Beatrice L. Guzzi

Beatrice L. Guzzi, “Bea”, 78, of Florham Park, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on December 14, 2022.

Bea Guzzi was born to Joseph and Frances Cricco on April 6th, 1944, and was raised in Hoboken alongside her sister, Rae and brother, Carl. She attended Demarest High School and graduated in 1961. At 16, she found the love of her life “Jimmy”, her neighbor 3 doors down and the one who would be by her side until the very end 62 years later.  They married in 1964 and moved to Chatham wanting to start a family.  3 years later though at the age of 23, Bea was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and lost her eyesight completely.  It was the hardest time in her life, but she was determined to have children, as she always wanted to be a mom.  She went on to have Jay two years later and then Glen.  Even mustering up the courage those years walking and crossing the streets of Chatham by herself to get items her family needed. A few years later she went on to have Mark and they moved to Florham Park, where they resided for 48 years.  In 1976, she went on to have her fourth son, Steven.  She did it all at home taking care of four boys, cooking, cleaning, and tending to the day-to-day tasks, while Jim worked a few jobs to support them all.  And even after having a house full of boys, she still longed to have a girl.  In 1981, she gave birth to yet another child, but to their surprise there were two!  Twin girls named Gayle and Jean. Their family of 8 was finally complete and they moved into Bea’s dream home on Murphy Circle, which she loved so dearly.  People were in awe of Bea and didn’t believe she was blind.  Doing everything in life without fear and full of confidence.  Her answer when people would ask, “How do you do it raising 6 children?” and she would answer, “With the Help of God”.  Bea was very faithful.  Her Lord was front and center in her life and her faith led her entire life journey.

As her journey went on, Bea battled additional hardships, but never gave up.  Jim was diagnosed with Leukemia, and to help the family financially she went on to getting a seeing eye dog and worked for AAA as a dispatcher along with taking care of her husband.  She then battled her own cancer years later having Multiple Myeloma but beat it thankfully.  She wrote, typed, and published a memoir entitled, “I Walk by Faith, Not by Sight” to inspire others and show how her faith in the Lord got her through every hardship in her life.

In her later years, she still did it all. Taking care of her 11 grandchildren, which she so fondly adored.  She enjoyed vacationing in Hilton Head with her family, watching her “Yanks” play baseball, taking Sunday drives to Chester with Jim, meeting with her friends for bible study every Tuesday until the last Tuesday of her life, reading her Braille books, cooking amazing meals, gathering with family for birthdays, holidays and her favorite of all, Christmas Eve.  She was a devoted mom, caring wife, trusting friend, and loving sister.  Everyone who met her loved “Bea” or Mrs. Guz to some.  Many would say she was even like a second mother to them.  She took care of everyone like her own.  She was the light in this world and even on her darkest days you would have never known it because she would be asking how you were.  She loved unconditionally without judgement and was the most selfless human being.  She was one-of-a-kind.  A hero fighting until the very end just making sure her family would be okay.

Bea’s memory will live on forever through her family. Beloved wife of 58 years to James M. Guzzi.  Devoted mother to Jay Guzzi, his wife Andrea, Glen Guzzi, his wife Julie, Mark Guzzi, his wife Heather, Steven Guzzi, his wife Dominica, Gayle Cooper, her husband Pat, Jean Musolino and her husband Dom.  Cherished grandmother of Stella, Gabrielle, Michael and Christian, Lianna, Gianna and Angelina, Madison and Patrick, Nicholas and Ella.  Dear sister of Rae Harff and Russell Gulotta.  Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bea was pre-deceased by her parents Joseph and Frances Cricco and her brother Carl Cricco.

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Sunday from 1-5pm.  Funeral on Monday assembling at the funeral home at 9am, followed by the funeral mass at St. Vincent the Martyr Church in Madison at 10am.  Entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Bea’s memory to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired to the American Foundation for the Blind by way of https://secure.everyaction.com/3ixpKiwrhUGYSGNPe2YX3Q2 to ensure receipt of your donation.

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