Jeanette G. Masi

Jeanette Masi died peacefully on September 21, 2010 surrounded by her family. She was 95. Known to many as “Nettie” she was a woman of many talents. A professional artist who excelled in oils, acrylics, pastels, water colors, and mixed media, Jeanette achieved state and national recognition for her artistic talents. She was passionate about art and loved to paint anything she saw. She was a past Co-Chairwoman of the annual juried Sidewalk Show of South Orange and Maplewood and a member of several art associations including the prestigious New Jersey Water Color Society and the American Water Color Society. Jeanette was honored with numerous awards by fine arts organizations in New Jersey and New York, including a Merit Award from the highly regarded Salmagundi Art Club in New York and the Dagmar H. Tribble Memorial Award from the Garden State Watercolor Society. Her paintings were exhibited in numerous galleries and in many outdoor exhibits including the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit in Greenwich Village, New York and the South Orange Outdoor Art exhibit beginning in the 1960s and continuing throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. She continued to submit paintings in juried shows until 2008 with great success. It is remarkable that her professional art career did not begin until she was in her 50s and had already raised five children.

Jeanette is survived by her children, daughters: Sandy and her husband Joe Gigliotti, Bonni Masi Oswald, Susan Masi, Carol Masi and son, Tom Masi and his wife Luby; 10 grandchildren: Greg and his wife Kristine, John and his wife Day and Joe Gigliotti; Peter and his wife Elena Mele; John and his wife Robin, Tucker and his wife Shauna, Kurt and his wife Lindsay and Kirsten Oswald, John and Jenna Masi and eleven great grandchildren: Annie, Gracie Griffin and Sydney Gigliotti; Carson, Harrison, Reilly, Rowan and Reagan Oswald; and Nicolas and Alexandra Mele.

In addition to her art work, Jeanette’s memory will endure as a lively and unique individual who always kept an open door. There were always good spirits, food and an ample supply of manhattans to greet all visitors. Jeanette was a resident of South Orange for more than 60 years. Her home “155” in South Orange was a central gathering point for family, friends and art groups for decades. Holiday parties and special occasions would last throughout the night. Some would go to bed only to find others in the morning still gathered around the table talking and cooking breakfast. Jeanette’s spirit, creativity, wit, inspiration and ability to reinvent herself no matter what the challenge, will be with us for generations to come.

Visitation will be at Galloway and Crane Funeral Home on 101 South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge, N.J. on Sunday, September 26 from 3 to 7 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at Jeanette’s home parish of Our Lady of Sorrows in South Orange, N.J. on Monday, September 27 at 10:30 am. Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery on Mt. Airy Road in Basking Ridge, N.J.

Memorial donations in Jeanette’s honor may be made to the Villa Walsh Jeanette Fragasso Masi Memorial Art Award, c/o Villa Walsh Academy, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, N.J. 07960

Arrangements are under the direction of LaMonica Memorial Home, Livingston, NJ.