Alice J. De Venezia

Alice J. De Venezia, 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Livingston, NJ, on October 9, 2024. Born on September 27, 1930, in Newark, NJ, to John and Margaret (Kuinisch) Goellner, Alice graduated from Irvington High School in 1948.

Alice was a devoted wife and mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and committed homemaker to her large family. She loved hosting family gatherings, especially during the holidays, where her homemade lasagna became a cherished tradition. Alice was a passionate advocate for animal welfare, in particular cats, contributing to the many animal shelters in the area. Anyone visiting her home would quickly become aware of her love for cats, as she was an avid collector of cat-related memorabilia.

Alice found joy in watching Hallmark Christmas movies, The Great American Family Channel, and listened daily to the sentimental and relaxing instrumental music of SiriusXM (Escape Channel# 149). Alice always loved shopping year-round, but nothing brightened her week quite like her Friday 1:00pm hair appointment at Professional Hair in Livingston, where she formed lifelong friendships with patrons and staff alike. Alice was also an active parishioner at Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church, where she always looked forward to the good-natured bantering of Father Jerry.

Alice relished her time at the YMCA, where she socialized with others and developed deep connections and lasting friendships. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, and generosity touched the lives of many, making her easy to love and deeply missed by all who knew her. Alice was a peacemaker, who had a unique ability to bring the family together. This was quite a feat, given that Alice was an only child who married Eddie, one of nine children. Alice always knew she wanted a large, loving family. And she was successful!

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Goellner, her stepmother Margarete Goellner, and her beloved husband, Edward, who passed in 2016.

She is survived by her six sons: Edward (and wife Barbara), James (and partner Lindsey), Paul (and wife Cecilia), Thomas, Peter, and David (and partner Sylvia); her daughter, Lynn (and husband Lawrence Tobias); as well as nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Alice also leaves behind countless dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, October 14, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church, 386 S Livingston Ave., Livingston, NJ. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church ,Saint Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, or Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, in Alice’s memory.