Angela Colette Rossi, age 82, originally from Cliffside Park, NJ and long-time resident of Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022. Born September 14, 1939 to Joseph and Colette Rossi (Scioli). She is predeceased by her grandson Anthony Franzese, her sister Maria Neubert and survived by her sister Joanne Serhat.
Angela graduated Dwight Morrow High School in 1957 and subsequently attended University of Pennsylvania Nursing School and earned her Registered Nursing degree in 1960. She worked as a Med-Surge nurse early in her career and an OB-GYN nurse later in life.
She is survived by her three children; her son Anthony and wife Rosemary, her son Ralph and wife Maryann and her daughter Nicole Franzese. Her well-loved grandchildren; Jennifer Franzese and fiancé Michael Priester, Michael & Melissa Franzese, Dominic and Samantha Franzese & Joseph Franzese.
Angela worked in her father’s Ho-Maid ice cream shop during high school. She was a member of the ‘Just Us Girls” club and cherished the JUGS friendships her entire life. Everyone who knew Angela; family, friends and neighbors knew her generous and giving heart. Despite a lifetime of medical challenges she had a positive attitude, never complained and managed her health living 56 years beyond her terminal diagnosis. She was a pioneer in the 70s using innovative diet and treatment to battle her LUPUS and ran a support group to share that knowledge with countless others.
Angela was an artist and craftswoman, creating quilts for her family, making many items such as aprons, clothes, bags for donation and sale, knitting Christmas stockings, needlepoint, painting and taking on home repair projects. She created a Christmas ornament based on the Easter dolls that was showcased in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.. She was an original member of the Lupus Foundation of New Jersey and volunteered at the local school library. Angela was a member of the local Parsippany-Troy Hills historical society and had an interest in antiques, tools, and the 1976 Bi-centennial. She travelled throughout the Northeast visiting historical sites and for many years she volunteered at the Morris Museum.
Angela honored and enjoyed her Italian heritage and traditions with her family including holiday celebrations such as the ‘Seven Fishes’ Christmas Eve dinner and the ‘Easter Breakfast’ both very large annual family events. She enjoyed travel, visiting many states to attend Lupus functions and traveled internationally to Italy, England and Scotland. In 1996, she was honored to hold the Olympic Torch on a trip to Philadelphia.
The family will receive guests Tuesday, April 5, 2022 from 1-3 & 6-8PM at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd., Westwood, NJ 07675. A Mass celebrating Angela’s life and faith will be held Saturday, April 9 at 10AM at Saint Augustine R.C. Church, 5976 Old Washington Rd., Elkridge, MD with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn Park, MD to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Angela's name to the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, PO Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753.
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