Elaine S. Lionetti, 86, of Northvale, NJ, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 5, 2026 with her beloved family by her side.

Elaine was born on January 27, 1940 to the late Michael and Helen Licameli and grew up in West New York, NJ. She served as a secretary for the Bergen County Special Services School System for over 25 years. She is survived by her daughter, Sandy (Peter); sons Doug (Jami) and David (Lisa); five grandchildren: Tara, Shaun, Kyle, Madeleine, and Josephine; and her sister Maureen Saraceni and cousin Michael Armellino. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James.

Known to her close friends and family as “Lovely,” she truly lived up to her nickname. She accepted others without judgment and treated those around her with kindness, generosity, and warmth. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, beautiful smile, and unassuming nature. Though never one to seek the spotlight, she had a quiet way of making everyone feel comfortable, accepted, and loved. She enjoyed spending time with her family, watching sports, and playing poker with her friends.

Visiting hours are Monday, November 9, 2026 from 4-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.  A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 10 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale, NJ, with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Elaine.

Rose Marie C. Bruning (nee Miltzow), 98, of Cresskill, NJ, passed away on October 31, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Elver J. Brigley and the late Edwin Bruning. Loving mother of Keith Brigley and his wife Patricia, Kevin Brigley and his wife Kathleen, and Rosemarie Arrigale and her husband Steven. Caring grandmother of Keith (Jennifer), Joseph (Jessica), Andrew (Dana), Kelly (George), and Samantha (Josh) and great-grandmother of Penelope, Theodore, Charlotte, Caysen, Elianna, and Vanessa.

Rose Marie was a resident of Cresskill since 1942. She worked as an executive administrator for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Therese RC Church and the Scapular Confraternity, and was an active member of the Women’s Club in Cresskill and a Boy Scout Den Mother. Rose Marie would go out of her way to help those she loved and those in need. She would often even make her own ham sandwiches and hand deliver them to the homeless. Her love and generosity will be greatly missed.

Visiting hours are Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 5-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026 at 12 PM at St. Therese RC Church, Cresskill, NJ. Interment will occur at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Linda Tammaro (nee Rafti), 83, of River Vale, NJ, formerly of Township of Washington, NJ, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2026. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Linda is survived by her beloved husband Paul Tammaro, Sr.; loving children,  Paul Tammaro Jr. and his wife Beth Ann, Loraine Tammaro and her wife Sonja Cauble, Suzanne Mazzarella and her husband Anthony and Stephanie Carpenter and her husband Arthur; four cherished grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Dear sister of the late Phyllis Rafti.

Visiting hours are Sunday, November 8, 2026 from 2-5 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ.

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Eugenia Grochowski (nee Antonowicz), 92, of Northvale, NJ, formerly of Chicago, IL, passed away on Friday, October 30, 2026. Beloved wife of 57 years of Stanislaw Grochowski. Loving mother of Kathryn Gavosto and her husband Stefan and Mark Grochowski. Caring grandmother of Stefan and Sophia. She was predeceased by her 6 siblings.

Eugenia was born and raised in Poland. After earning her M.D., she came to the United States of America in the late 1960s. Determined to keep practicing medicine, she learned English and passed her medical boards again in a language that was still new to her. She continued her work as a doctor, at various hospitals throughout Chicago, IL and in her own practice.

Visiting hours are Tuesday, November 3, 2026 from 3-5 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass and entombment will take place in Chicago, IL.

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Constance “Connie” Pastras, age 76, passed away peacefully at home following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born to Greek parents, the late Spiro and Katherine, Connie grew up in Ridgewood, NJ, lived in Mahwah, NJ, and later retired to Toms River, NJ. She was immensely proud of her Greek heritage and a dedicated family person. She deeply enjoyed family gatherings, finding great happiness in celebrating major milestones as well as sharing everyday activities with those she loved.

Connie graduated from the Parisian Beauty Academy and spent her career as a fragrance specialist at Stern’s and Macy’s, and later worked in the fine china department at Bed Bath & Beyond. She lived life fully and enjoyed traveling, attending concerts, going to local Greek festivals, and caring for her beloved cats.

She is survived by her brother, Dean, and his wife Deborah; her sister-in-law, Debra (wife of her late brother, Peter); and her niece and goddaughter, Thea and her nephew, Devin, both of whom she adored.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 7, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home (120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ). Interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Connie’s memory can be made online at Friends of Ocean County Animal Shelter (fosocas.org) or checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 1162, Manahawkin, NJ 08050, in honor her deep love for animals.

Ricki Bacchiocchi (nee Vervoordt), 85, formerly of Norwood, Dumont and Hoboken, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Beloved mother of Bruce Bacchiocchi, Lisa Dickman and her husband David and Michael Bacchiocchi and his fiancé Heather. Proud grandmother of Remi, Blaise and Anthony. Loving sister of Joseph Vervoordt and wife Karen and the late Rosemary Breny. Also survived by her brother-in-law Jeffrey and nieces Liza and Ali.

Ricki was a realtor for Dick O’Connor Real Estate in Dumont for over 37 years. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Victories RC Church in Harrington Park.

Visiting hours are Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 8:30 – 9:30 AM at Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale. A Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 10 AM at Our lady of Victories RC Church, Harrington Park with interment to follow at Garden of Memories, Washington Township.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ricki’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, would be greatly appreciated.

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Rocco Pietro Venezia of Emerson, 93, formerly of Northvale, died peacefully at home surrounded by his children on Oct. 18, 2026.

Rocco was born and raised in Palisades Park, the fifth of nine children born to Rosina and Domenic Venezia. He met the love of his life, Maria, who lived around the block, and their romance blossomed into marriage.

He was a professional tile installer for most of his life, a trade that he treated like a form of art. Any drive with Rocco included him pointing out many homes and businesses where he had installed tile, particularly those with intricate designs.

He and Maria moved from Ridgefield to Northvale in 1966, where they became active in the community. Rocco was a long-time member of the Northvale Volunteer Fire Department and an active exempt member. He was a parishioner of St. Andrew’s R.C. Church in Westwood and formerly of St. Anthony’s R.C. Church in Northvale.

After retiring, he became the train engineer at Van Saun County Park, driving the “choo-choo” train for many happy children. He was also a beloved school crossing guard in Westwood for many years.

In his later years, “Pop-Pop” spent hours in his workshop, crafting an array of incredible projects. He built cradles, rocking horses and dollhouses for his grandchildren; a replica of the zoo train now displayed at the Bergen County Zoo; dozens of model trains, cars, planes and boats; and a large replica of St. Andrew’s Church in Westwood that is displayed there.

He transformed two go-carts into finely detailed replicas of fire trucks; both were driven in parades and ultimately donated to the New Jersey Firemen’s Museum in Boonton, NJ, where they are currently displayed. He also remodeled the antique tool room at the Ridgewood Schoolhouse Museum.

On any given day you could find Rocco fixing something or puttering around in the garage, working on some project or another. He had every tool or device you could imagine and a workbench that he built by hand. He could fix anything and seemed to have any part or material you needed.

Rocco enjoyed spending time at the Jersey shore, sitting outside his garage in Point Pleasant Beach (where he also had a workbench!) and listening to all types of music on one of his many radios.

Rocco could not sit still, likely from the countless cups of coffee he drank each day along with dozens of Werther’s caramel candies. He read the Bergen Record each morning and loved word search puzzles. He colored hundreds of mandalas; most were given to Meals on Wheels in New York City and delivered with daily lunches for the homebound.

Rocco never said good-bye without adding “Love You More” – and he truly loved so many people. He leaves behind a legacy made of simple but important things: the value of work done well, kindness as a way of life, family at the center, and community as the natural extension of home.

He is survived by his cherished children, Joyce Venezia Suss and husband Sherwin; Lisa Venezia Thomas and husband Charles; and Anthony Venezia and wife Tracy; his treasured grandchildren Jeanette (Matthew), Rebecca (Zach), Mollie, Nicholas, Elizabeth, and Robert; two great-grandchildren, June and his namesake Rocco; his sisters Aida and Marie; brother Pietro; sisters-in-law Angela, Carol, Barbara and Roberta; many nieces and nephews; Tracy’s children Shannon and Vivian; and many friends.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Maria; his cherished granddaughter Jacqueline; his sister Lucia; his brothers Michael, John, Nunzio and Frank; his Matera brothers and sisters in law Gennaro, Biagio, Joseph, Pasqualina and Joseph.

Visitation is Thursday, Oct. 22 from 4 to 8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale (201-767-3050). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 AM at St. Andrew’s Church in Westwood, followed by entombment at Madonna Mausoleum in Fort Lee.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Northvale Volunteer Fire Department, 204 Washington St., Northvale, NJ 07647 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: www.StJude.org

Jean Palmay, 92, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Jean was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert; her son, Richard; her brother, George Humrich; and her parents, Leo and Jean Marie Humrich.

She was a devoted mother to Toni (Alan) and John (Amanda), and mother-in-law to Noreen. She was a cherished grandmother to Robert, Keara, Danielle, Alyssa, Corey, and Nicholas, and a proud great-grandmother to Luna and Ella. Jean took immense pride in her grandchildren and treasured the time she spent with them.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jean developed a lifelong love of cooking from her grandmother, a passion that became one of the many ways she expressed her love for others. After marrying, she moved to Northvale, where she continued to cook, entertain, and bring family and friends together around her table. She later settled in Old Tappan, dedicating herself to raising her family and creating a warm, loving home. After her children were grown, Jean returned to the workforce, building a fulfilling career as an executive secretary. During her time at AT&T, she formed friendships that would last a lifetime. Following her retirement, she embraced one of her most cherished roles: helping care for her grandchildren and enjoying precious time with them. Throughout her life, Jean’s love of family, the friendships she treasured, and the care she showed to those around her remained at the heart of who she was.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 11:15 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory to the Old Tappan Free Public Library, 56 Russell Avenue, Old Tappan, NJ 07675, would be greatly appreciated.

Monika A. Jung (nee Sauerbrey), 84, of Old Tappan, NJ, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2026.  Beloved wife of the late Gunter.  Loving mother of Barbara Pizzuto and her husband Joel and Thomas Jung.  Caring grandmother of Vincent, Anthony, Amanda and Robert.  She was predeceased by her daughter Karen and her sister-in-law Ursula.

Monika was born in Suhl, Germany.  At the age of 13 she came to the United States of America with her parents and settled in Flushing, Queens where she would eventually meet her husband Gunter.  They would move to Old Tappan, NJ where they built their home and family.

Visiting hours are Tuesday, October 20, 2026 from 4-7 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Monika’s memory can be made to the World Wildlife Fund to save the elephants, a cause very dear to her: Save the Elephants

Pizzi, Mary J. (nee Sinjack), age 94 entered into eternal rest on October 13, 2026. Born on August 8,1932 in Hackensack, NJ to the late John and Nora (nee Martin) Simcak. 

The oldest of 4 girls, she was raised in Elmwood Park NJ. She met and married the love of her life Louis Anthony Pizzi and they settled in Garfield, NJ where they owned and operated Mary-Lou’s lunchoenette together. She was also employed as a certified Home Health Aide. 

Mary spent many happy years raising her family, volunteering at Girl Scout events and teaching Catechism. She will be remembered for her kind spirit, her caring heart and her unwavering faith. She lived her remaining years in Oldsmar, Florida with her daughter, granddaughter and great grandchildren. 

Mary is predeceased by her loving husband of 35 years, Louis A. Pizzi, her beloved son Anthony L. Pizzi, and her sisters Elizabeth (and Jorge) Ramia, Madeline (and Peter) Bianchini and Josephine Lanza. She is survived by her daughter, Cecelia M. Pizzi, grandchildren, Krystal, (and Jimmy), Heather (and Bisiah), Louis, Michael, Brittney and Anthony. Great-grandchildren, Romeo, Enzo, Tatiana, Jacob, her brother in law Howard Lanza, and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

Mary was a devoted member of Praise Church of Garfield New Jersey, led by Pastors John and Rebecca Czubkowski.

The Pizzi family is in the care of Pizzi Funeral Home,120 Paris Avenue Northvale, NJ  07647 (201) 767-3050.