Jane Vivian Minotti

Jane Vivian (DeBiase) Minotti, 90, of Lighthouse Point, Florida, and formerly of Trumbull, Connecticut, passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2022, after a four-month struggle to recover from a major stroke. She was in the compassionate hands of Trustbridge Hospice Care in Boca Raton, Florida, surrounded by loving family in her final days and hours.

Jane was the true “heart and soul” and matriarch of the family and will be profoundly missed. She is survived by: her sister, Gloria DeBiase of Bridgeport, CT; three sons, Anthony Joseph “AJ” (Jennie) Minotti Jr. of Indialantic, FL; Kenneth John (Cathleen) Minotti of Deerfield Beach, FL; and Stephen John Minotti of Deerfield Beach, FL; daughter, Linda Marie Minotti (Thomas Romeo) of Lighthouse Point, FL; five grandchildren, Alison Theresa Minotti (Christopher) Eastwood, James Anthony (Ludmila) Minotti, Angela Grace Minotti (Eric) Franke, Ashley Nicole Minotti (Joshua) Lyles and Anthony Joseph Minotti III; two great grandchildren, Audrey Jade Franke and Stella Minotti; her sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Minotti (Leonard) Albanese; Carol Coassin DeBiase and Francis DeBiase; seven nieces and ten nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Joseph Minotti Sr., daughter, Mary Jane Minotti Ashby; brothers, Edward DeBiase and Guido DeBiase; brothers-in-law, Charles (Lillian) Minotti, Gabriel “Gabe” (Dorothy) Minotti Sr. and Michael (Irene) Minotti.; two nephews and a niece.

Jane Vivian DeBiase was born on March 27, 1932, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Guido Mario DeBiase and Theresa Miloro DeBiase. She was the youngest of four siblings and loved her family deeply. “Janie”, as she was affectionately known to her friends, graduated in 1950 from Central High School in Bridgeport. During her high school years, she was on the cheerleading team and was an active member of the Italian Club, Athletic Association Board, Class Director of Social Activities among other extracurricular activities. Jane was exceptionally well-liked in high school and made lifelong friends from that time, including her maid of honor and the godmother of her first-born son. She regularly attended milestone class reunions to reconnect with these special friends long after moving from Connecticut to Florida in 1970. Jane worked briefly in banking and retail before her life’s journey turned to marriage and motherhood.

Jane was a devoted life partner to her spouse of 70 years; loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother; and a person of deep and abiding faith, who lived her 90 years to the fullest. Soon after graduating from high school, she met her sweetheart and the love of her life, Anthony Joseph Minotti. They were married in Bridgeport, Connecticut on November 10, 1951, at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church. The couple had five children together. Jane always put her family and others first. As a wife, she supported her husband in all ways large and small in business and in life. As a mother, she championed all her children’s interest and activities which led her to be a scout leader, chaperone on school class trips, chauffeur to music and dance lessons to name just a few. Later as a grandmother and great-grandmother, Jane never missed a moment to be with her five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. They became the shining lights of her life, and she was so beloved by them all.

In her full and rich life, Jane had many pastimes and sources of enjoyment. Passed on to her from her own mother, she came to be a great Italian cook and baker. Her stuffed shells, meatballs, tomato sauce, pizzelles and anisette cookies were among the family’s favorites. Jane loved to dance and enjoyed music of any kind. By far, she was the biggest “cheerleader” of both her children and grandchildren’s musical talents and ambitions. Jane liked to bowl and was on a bowling league for many years. She was also an avid sports fan, especially baseball, and enjoyed too playing bingo and cards, and going to the casino. Traveling by cruise and by RV across the county with her husband, in-laws and grandchildren on occasion was a favorite pastime in retirement years.

Her family and friends will always remember her as a beautiful, kind, loving, funny, endearing, joyful, friendly woman with a zest for life, an infectious laugh, a heart of pure gold and generosity to match. Jane’s greatest legacy and love is the family she left behind and those she joins now in everlasting peace.

A memorial service/viewing is scheduled for November 18, 2022, at Kraeer Funeral Home from 5:00 -9:00 p.m. with the funeral mass and burial on November 19, 2022, 9:30 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Pompano Beach. For anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in her honor, the family suggests St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Trustbridge Hospice Care.