilker Funeral Home to see details for Claudia’s Celebration of Life luncheon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, online at www.stjude.org/donate (Spilker Funeral Home, Cape May) info and condolences: spilkerfuneralhome.com
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