Lidia Maria Fossa

Born in Enna, Sicily, she resided there for a short while before moving with her family to Asmara, Ethiopia during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia. She was raised there and truly felt that Africa was her home. It was in Ethiopia that she met and married her husband, Aristide Fossa, an American soldier. During their marriage, they lived all over the world.

In the 1960s, they retired and settled in New Jersey. She was able to fully enjoy her family – especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were her world.

She was predeceased by her husband, Aristide on October 3, 2004; a sister, Franca Parker; and a brother, Paolo Aquilino.

Surviving are her children: Sergio Fossa and his wife Rebecca, Alan Fossa and his wife Judy, and Rhonda Power and her husband Bob; 10 grandchildren: Adam and his wife Mary, Justin, Salvio and his wife Kristen, Nathan, Joshua and his wife Ashley, Sergio and his wife Tammy, Maribeth and her husband Vince, Jordan and her husband Chris, Sarah and her husband Sopy and Jonathan; 18 great-grandchildren (with 2 on the way): Madison, Joey, Connor, Lola, Gia, Grady, Dylan, Ethan, Emma, Lily, Jackson, Benjamin, Reagan, Corvina, Ari, Alex, Jack and Stella; and 4 siblings: Santina, Nino & Carlo Aquilino, and Angela Brandimarte.

A visitation will be held at D’Elia Funeral Home, 1300 Vermont Ave., Lakewood, on Friday from 4-8PM.

A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday at 11AM. Entombment will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River. For more information, or to post a tribute online, please visit www.deliafuneralhome.com.