Rosaria C. Abrescia

Rosaria C Abrescia, (nee Caruso), age 97 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. She received devoted care by Lineth Burke, her caregiver for over ten years whom she adored.

Rosaria was born and raised in Newark, NJ and was the oldest of four children to Ralph and Ida Caruso.  While growing up in Newark, Rosaria attended Arts High School where she was a member of the Girls’ Varsity Fencing Team.  Following her graduation from high school with the class of 1943, Rosaria enrolled in Pratt Institute in New York City where she studied Fashion Design.  Sewing and clothing design was a skill that Rosaria would flourish in and fine tune throughout her life.  In the mid 1940’s Rosaria was attending the Italian Feast of SS Maria Buonocammino in Fairview, NJ.  While there, she caught the eye of a handsome young man by the name of Nicholas Abrescia.  Nicholas was a young GI who had been stationed in India during the Second World War and had recently returned home.  Nicholas and Rosaria met and started dating.  She initially played hard to get, but he was persistent and finally won her heart. As fate would have it they fell in love and on September 25, 1949, Nicholas and Rosaria became husband and wife.

The newlyweds first settled in Newark with family.  While living in Newark, Nicholas and Rosaria welcomed the birth of their first two daughters, Nina followed by Ida.  Rosaria and her family also lived in Jersey City for a short time then bought their first home in North Arlington where they welcomed the births of their next two daughters, Donna then Patricia.

Shortly after getting married and having children, Rosaria decided that she would set her sights on being a full time homemaker.  This was Rosaria’s true calling and where she sincerely flourished.  She remained a homemaker for several years, then in 1960 she put her dressmaking skill to the test and opened her own business in North Arlington, called Rosaria’s Bridal Shop.  Rosaria owned and operated her business for many years designing a wide variety of bridal dresses and women’s formal wear.   Rosaria eventually closed her business to care for her husband Nicholas who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Rosaria later worked as an apparel buyer for Muir Department Store in Orange, NJ.

In 1978 they built their dream home in Wayne, NJ.

Rosaria loved gardening and growing flowers and vegetables in her yard all year round.  Her front and back yards were always meticulously manicured and had a wide variety of flowers and vegetables to pick from.  She was a wonderful cook and was famous through family and friends for her eggplant, manicotti and cream puffs. She treasured hosting the holidays and all the family events at her home.  An event as simple as Sunday dinner was always made out to be a feast of sorts.  She was an outstanding baker, baking cakes for all her family’s occasions.  Throughout the years she constantly called upon her dressmaking skills to design all of her family’s wedding, prom, baptism, and communion dresses.  It was clear that Rosaria’s true passion in life was her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Rosaria than providing for and spending time with her children grandchildren and great grandchildren.  One of her favorite past times was babysitting her grandchildren who came to know her affectionately as “Gram.”  Rosaria and her family share a lifetime of wonderful memories including frequenting Atlantic City and Virginia Beach for summer vacations every year.  She and her husband Nicholas cherished forty-one years of loving and loyal marriage until Nicholas’ passing in 1990.

Rosaria was not only devoted to her family but also to her Catholic Faith. She was a parishioner of Annunciation Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wayne for many years.  There she also served as a Eucharistic Minister and was past president of the Parish Prime Timers Group.  Rosaria also volunteered at St Joseph’s Hospital in Wayne, then known as Wayne General Hospital, where she gave out communion to patients.

Rosaria was a loving and generous woman who loved her family deeply.  She had an outstanding work ethic; she was strong willed and tenacious in everything that she did.  Having taken care of her husband for many years made her even stronger.  Rosaria was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Rosaria is survived by her four daughters; Nina Constantino and her husband Salvatore Sr. of Bolivia, NC, Ida Cantrella Pfeuffer and her husband Alfred of Nutley, NJ, Donna Guidetti of Wayne, NJ, and Patricia Taylor and her husband Richard of Bloomingdale, NJ, four grandchildren’ Steven Taylor and his wife Jennifer of Mahwah, NJ, Nicole Serapiglia and her husband Nicholas of Wayne, NJ, Christopher Taylor and his wife Ana of Wayne, NJ, and Denene Guidetti of Wayne, NJ, Anthony and his wife Kimberly Guidetti of Upper Saddle River, NJ,  eight great grandchildren; Dylan, Sienna, Brandon, Aviana, London, Lucci, Jaxton, and Matteo, and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas Abrescia, her granddaughter Jennifer Cantrella, her son in law Jeffrey Guidetti, two sisters; Sue Iafelice, and Lena Lancelotti, and her brother Anthony Caruso.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Rosaria’s name may be made to National Processing Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090 http://www.alz.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorials Processing501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 http://www.stjude.org or National Multiple Sclerosis Society 733 third Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10017 http://www.nationalmssociety.org