Jeanette Defeis

Jeanette DeFeis (nee Grippo) of Staten Island, NY and Lakeland, FL; Beloved wife of 62 years to the late Nicholas DeFeis; devoted mother of Angela (late Michael) Brock and the late Nicholas DeFeis; cherished grandmother of Max (Lauren) Brock, Alexandra (Bart Olejnycek) Brock and Boomer (Caroline Roush) Brock; treasured great grandmother of Michael and Anderson Brock; loving daughter of the late Michael and Sally Grippo; dear sister of the late Michael(Frances)Grippo; fond aunt of Michael (Jana) Grippo and great aunt of Michael, Juliana, Isabella and Steven Grippo. A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date.

Born in Manhattan, she met the love of her life, Nicholas at thirteen and he was fifteen. Nicholas told his aunt after their first meeting "I'm going to marry that girl!". They were married in 1953. They were everyone's picture of the ideal romantic couple. Jeanette's last conversation with her grandson, she told him "To always dance when you hear music in the kitchen". Nicholas and Jeanette were inseparable until his death in 2016.

Jeanette worked over 40 years as a secretary, retiring from Continental Insurance in 1994. In 1995, after living on Staten Island for 32 years, she and Nicholas relocated to Lakeland, Florida where they had a very busy retirement. They frequently visited the Disney parks and entertained family and friends. They also travelled the country with Nick serving as President of the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA). She enjoyed making big meals and made a great effort to set a beautiful table well into her 80's. No one could make you feel more welcomed in their home than she.

She was the sweetest and genuinely kind person, collecting and maintaining friendships dating back to her kindergarten days. After her husband's death, she relocated to Lancaster, NY in 2020, to be nearer her family. Her motto in life was "Sempre famiglia" meaning family forever.