Obituary of Filomena Paolucci

Filomena Paolucci, 88, of Freehold Township passed away peacefully on Friday, May 16, 2025 with her loving family by her side.  She was born March 16, 1937 in San Marco dei Cavoti, Benevento, Italy where she grew up on her family’s farm.  She spoke fondly of her time herding sheep, feeding pigs and growing vegetables.  She immigrated to the United States at the young age of fifteen in pursuit of a new life.  She came on an ocean voyage that lasted two long weeks to a new country she knew nothing about and not able to speak the language.  She took a job as a seamstress which became her lifelong profession while attending night school to learn English where she made many lifelong friends.

Her family eventually followed, and they settled in Linden, NJ.  She returned to Italy for a vacation with some friends in her early twenties, where she met and married her devoted husband of 65 years, Anthony.  Returning to the US as husband and wife after three short months, they settled in Elizabeth, NJ, where they purchased their first home in 1963 after their children were born.  Filomena enjoyed many lasting and wonderful friendships while living in the Peterstown section of Elizabeth.  Her first priority in life was always her family.  Her greatest joy came from spending time with her children and grandchildren.  In 1975, Filomena and her husband, Tony, moved their young family to Freehold Township where she enjoyed tending her vegetable garden.  She also enjoyed knitting, cooking, attending Mass and spending time with her family and friends.  She retired after forty years when her first grandchild, Anthony, was born to help take care of him while his parents worked.  She selflessly helped with all her grandchildren, never tiring, never wavering in her love and support.

In the true Italian spirit, she kept her family together through food.  She cooked pasta dinners for her family every Thursday and Sunday for many years.  We spent countless hours around the kitchen table laughing, sharing stories and making memories.  She instilled the importance of family, hard work and faith in her children and grandchildren.  She gave us a wonderful childhood and many incredible memories throughout her lifetime. 

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Anthony; her parents, Lorenzo and Incoronata Pezzuto; and siblings; Antonietta Ialeggio (John), Michael Pezzuto and Vincent Pezzuto.  She is survived by her son, Peter Paolucci and his partner of many years, Maria Cannarozzi; daughter, Libby DeChiaro and her husband, Steven; grandchildren, Anthony Paolucci and his fiancée, Kasia, Christian DeChiaro; her bonus grandchildren Victoria DeChiaro and her partner, Juan, and Stevie Hrycyk and her husband, Eric; and four bonus great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews including Susan Wetherell, Lydia and Michael Rosenberg, and Lori DeFalco and their families.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, May 19, 2025 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM for the procession to her 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 16 McLean Street, Freehold. Entombment will follow in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, 299 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Freehold. For information, directions or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com .