Carmela Lavardera

Carmela “Millie” LaVardera of Toms River, NJ passed away peacefully at The Avalon Assisted Living Facility in Bridgewater, NJ on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, at the age of 96. She was the loving wife of Marty for 71 years, who preceded her in passing in October 2021. Millie was born and raised in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx, NY in 1929, to her parents Frank and Mary Rosica. Millie attended Roosevelt High School where she excelled and graduated at the age of 16. This was quite a feat considering that her parents spoke mainly Italian while she was growing up. In 1950, she married a young handsome neighborhood boy named Marty and they moved to Pelham Bay in the Bronx where they raised three children before moving to Rockland County, NY in 1977. Millie worked for 26 years as the bookkeeper for the Roseart Lampshade Co. in NYC. While living in Rockland, she loved entertaining family and friends with backyard pool parties and barbeques at her beautiful home.

Prior to moving to The Avalon in early 2026, Millie resided at the Lake Ridge community in Toms River, NJ since 1999. While there, she and Marty continued to entertain, travel the world, play sports and make many, many new friends. She was loved and thought of highly by her family and friends, and all who had the good fortune of knowing her throughout her long life. Millie was always energetic, vibrant and outspoken! She loved playing Maj Jong and was an active member of the Italian Club, the Shalom Club and the Red Hat Society. She always enjoyed the Chorus and Dansation presentations at the Lake Ridge Clubhouse.

She is survived by her sister Joan, her daughter, Mary Frances; her son, Leonard and wife, Donna; and her son, Frank and wife, Judy. She was loved and adored by her 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Luke Roman Catholic Church, 1674 Old Freehold Rd, Toms River, NJ 08755, US, on June 24, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:15 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Millie’s memory can be made to her favorite charity, the Drew O’Donoghue Fund: www.thedrewodonoghuefund.org