Carmel DeFabio (née D’Alessandro), 97, previously of Short Hills and Sanibel, Florida, passed away peacefully at her home in Silver Beach Oct. 6, 2021.
Born in Newark, she was the eldest daughter of Orazio and Aida D’Alessandro. She attended Westside High School and graduated from Douglas College in 1945.
She married her husband of 69 years in 1948 and together they raised their four sons in Short Hills.
Affectionately known as Nana by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she loved sharing pictures from her college yearbook, telling stories about her summers in Massachusetts, and watching old movies. She was a talented baker, wonderful bridge player, avid theater fan, loved reading, and she always saved room for dessert! She was a parishioner of St. Pio in Lavallette.
Her husband Edward and her eldest son George predeceased her. She leaves behind her three sons, Ed and Patty of Rumson, Joel of Miami, Florida, and Don and Jill of Millington, along with nine grandchildren, Erica Lipani, Monica Komery, Lauren Flanagan, Amanda Occhipinti, Philip, Diana, CJ, Claudia and Glenda DeFabio and seven great-grandchildren.
Over the past five years, she has been lovingly cared for by Danguole Garcia and the family will be forever grateful.
The family received friends Oct. 13 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven. A Celebration of life was held at the Navesink Country Club following entombment.
The article originally appeared in the October 14 – 28, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
