Lillian Marchiano, 83, passed away April 10, 2021, after a short battle with colon cancer. Born April 16, 1937, and raised in Brooklyn, Lillian resided there until shortly after marrying her sweetheart, Peter J. Marchiano, in 1959. After their first child was born, Pete and Lillian moved to Jackson for a short time and finally settled down in Middletown in 1968, where they lived for 36 years. In 2004 they moved to East Windsor to help care for their grandchildren. They lived there for 11 years before moving to Tinton Falls.
Lillian was employed as a typist on Wall Street after high school and left her job to raise her family. When her children were school age, she returned to work as a special education paraprofessional at New Monmouth School in Middletown. She was later employed for 10 years with the Middletown Police Department as a senior clerk typist in the Records Department, retiring in 1996.
Lillian was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She enjoyed cooking healthy, organic meals for her family as well as crocheting and needlework. Every visit from her friends and family was met with a delicious homemade meal or home baked treat. Her specialties were pizza, macaroni and meatballs, eggplant parmesan and Grandma’s chocolate cake. Her most precious gift to her family was “Grandma Lillian’s Cookbook,” that she created together with Grandpa in 2019. It is filled with all of her favorite recipes, complete with photos and tips for the beginner cook. Her creativity and love will live on in the many treasures she has created for her family. Her blankets, scarves, hats, doilies, stuffed animals, needlework masterpieces, and especially her cookbook, will be cherished forever.
Lillian was an avid reader. She loved to share her knowledge of nutrition, politics, cooking and the latest news during daily phone calls with her children, grandchildren and niece. Her strong opinions and words of wisdom will be dearly missed.
Lillian was preceded to heaven by her mother Elizabeth, her sister Angela, her brother Vincent and her grandson Jared. She is survived by her devoted husband Peter of 61 years; her loving children Peter Jr. (Jeanne), Paul (Valerie), and Diane (Rick); her grandchildren Alyssa, Tyler, Emily, Jenna, Anna and Nicholas; her great-grandchildren, Ryleigh and Ayden; and her nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was April 13 at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. Relatives and friends were invited to her funeral Mass April 14 at St. Mary Mother of God Church, Middletown. Interment followed at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the April 15 – 21, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
