Lena Maria Foley “Lee” (nee Dell’Anno), 88, of Orangeburg, NY passed away at home surrounded by the love of her family on Sunday April 28, 2024. Beloved wife of Bartholomew R Foley “Bart”. Loving mother of Kim Henderson (late Richard), Robin Foley, Robert Foley (Damaris), Maria Saparata (Thomas), Richard Foley, Jennifer Semon (Matthew), Jason Foley (Karen), Keisha Foley (Sharon) and Erica Bachleda. Cherished grandmother of Leana Foley, Thomas “T.J.” and Christian Saparata, Matthew and Nicholas Semon, Alexa Foley (fiancé Joseph), Dylan, Kyle and Kendyl Foley and great grandmother of Kristina Melanson, Mia Bachleda and Olivia and Jack Lyness. Her sister Gloria Dunnigan as well as several dear nieces and nephews survive her. She was predeceased by her parents Filippo Dell’Anno and Maria D’Agostino as well as her brother Victor Dell’Anno and sister Rita Barone.
Lee was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother (“Vava”). Lee was born at St. Vincents Hospital in Greenwich Village, NYC. She married Bart in 1954 at Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Manhattan and accompanied him to Georgia and Kentucky while he was serving in the U.S. Army as an M.P. during the Korean War. After Bart was deployed to Korea, she set up a beautiful home in the Bronx for her growing family.
Then moving to a new home in the Eastchester neighborhood of the Bronx and caring for her family she became interested in the services of Catholic Charities. She began taking foster infants in to the home.
In 1968 the family moved to Orangeburg, where she has lived for the rest of her days. At this time, she started taking foster children from St. Dominic’s Home in Blauvelt, N.Y. During the next few years four of these children were adopted into her family. Bringing our family to 9.
Lee was the ultimate animal lover and rescued many animal over the years. The phrase “Would not even hurt a fly” was coined with her in mind.
After raising her family, she was in search of a new career and purpose. She attended Rockland Community College in Suffern graduating with honors with a degree in Nursing. She worked at Rockland Psychiatric Center, Blauvelt for about 20 years caring for patients.
After retiring she spent many happy hours tending to her plants and gardens as well as enjoying her koi pond and going to her country house in Copake, NY, spending treasured time with her family.
She was a long-time member of St Catherine’s Church in Blauvelt, N.Y.
Visiting hours are Tuesday April 30, 2024 from 4-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:30 AM at St Catharine’s RC Church, Blauvelt, NY with interment to follow at Loescher Veteran’s Cemetery, New Hempstead, NY.
In lieu of flowers donations in Lee’s memory may be made to Hi_Tor Animal Shelter, www.hitor.org or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, www.jdf.org
www.pizzifuneralhome.com