Ann DeGregorio

Ann DeGregorio, (nee Alfieri) age 98, a 50 year resident of Livingston, NJ, passed away peacefully on Sunday July 21, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Raphael Church 346 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue Livingston, NJ, on Friday July 26, 2024 at 10 AM. Entombment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery E. Hanover, NJ. The family will receive their friends at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue Livingston, NJ, on Thursday July 25, 2024 from 4-8 PM, and on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Ann was a Payroll Manager with Pirelli Cable in Union, NJ before her retirement. She started her career during WWII at RCA making radio tubes as her contribution to the war effort, never failing in her commitment to the “boys overseas”. She quickly became the manager of her section. At the end of the war she met Dominick. After their first date, which was appropriately enough a Louis Prima concert, he asked her to marry him. He said, “I’m only going to ask you 100 times.” After the fifth time she said, “yes” and the rest is history. Ann also worked for the Perl corporation, General Development Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton and ZIEN nails. She always immediately became a manager or director of her department.

Ann was deeply involved in life right up through her 98th birthday. She was very active in charitable work, but usually in the background, donating to many causes without grandstanding. She regularly contributed to the Wildlife Fund, WWII disabled veterans and many more. She made food trays for the bed-ridden/homebound and sometimes would even sneak in a bottle of wine for them. She volunteered often and was most proud of her work creating the library at Sacred Heart School in Vailsburg and was also very involved with the public library in her new home town of Livingston.

She was an unparalleled cook and innately talented and creative in meal preparation. Her Christmas Eve dinners were legendary. Based on the “Feast of the Seven Fishes”, we usually ended up with more than 14 fishes in order to satisfy everyone’s palate. Most recently, she made zeppole for the whole family on fourth of July at the shore.

One of her fondest memories was her trip to Italy as a young woman with one of her closest girlfriends, Millie. They traveled for months throughout the whole country at a time when women barely got out of the kitchen, never mind the country. Her relationship with Millie lasted 66 years and continued through Millie’s son John.

Ann was predeceased by her beloved husband Dominick, her parents Gioacchino and Elvira, her siblings Salvatore (Mary), Alfiero (Gilda), Mary (Mario), Lt Col Giuseppe, and her sister-in-law Antoinette (John). Ann is survived by her devoted children, Jacqueline and Nicholas, and her sister-in-law Marie.

She had many loving nieces and nephews: Maureen; Joachim (Vicki) – Kevin (Emily), Kristen (Jonathan), Katie (Ethan); Jim (Anna) – Sarah (Patrick), Daniel (Shelby); Robert (Jeff) – Amanda, Michael, Mikayla, Makenzie; Michael(Lori) – Melissa (Jason), Zachary, Luke, Kaitlyn (Ken), Gavin; Thomas (Angela) – Domenic (Joy), Carmella, Carmine, Giulliana, Marcello, Al, Tobias; AJ (Kevin); Chris (Pam) – Joe, Emma, Sydney; Michael (Laura) – Jacob (Kristen), Alyssa (John) and Sarah. Ann was so grateful for her nephew through marriage, John (Mary-Louise) and their family - Nicole, Anne (Darren), Mary Flora (Nicole) and of course, her “Super” stars: Emilia, John, Cole, Charlotte, Daniel and Nora, who have brought her great joy.

The family expresses their deep gratitude to Drs. Goldfarb, Lorber, Suleiman, Greifinger and Lomazow for their compassion and medical expertise. The family extends their deep thanks to Mara, Mary, Jodi, Wendy for their unwavering devotion. Much appreciation to the Livingston Police Department, First Aid Squad/EMTs for their commitment and empathy in Ann’s time of need.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Livingston Community Police Unit, 333 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 2 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.