Lucille Rose Ferretti

Lucille Rose Ferretti of Nanuet, NY, passed away Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was 85. Lucille was born Nov. 24, 1926, in Lyndhurst, NJ. She was the daughter of Alfred and Josephine Miele Del Grosso. She grew up in North Arlington, NJ and graduated from North Arlington High School, Class of 1944. She then became a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. They were the largest and youngest group of uniformed women to serve their country.

She graduated from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing, in Passaic, New Jersey and also attended Seton Hall University School of Nursing in Newark. She later received her B.S. in Psychology from St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY, in May 1980, at the age of 54. She began her nursing career working for St. Mary's Hospital. Later she worked for ten years as a School Nurse Teacher for the East Ramapo School District during the 1970's. During that time, she also worked as a summer camp nurse and she served as a Cub Scout Leader for her sons' troop. She also enjoyed performing in the annual Variety Show at St. Anthony's Parish, Nanuet, N.Y.

Lucille was predeceased by Henry, her loving husband of 57 years. She was married to Henry Louis Ferretti Sr., on Nov. 22, 1952 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington, NJ. They made their home in Nanuet, where they raised their six children. She is survived by her three daughters, Adele Ferretti Shand of Syracuse, NY, Anne Marie (Richard) Wakeman of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Catherine Rose (John) Sengenberger of Steubenville, Ohio. She is also survived by her three sons, twins Henry Jr. (Anna) of Mahwah, NJ, and Robert, M.D. of Great Neck, and Mark (Theresa) of East Greenwich, RI. She was blessed with nineteen grandchildren. They are Ryan (Kate), Matthew and Christopher Shand; Juliana, Alexander and Benjamin Wakeman; John Michael II (Lisa), Luke, Catherine (Jason Klueber), Rose (Adam Spencer), Maria (Michael McMahon), Christiana and Angela Sengenberger; Raphael, Daniele and Gabriele Ferretti and Mark, Michael and Laura Ferretti. She was also blessed with five great-grandchildren, Julia, Theresa and John Michael III Sengenberger; Rachael Klueber and Mark Shand. Lucille is also survived by her sister, Beatrice Nasio of North Arlington, NJ, and predeceased by her brother, Vincent Del Grosso. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Lucille was a longtime communicant of St. Anthony's Church and a member of The Blessed Mother's Sodality there. Lucille led a long, wonderful life. She thoroughly loved and enjoyed all her family. She had many great adventures over her lifetime and traveled extensively, including a trip around the world. She had a great strength of spirit and triumphed, despite a 30-year-long battle with Parkinson's Disease. She was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.

Many thanks go to Anne, Mary, Arnetta, Eva, Nataliya, Joan and Joan for their kind and compassionate care. Lucille's family would also like to thank United Hospice of Rockland.

The family will be receiving friends at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, New City, NY, on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony's Shrine Church, Nanuet, NY. Burial will follow at St. Anthony's Cemetery.