Lucille Thersa Martelli

Lucille Theresa Martelli (nee LaRocco), age 69, of Riverdale passed away on Monday, March 25, 2019 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Lucille was born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  She was one of three children and the only daughter to Salvatore and Luna LaRocco.  While growing up in New York, Lucille played snare drum in the Drum Corps at Cathedral High School and graduated with the class of 1967.  Following her graduation from high school, Lucille enrolled in a Medical Technician’s school.  She was quickly offered a position at an office on 68th St in Manhattan, working for a local physician.  She continued to work at that office for the next thirteen years. As a young woman, Lucille enjoyed traveling.  There were not many places she hadn’t been.  Lucille traveled extensively through Europe and South America and the United States.

In 1979, Lucille was introduced through a mutual friend to a young man named Michael Martelli.  They were set up on a blind date and had drinks at a place called “Adams Apple” in New York.  Lucille and Michael hit it off great, they dated for less than a year and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on September 30, 1979.

The couple settled in the Bayside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens.  Lucille and Michael only lived there for about a year then moved to Wayne in 1980.  Lucille and Michael would call Wayne their home for the next thirty eight years and raised their two children there.  The couple moved to Riverdale in 2018.  After getting married, Lucille dedicated herself to her family becoming a full time homemaker.  Lucille was a devoted wife and mother, always having dinner on the table every evening.  She became an outstanding cook over the years, always making Sunday dinners and holidays something very special.  After Lucille’s children started getting a little older, she decided that she would get back into the workforce and in 1993 was offered a position as a Teacher’s Aid with the Wayne Township Board of Education.  Lucille held this position until her retirement just a few months ago.  

Lucille was the kind of girl who enjoyed sitting “Poolside.”  She was a fan of country music and Elvis.  She loved to go shopping and would often contemplate destinations she traveled to according to the shopping that was available there.  She was a creative person and indulged in Arts and Crafts, making a variety of artistries including ornaments, wreaths, and gift baskets.  After getting married, Lucille continued her tradition of traveling with her family and took yearly family vacations to Florida, the Bahamas, Disney Wold, Las Vegas, Cancun, and California.

She was devoted to her Catholic Faith and was a parishioner of St Mary’s RC Church in Pompton Lakes for many years.  Lucille was a fun person to be around and you couldn’t help but like her.  She was a “Social Butterfly,” she created and cherished lifelong friendships with many people.  During her years as a Teacher’s Aid she often helped children who were less fortunate, buying school equipment for those who couldn’t afford it.  Above all of Lucille’s hobbies and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Lucille adored spending time with her children, and grandchildren and treasured thirty nine years of loving and loyal marriage to her husband Michael.  Lucille touched the lives of countless people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Lucille is survived by her husband Michael Martelli of Riverdale, one daughter Lauren Reszka and her husband Thomas of Rockaway, one son Michael C. Martelli, Jr. and his wife Nicole of West Hempstead, NY, one brother Charles LaRocco of Valley Stream, NY, four grandchildren; Evangeline Martelli, Everly Martelli, Kent Reszka, and Grayson Reszka.  She was predeceased by her brother Peter LaRocco and his wife Angela, as well as her niece Melissa LaRocco.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lucille's name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.