Lori Ann Gonnella

Lori Ann Francis Gonnella, age 65, gained her wings on December 17, 2022 surrounded by her family. She was born on December 18, 1957 to Harold Francis and Francesca Licata. She was predeceased by her parents and brother Charles in 2009.

Surviving are her husband of 34 years, Stephen, and two sons, Gabriel and Nicolas. She is also survived by her brothers Michael (Pamela) and Kenneth of New Jersey along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas in 1975 and lived in New Jersey before moving to North Carolina in 2005.

Lori had an incalculable number of qualities that made her such an amazing person and took so much joy in spending precious quality time with her family. She spent countless hours over the last 20 years volunteering for various PTO, Community Council, Library and Booster Club Organizations. She took great honor in raising money to help school age kids and help the people in communities that she loved so much. She gave everything she could give back to others, but everyone that knew her knows what she took the most pride in. No one can put that in better terms than her, and luckily she did just that. “My greatest accomplishment in life is the two humans I raised, along with my husband. Anyone that knows them knows exactly what I mean. No matter what, anything I could have done would have never been as great as being your Mother. I am and always will be your biggest fan. Never look further than your heart, that is where I will be.”

She was a Mother, Sister, Daughter-in-law, Sister-in-law, Aunt, Cousin, and friend to many. On top of spending quality time with family, she took great pleasure in cooking, loved dogs almost as much as she did people, and watched more game shows than you even knew existed. She was beautiful, generous, feisty, and loved unconditionally. She was one of a kind and adored by all that got the pleasure to meet her. May her spirit live on through every one of us. We will miss her dearly and know she is at peace with the Lord.

A visitation will be held at Frank Vogler and Sons Funeral Home in Clemmons, North Carolina on Thursday, December 22 from 6pm to 8pm. Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday, December 23 at 11am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons, North Carolina. The family will receive friends and family following the service.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 7 at 11am at Trinity Bible Church, 3801 Allenwood Lakewood Road, Allenwood, NJ 08720. The officiant will be Christopher Francis, Pastor of True Life Church centered in Brick, New Jersey. Pastor Chris is the Nephew of Lori and they had a special, loving relationship from the time he was born.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made out to True Life Church. To donate, please go to www.truelifenj.com and navigate to the “Give” section. Anything you are able to give is greatly appreciated.

To celebrate her life, the family requests that black clothing is not necessary.