Obituary of Anita Falla

Anita Falla M.D., 96 of Millburn passed way at home on Friday April 20th, 2018.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave, Short Hills, on Friday April 27th at 10:00 AM. Entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, E. Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations to Barnabas Health Hospice, 80 Main Street, Suite 210, West Orange, NJ 07052 or rwjbh.org/supporthospice would be appreciated. Arrangements by The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, Maplewood. Born in Jersey City in 1921, Anita lived most of her 96 years in a home built by her father in 1925 in Millburn. Anita, Millburn High School class of 1939 graduated Cum Laude from College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station in 1943 and The College of Medicine NYC in 1950. From 1950-1953 Anita completed her Medical Internship and two years of General Surgery at SUNY Medical Center, Syracuse. In 1954 Dr Falla began her pioneering career as a Pediatric Surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital. From 1955-1960 Anita was a surgeon at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago and Buffalo Children’s Hospital in NY. From 1960-1997 Dr Falla, the first woman pediatric surgeon in New Jersey, practiced at Children’s Hospital in Newark, NJ then becoming Director of Pediatric Surgery in 1970. During her tenure, Dr Falla lectured worldwide and authored numerous articles on birth defects. At 80, Anita completed her uninterrupted career as a Pediatric Surgeon at St Barnabas Hospital in Newark and Livingston. Among her many honors, Anita received the Woman of the Year Award in 1978 from the American Medical Women’s Association and the Mother Xavier Award from St Elizabeth’s College in 1987. Anita has also served as a member of the Board of Directors, Board of Regents and Executive Committee Board of Trustees for the NJ Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Falla is survived by her brother Emil S. Falla, nieces and nephews Roderick Falla, Marian Falla, Brian Falla, Emilie Rogers and Diane Fell. She is also survived by 9 great nieces and nephews.