Obituary of Grace Joan Lauricella

LAURICELLA - Grace Joan, "Paye" , 101 ½ , of Cliffside Park, NJ, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 26, 2016 in the loving embrace of her niece Ann, her nephew Gerry, and his wife Patti. She was born in New York City, moved at the age of 6 to Cliffside Park, NJ, where she resided for 96 years at the same residence until her passing. Grace was pre-deceased by her parents Salvatore and Gaetana (nee Scardulla) Lauricella, her loving sister Mae "Mickey" DiFiore, and her god-son J. Steven Benassi. She is survived by her brother in law Ovid DiFiore, her niece Ann Stratton, her husband Daniel Stratton, her nephew Gerry DiFiore and his wife Patti Smith. Also surviving are her grand-niece Danielle Grace Stratton, her grand nephews, Austin DiFiore, Ian DiFiore, and Stephen Andrew Benassi to whom she was acting grandmother. Her loving niece Ann and nephew Gerry were considered to be the children she never had. Grace is also survived by many loving cousins in the Lauricella, and Scardulla families, their spouses and their descendants. Grace was a high end fashion designer who created couture gowns for movie stars. Her first fit model was Lucille Ball. She worked for the design house of Sophies of New York City, where her gowns where displayed at Saks Fifth Ave, Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman. She had fashion shows in the Plaza Hotel and her gowns were featured in Vogue Magazine. "Paye" will be remembered for her contagious laughter, sense of optimism and her deep love of family and cousins. She will be greatly missed for her humor, plain talk and tender loving heart she willingly shared with everyone she encountered. She was pure liquid sunshine. Although she remained single her entire life, as the family matriarch she was much loved by all her cousins, nieces, nephews, and served as the surrogate grandmother to many. Funeral from McCorry Brothers, 780 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ, on Friday, September 30, 2016, at 9:15 AM. Funeral Mass to be celebrated at Church Of The Epiphany, 247 Knox Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ, at 10 AM. Entombment follow at Fairview Mausoleum, Fairview, NJ. Visiting hours on Thursday, from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Donations in memory of Grace Lauricella to Holy Name Medical Center Foundation would be appreciated. Please visit holyname.org. For information and directions, please visit www.mccorrybrothers.com.