Obituary of Elizabeth Longo

Elizabeth Longo passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family on July 1, 2023.

She was 94. 

Elizabeth was many things to many people; Loving wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Mother-In-Law, Sibling, Daughter, mentor, confidante, and friend to all those who were lucky enough to have crossed paths with her. She led a full life. Those fortunate enough to share a meal around her kitchen table always came away learning something new. 

She lived a life far in excess of the confines of a standard obituary but some milestones: Born in the Bronx, N.Y. on October 20, 1928, she learned her work ethic early by working in the family business. There was a general store run by her mother, Maria and a fruit and vegetable truck run by her father, Silvio. Growing up with three brothers, she was the apple of her father’s eye. After high school, she worked for New York Telephone in their billing department where she became proficient in the use of a comptometer (look it up) and enjoyed her girlfriend’s outings to Gimbles, Macy’s and Bloomingdales and cook outs on Jones Beach.  

Elizabeth and her first love, Anthony married in 1951, resided in the Bronx and shared two children; Mary and Anthony (Jr). Anthony was taken away too soon and in his prime by cancer. As a young mother with two young children to raise, she rose to the occasion.  Never one to be a victim, she provided a loving home for them and her mother Maria.  After moving to Edison, NJ, she was reacquainted with, and later married Pete Longo from ‘the old neighborhood’.  They shared two children; William and Douglas. Together along with ‘Grandma’ (Maria who passed in 1976), they lived in Edison until Pete’s passing in 1989. After suffering another loss in Pete’s death, she did what she knew, she persevered.  She remained active in Edison until moving to Freehold in 1997. Once there, she volunteered at Open Door in Freehold and helped out with one of her son’s businesses.

She was able to live in the moment. Whether it was a private audience with the Pope, meeting various politicians, babysitting mob boss John Gotti (long story), seeing Louie Prima backstage in his boxers (even longer story), cooking endless meals, enjoying a glass of wine with family and friends, or seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought into this world she took nothing for granted.  She was forever grateful for what she had and wasted no time on things she didn’t.  Her strong Faith carried her through.    

Elizabeth is preceded in death by her loving spouses Anthony and Peter and brothers Tony, Benny and Vinny. She leaves behind her loving children Mary and husband Kevin Johnson of Venice Florida, Anthony Catenacci of Acworth, Georgia, William and wife Linda Longo of Freehold, Douglas and wife Gina Longo of Helmetta; grandchildren, Joe, Ryan, Nicole, Jeffrey, Dina, Peter, Hannah, Armand and Layne and great grandchildren Sofia, Madison, Emma and Olivia.  She will be dearly missed by all.  

Visitation will be held at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 8:30 to 10:00 am.  A Funeral Mass will be held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road Freehold Township immediately following at 10:30 am. Interment at Holy Cross Burial Park, East Brunswick, NJ. will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741. For more information, directions or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com