Dolores "Del" A. (Russo) Grassano

Dolores “Del” (nee Russo) Grassano, of Bloomfield, N.J. entered into eternal life, with her loving family by her side, on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Del the daughter of Linda (nee Rossi) and Joseph Russo, was born April 21, 1928, in Newark, N.J.

She was a woman who loved her family and home. She was a creative person who loved to knit and crochet, bake and decorate. Del was always organized and "pulled together."

We all lovingly joked that to clean, organize and polish something was to "Del-ify" it.

She was a wonderful, loving wife to her husband Alfred "Al" of 73 yrs. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family.

Del was a graduate of West Side High School in Newark, N.J. During her high school days, you could often find her at The Paramount Theater in Newark, swooning over crooner Frank Sinatra. She was part of the sock hop generation.

After high school she was employed by The Prudential Insurance Company in Newark. She quickly rose in rank to become the first woman to hold the title of Insurance Examiner.

Dancing on weekends was her favorite pastime and it was while at a dance that she met Al whom she would marry and remain with for 73 years.

Like most women of her time, she dreamed of motherhood and was so grateful to finally give birth to her daughter Lynn and then shortly thereafter, her daughter Gail.

In 1959, she moved into a new home in Bloomfield, N.J.,     where her neighbors quickly became like family and have remained that way to this day. Her door was always open for her extended family and friends. Del enjoyed hosting huge family holiday dinner celebrations. So many memories were made in her home where she resided for 62 years.

Del later became the bookkeeper for Al's diamond setting business and her daughter Gail's boutique. In her later years,  she crocheted and donated beautiful baby blankets for children with cancer and other diseases.

Dolores is survived by her precious husband, Alfred, her loving daughters Lynn Messina and her husband Sebastian, Gail Grassano-Ball and her husband James. Also, her grandchildren Danielle Messina and her husband Jonathan Irizarry, Alycia Messina and Adoran Ball. She is also survived by her godchildren Debbie Amorosa, Dr. Anthony Pastena, and Russell Pastena.

In the end she was "Home", where she belonged, surrounded by those she loved.

Her last words were that she was "Greatly Happy."

Prayer services will be held on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021 at 11:00 o’clock in the morning in the Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, N.J. 07936. (Please arrive at the mausoleum by 10:45 a.m.)

Pleases consider a donation in Del’s memory to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org)

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Irvine-Cozzarelli Memorial Home (973-759-1114), 276 Washington Avenue, Belleville, N.J. 07109 ( www.irvinecozzarelli.com )

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