Obituary of Rose J Lijoi

Rose J. Lijoi (nee Ossinger) passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on January 18, 2018. She was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Rose Ossinger and her late husband, Fred Lijoi.  She is survived by her cherished family; daughter Jacquline McGarrity and son Frederick (Rick) J. Lijoi; her grandchildren Maureen McGarrity and her fiancée Rich Opalinski and Michele Loffredo and her husband Dennis.  Rose was so proud of her great-grandchildren; Shane Loffredo, Rylyn Loffredo, Troy Loffredo, and Hannah Opalinski. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Rose worked at Valley Appliance with her husband, the Passaic Valley High School cafeteria, and retired from the Alfred H. Baumman Library as Assistant Librarian. Rose was a very strong, independent woman who cherished time with her family. Holidays, birthdays, and celebrations gave her much joy and she always insisted on making them special. Cooking and baking were her passions. As the matriarch of the family, she took great pride in her listening and mentoring skills. There were many precious lessons learned from Rose throughout the years. Rose also loved reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting, and having fun. As a member of the West Paterson Senior Citizens Club, she made many friends there in her senior years. Earlier in life, Rose was a member of the Firehouse Company #1 Ladies Auxiliary Club. Rose also loved to gamble and always took pride in her appearance, so much so that no one ever knew her age.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-6pm at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave., Woodland Park. A funeral Mass will be offered on Monday at 9:30am at Our Lady of Pompei Church, 70 Murray Ave., Paterson. Burial will follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Totowa.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the:

Alfred H. Baumann Library

7 Brophy Lane, Woodland Park, NJ 07424

or to

St. Jude Children’s Hospi

www.stjude.org/donate