Grace, I am so thankful to have met you and wish I had the privilege of  meeting  you sooner.    While visiting Mom at the ALF I always enjoyed spending time with you.  Remember Mom would get a little jealous , but as Mom became less talkative  I enjoyed  hearing your stories.   I hope you and Mom have met up again in heaven and you are able to see how sweet she really was before Alzheimers racked her mind.   Thank you for watching out for her and letting me know  how she was during the night.   We had our little saying each day- “See you later Alligator!”   This time I will say “after while crocodile “ .   Save me a place so we can catch up when it’s my time to come home.    You are a very special Lady!   Will always be in my heart. 


Where do I begin to describe this beautiful and remarkable woman - my mother, Grace Rose Morettini? Only during the last few years did I realize the extent of the sacrifices she made for me and the rest of the family. It was during my regular visits when she was residing at Lindy's house or at the ALF at the end of her life that she opened up about the challenges she was faced with. She talked about her early years growing up in the area of Bari, Italy. Her family was poor - very poor. They lived in a converted castle with many other families and the courtyard fountain was the only source of water. We both laughed when she remembered carrying jugs of water on her head. She recalled that at Christmas time only the church was decorated, none of the houses. Any gifts that were shared among the family members were handmade items because there was no money for store bought gifts. 
She arrived in this country (Ellis Island, New York) at the age of 7 with Grandma to begin the next stage of her life. They settled in White Plains and lived in a very modest house(along with another family upstairs) and her 3 sisters( Jean, Vicki, Sandy) and brother Frankie. They didn't have much, in fact they were poor, but they endured and survived because of the strong moral values instilled in them by their parents and their heritage.
The rest of Mom's life after marriage to Frank Morettini is commonly known. She endured the Great Depression, WWII, and the struggles involved in raising 4 children. It was all about sacrifice - sacrifice without complaining. That is what made her such a wonderful and remarkable person. Without a doubt, she was the GREATEST of the GREATEST GENERATION.
It's difficult for me to switch from present tense to past tense in talking about Mom but she will always be in my heart and thoughts - in the here and now.
Your son loves you Mom and I will cherish the memories of our time together. I so dearly wish there could have been more.

Memorial Service

Vito Stangarone

Maria Zuccaro Stangarone

Frank Morettini

Frank Stangarone

Michael and wife, Frances Morettini

Frank and wife, Lillete Morettini

Robert and wife, Sylvia Morettini

Lindy and husband, Bill Barbarossa

Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jennifer, Shellie, Joseph (Heather), Alexandria (T.J.), Anthony (Desiree), Danielle (Travis); great-grandchildren, Dawson, Valerie Grace, Sinclair & Emily Grace; sisters, Jean, Vicky and Sandy; and many extended family that held a special place in her heart.

OBITUARY

Grace Rose Morettini

December 22, 1921 – August 12, 2018

Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens

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