Elizabeth L. Puglio

September 13, 1935 – January 1, 2026

Elizabeth Louise Donatiello Puglio, affectionately known to her friends and family as Betty Lou and to her grandchildren as MeMa, passed away unexpectedly on New Year’s Day at the age of 90.

She was a woman admired for being as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside and the vibrant heart of her family anchored by her love for her husband, Jimmy who treated her like his queen from the day they met. Their nearly 70-year marriage stood as a testament to their deeply devoted bond that stood the test of time. For many years, she was a beloved and respected fixture at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, NJ, where she worked as an aide in the physical therapy department, caring for others with dedication and compassion.

She looked forward to their trips to Florida every year, visiting her grandchildren and stopping at her favorite shops along the way. Her home in Maplewood, NJ will always be remembered as a fun gathering place filled with family and friends and full of love and great food made only brighter by her natural sense of humor and big personality that kept everyone on their toes and laughing. You never knew when she would break into a song and dance. She was also very proud and greatly invested in the lives of her children and grandchildren who will forever cherish and celebrate her legacy with love through countless memories, photos, recipes and the traditions she worked to pass down. She was the kind of hands-on Mom their friends wanted to be around growing up and the best cook ever. She truly enjoyed chatting with friends, watching tv and working on her crossword puzzles every day. She also was an avid shopper; her sense of style was unmatched. She was a woman of faith, love and family, whose presence will be deeply missed by all she touched.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Vincenzo D. Puglio (Jimmy), age 96; her three children, Joanne Lansing and her husband Stephen, Linda Puglio and James John Puglio and his wife Darcy, and her two grandchildren, Jenna Elizabeth Lansing and her fiance Alex Kopowski and Stephen James Lansing and his wife Staci.

Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday January 7, 2026 at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home 26 Mule Road Toms River, NJ 08755. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday January 8, 2026 at 11:45 am. Burial will follow at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562 at 1:30 pm. In Lieu of flowers please make donations in Betty Lou's memory to The Alzheimer's Foundation at www.alzfdn.org.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.quinn-hoppingfh.com.