A resident of Livingston over 60 years, Lucia is survived by her children Mike, Paul & Deborah, her brother Joseph Roselli, grandchildren Michael, Jr., Derek & wife Vanessa, Anthony, Francesca, Nicole & Elizabeth, nieces Helen & Donna, nephews Patrick, Richard & Robert Roselli, and 6 great grandchildren. Predeceased by son Peter, husband Gabriel, mother Ida, father Patsy, brothers Richard, Ralph and Patsy Jr.
Born in Newark, 11/8/1932, Lucia was a great athlete and well-educated young woman. She was hitting home runs long before her brother Joe who went on to play baseball professionally for the Giants Farm Club. The family’s athletic genes clearly passed down to her youngest grandson, Michael. Lucia was a talented hairdresser, who trained to run her own salon, but Lucia changed her path when she and Gabriel moved their young family in 1958 to her parents’ horse farm on Northfield Rd, Livingston, a well-known landmark in town. Lucia decided to stay home and raise her family in Livingston. The Roselli family, well established in town, owned and operated Roselli Paving Company as well as the horse farm, which was started when her father bought a horse for $25 for her youngest brother Richie.
Lucia's brother Richard Roselli went on to start DARE, the ground-breaking and successful drug rehab program that saved hundreds of lives in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Several years after Richard established DARE, Lucia was instrumental establishing vital DARE citizen groups, and brother Joe Roselli designed and implemented health, exercise & sports programs at DARE. They worked hand-in-hand with their brother Richard to build on the success of DARE. Lucia also studied and taught Silva Mind Control which was integrated as a course to coincide with treatment in the DARE program.
Lucia authored a book "He Has Touched Our Lives" about the life of Rev. Al Gorayeb, priest of St. Ann’s Melkite Catholic church in Paterson. In later years, Lucia went on to work with her youngest son, Mike, at the business he started, Ilaria Granite in Orange, NJ. In retirement, Lucia didn’t slow down. She volunteered for the Livingston Chapter of AARP, served for over 10 years as Chairperson planning and organizing many enjoyable trips for the membership. Due to her declining health, she resigned her position as President of AARP in 2019.
A life well-lived, centered on family, and well-liked by everyone, Lucia will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.
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