Annette Grasso Van Tronk

Annette Grasso Van Tronk. We lost our dear Mother on December 25, 2018. She had a good 88-year run in life. She was born in Summit, New Jersey, but moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, when she was 2 years old. She moved back to NJ after graduating from St. Paul's Catholic High School, where she met the love of her life, John Van Tronk. Not liking the cold weather, she convinced him to move to Daytona Beach in 1951 to live near her large family.

Mom was the ultimate housewife and mother, which she made her lifelong career. She was an amazing caregiver to our father in his battle with Parkinson's . Mom loved her good friends and recently stated she had more friends at 88 than she ever had during her early years! She enjoyed her weekly Bridge group, had fun with her single women's group and found comfort with her prayer group at Prince of Peace. Mom was a happy gentle person, who taught us how to be generous and caring. She especially loved to dance - at 88 she would be the first one on the dance floor! Faith, Family and Friends can sum up Mom's priorities.

Mom has gone to Heaven to be with her beloved husband, John. She is also predeceased in death by her parents and 11 brothers and sisters, and survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Leonard and Joan Grasso. She is leaving her 3 children to remember her love and kindness: Her son, John Van Tronk, Jr, and daughters, Anne Ivis, and Mary Jacobs. Grandchildren that survive her are: JD and April Minaberry, Matthew Minaberry and Nataline Ivis. Great-grandchildren are: Matt Jr, Justin, Alexis, Kathleen and Alex Minaberry. And she was recently blessed with 2 great-great-grandchildren: Olive Rose and Matthew Minaberry III. And lastly she leaves love for her dear friend and companion for these past few years, Tom Connolly.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 29, 11 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Ormond Beach. For anyone wanting to honor Mom, we are requesting donations to Halifax Hospital Hospice in lieu of flowers. Halifax Hospice Ormond Beach will forever have our gratitude and love for the wonderful care they provided our Mother at this difficult time.

Dad gave her a card once that stated: "She could not give her dear ones wealth, she could not give them fame...But what she gave was rich and rare - She gave a mother's love."