Jean T Lisella Obituary
Jean Theresa Lisella passed away on December 9, 2022, Friday morning. Born on March 18, 1919, to the late Filomena (Pannuccio-Passinetti) and Domenico Calabro, both of Reggio, Calabria, she was born in a room behind their produce shop at 84 Carmine St. in Greenwich Village.
Her parents named her Giovanna or affectionately Genuzza, while her birth certificate read "Jennie" which she was called throughout her school years. In her married life, her friends, family, and co-workers all knew her simply as Jean.
She grew up in a blended immigrant family: her parents each arrived at their marriage with children from previous marriages filling a very small household with seven children at once.
She is predeceased by husband Jules Lisella, her first cousins Jean Lisa-Genovese, Fran Booth, Tony and Victoria Lisa, and Mary K. Of her siblings, she most missed "sis" or Katie, Carmela and Nick Passaniti, her protector. She kept up with brothers Pete and Frank, often by phone, even when both moved away from New York.
She attended Jamaica Vocational High School, majoring in Dressmaking, which inspired her life's work as a seamstress. She had hoped to continue to study designing but sought work instead.
With sketchpad in hand, Jean would copy designs she saw in exclusive shops on Fifth Avenue, go home, make the patterns, and create full ensembles within a day or two. She created her daughter-in-law's prom dress as well as the bridesmaid dresses for her son's wedding.
When she and Jules (Giulio) married in 1945, she borrowed a wedding gown from her friend Rose Iorio and she and Jules ordered sandwiches and carried crates of beer on the subway to the hall for their "football wedding.".
Jennie's legacy is her family to which she was devoted, loving, and generous. She is survived by her children Carmine and wife Judith, Maria and her late husband Gil Fagiani, Jeanne and husband John Duffy, and Julia and husband Edward Kleifgen; her beloved grandchildren Jordan and Jenny, Renata, Carl, and Sofia, Matthew and Mario Fagiani; and great grandchildren, Jack, Miller, Harrison and Gracie.
She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews: her brother Peter's daughter Rosemarie Fiore; her brother Frank's children, Phyllis, Dominic and Peter as well as her late niece Louise Ciardiello's daughters Branch and her god daughter, Camille Birmelin, her son Kirk and wife Sharon and their five children. Additionally, her sister Kate's children: Angela and husband Francis J. Franzone, and their children John, Frank and Catherine and their families; John Carola, Frank and wife Laureen, and Suzan and little Paul and Frank Jr. and his children Gianni and Maria; and the families of the late Dominick and wife Raquel Carola: Roseanna, Joseph, Domenick Jr, and Michelina.
Her second family, life-long friends and next-door neighbors.
Ann Burke and Tom Vallely, had a special place in her life: their daughter Nancy and their son Tom "Superman" Vallely III, his wife Carol whose magic, and visits brought a smile to her face and lifted her spirits.
Among her special circle of friends are: Tanima, Satya and Samit Bagchee, Catherine and the late John Scully, Alice Jacobian; Eileen Fitzgerald, Loretta Breslin, Norma Fernandez and Candace Garrett, her Eucharistic Minister from Our Lady of Snows and kindly neighbors Sheryl, Anthony, and their daughter Gabriella Chan who celebrated life every Sunday in the garden and introduced her to mangoes.
Her spiritual advisor and friend. Our Lady of Snows' pastor, Father Kevin McBrian was a bright spot in any day – despite his large flock, he always made time for her and arrived with humor, love, Jesus and compassion.
In addition, we wish to thank the many women who were companions to mom through Our Lady of Snows' elderly care ministry program during her early widowed life.
One of our biggest blessings of all was her extraordinary health aide and friend, Hawa Ngalula, who hailed from the Congo and arrived with her wisdom, gentle ways, daily prayers and love for mom.
Jean was a fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood – films from the 40s, 50s, she loved Gunsmoke and a pantheon of celebrities: Perry Como, Connie Francis, Mario Lanza, Ricardo Montalban, and Sam Champion and saw Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama as ideal fathers, Andrea Bocelli's voice calmed her and brought her to tears and she began to love FaceTime for the visits it could deliver.
She also loved an "inch" of Scotch at our summer place at Sound Shore Club in Wading River and a sip of Fra Angelico daily.
She was grateful for the friends she and Jules made while working and volunteering for Queen of Peace Residence, and those she met at St. Gregory the Great, as well as her beloved SNAP who kept her belly full.
Jean gave freely and generously of her time and talent throughout her life to so many organizations. When Julia and Jeanne attended St. Gregory grammar school it was common knowledge that "Mrs. Lisella" was the favorite "lunch mother," enjoying all the children's stories and being second mom to many of them. She and Jules and later she alone opened her doors to so many who called the second home of their Bellerose house "home" for weeks and months at a time!
Jean was above all a story teller who thrived on the company of those she loved and who gave as much and more as she was given. From humble beginnings she led a rich life surrounded by people she loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory, To: Services Now for Adult Person or SNAP, 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Bldg. 4, Queens Village, NY 11427, There is a donation link on the website http://www.snapqueens.org.
