Lucille Emilia Desimone

Lucille E. Desimone, 98, of Pasadena, CA, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2018 at home with her family at her side.  A resident of New Jersey for 97 years, late of Convent Station, Livingston, Holiday City, South Orange, Newark, and Verona, she moved to Pasadena in 2017.

Born of Italian immigrant parents in Newark in 1919, Lucille lived the American dream and through the challenges of the 20th century.  A Newark high school graduate, all her children and grandchildren went to college.  Her children and grandchildren include doctors, lawyers, teachers, social workers, family counselors, and business men and women.    She survived five wars and two Depressions and watched her brothers, son and son in law serve their country in combat during World War II and the Vietnam War.

Lucille began her work career as a union garment worker during World War II and later worked at St. Barnabas Medical Center, in Livingston, NJ, where she retired in 1984.  She was a former member of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in South Orange, NJ, and St. Philomena's parish in Livingston, NJ.  She was an active member of Livingston's Senior Club and a regular [and lucky] visitor to Atlantic City's casinos.

Lucille survived her beloved husband, Augustine Desimone, her sisters Elvera SanFilippo and Faye Incitti, her brothers Michelangelo Contino and Alfred Contino, her son Dr. Patsy Desimone of Pasadena, CA, and her daughter Lucille Leta of Lacey Twp, NJ.  She leaves her daughters Mrs. Donna Maria O'Connor of Pasadena, CA, and Mrs. Vivian Smith of Convent Station, NJ, her daughter in Law Mrs. Anita Desimone, of Rochester, NY, grandchildren Jason Leta, Mrs. Audrianna Burgin, Mrs. Sara Leta-Ewig, Michael A. O'Connor, Mrs. Simone M. Harlambos, and Ms. Veronica D. Smith, four great-grandchildren and a multigenerational extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, 210 Ridgedale Ave., Florham Park, NJ on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9pm.  Funeral on Saturday assembling at the funeral home at 9am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas Moore RC Church in Convent Station at 10am.  Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

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