Obituary of Rae Rose Giannuzzi

Raffaela “Rae” Rose Giannuzzi (nee DePrisco) passed at Englewood Hospital of natural causes on her 89th birthday on Friday, May 29, 2020. Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, she left her parents and sisters to move to Leonia, NJ so that her children could have a better life. Rae was a homemaker, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, friend, singer, Sweet Adelines performer, Leonia Presbyterian Church parishioner, Leonia Women’s Club and Senior Group member. Through the years she participated in many of Leonia’s community programs, including her role as president of the Leonia Women’s VFW Auxiliary. Rae was happiest when surrounded by friends and family; she loved to make them laugh. And those she loved were showered with manicotti, stuffed shells, meatballs and pudding pie. Devoted mother of John Giannuzzi and his wife Noreen, Peter Giannuzzi and his wife Jeanette, Lisa Principe and her husband Frank. Cherished grandmother to Peter, Nicole, Julia, Ariana and Sofia. Beloved aunt to Janet, who was her sweet confidant, and Freddy, Dom, Carol and Joseph. Beloved great aunt and grand aunt to many, including Thomas, Gina and Renee and their kids, who treated her as their grandma. She was a friend to many, including her best friend Donna. Rae was predeceased by her parents, Ida and Fred DePrisco, whom she adored, and her sisters Rose, Millie and Faye, who were her best friends. If you knew Rae, you knew her children and grandchildren were her world. She was very proud of her family, loved her daughters-in-law and son-in-law like her own, and lovingly referred to all her grandchildren as her “Darlings”. Around town she was often recognized as the little red-headed grandmother who drove herself around propped up with two pillows, who went to ShopRite everyday so she could run into friends, played bingo and celebrated when she won a dollar, visited the library often to borrow large print books, did word puzzles daily to keep her mind sharp, attended coloring classes with her friends, as well as many other senior events. Rae was at her best being social, always engaging in conversation and giving compliments. She was beautiful. From her early years to her 80’s, she never looked her age and garnered compliments wherever she went. Rae always arrived early to her granddaughters’ school and sporting events to secure the front row seats and never missed any. She helped care for all her grandchildren when they were babies and adolescents and cherished every moment of it. Rae was known and loved by many as a colorful personality and beautiful person with a kind heart who will be sorely missed, remembered always and live on in our hearts forever. As our mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, she will always be a part of us. Current services will unfortunately be private due to covid-19 restrictions. The family will plan a life celebration when gathering limits are lifted. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations in her name to Presbyterian Church in Leonia, PO Box 448, Leonia, NJ, 07605: http://leoniapres.org/. The parish was a blessing to her in so many ways. Rae will be laid to rest at Madonna Cemetery Mausoleum. Please share fond memories and condolences at www.frankpatti.com