Obituary of Louise Leggiere

Louise Margaret Leggiere, 92, a long-time resident of Midland Park, died peacefully in her sleep on January 16th. Louise was born on June 3, 1922, in Rosebank, Staten Island, New York, to Salvatore Fertitta of Ceflu, Sicily, and Jane (Jenny) Cangro of Napoli, Italy. A graduate of Curtis High School on Staten Island, Louise was working as a practical nurse at the Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg, New York, when she met her husband-to-be, Carmen, who was visiting the campus with a mutual friend. Louise and Carmen married on January 24, 1942, at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, her family's life-long parish in Rosebank. The Reverend Anthony Catoggio, who officiated at the wedding, also officiated at the weddings of Louise's parents and three of her sisters. Louise and Carmen made their home in Bergenfield, NJ, where they started their family. Early in their marriage Louise worked at the Curtis Wright Aircraft Engine Plant in Teterboro. In 1954 the family moved to Midland Park, where Louise resided until 2011 at which time she was no longer able to live independently. She then lived with her children until last year when she required more care than they were able to provide. Louise was widowed at age 39 on Easter Monday, 1962. Faced with having to reenter the workforce as a single mother to support her three children, she became a licensed insurance agent and continued operating her husband's insurance business until she was offered a favorable opportunity to sell the company. After that she served as a waitress, working, simultaneously, full time at a local restaurant and part time at two banquet facilities. Several years later she settled into a new career as the Physical Therapy Department Secretary at Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, N.J., where she remained until her retirement in 1987. Louise was predeceased by her parents; her husband; her sisters: Rosalie (Neville-Ginnane), Elizabeth (Urcioli), Mary Jane (Morris), Gloria (Kaiser), and Cenel (Martucci-Grimaldi); and her brothers: Francis (Frank), Salvatore (Mickey), Ralph Martucci, and Charlie Martucci. She is survived by her three children: Joseph (Elsa), Louise Jane, and Thomas (Lucille); five grandchildren: Nicole (Leggiere-Smith), Therese (Leggiere-Porosky), Lisa Ann (Foss-Heineman), Lynda Ann (Foss), and David (Foss); and eight great-grandchildren: Bowie, Jude, Emily, Alexander, Logan, Meranda, Austin, and Samantha. Born premature at home and weighing only 2 pounds, the doctor pronounced that she would not survive. She not only survived, at the age of 7 she endured the death of her mother, as a teenager she lived through the Great Depression, and as an all too young adult courageously faced the unexpected death of her beloved husband - all before reaching the age of 40. Over her remaining years she lived to see the passing of all her brothers and sisters while remaining an unending source of comfort to her family in their times of need. Through all of this adversity Louise remained a caring and loving woman to her children, and a source of strength for family, friends, and neighbors. Louise was a charter member of the Church of the Nativity of Midland Park, as well as a member of the Rosary Society. Steadfast in her faith in Christ and the Blessed Mother, she attended daily Mass, was devoted to praying the Rosary every day, and was a follower of Saint Padre Pio. After retiring she took an opportunity with her friends to make a pilgrimage to Medjugorje and to Conyers - both believed to be sites where the Blessed Mother appeared to Her devotees. She persevered through all of her life's adversities while remaining a loving, caring person despite it all. She was a friend to many, and kind to all. She will be greatly and forever missed by her children and all whose lives she touched. We would like to share with you a prayer Mom said each morning; we hope it helps you as much as it did our Mom: Lord Help me to remember that Nothing is going to happen to me today That you and I together can't handle. Visitation will be at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, from 4:00 to 8:00 on Wednesday, January 21st. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 22nd, at the Church of the Nativity, 315 Prospect Street, Midland Park. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery, 10 Serentine Road in Tenafly, followed by a reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Oakland. If you chose to make a donation in Louise's name, please consider the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or the Michael J. Fox (Parkinson's disease) Foundation (michaeljfox.org).