Obituary of Claire LaRosa

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Claire LaRosa. Claire passed away Friday, October 27^th, 2023 peacefully at home surrounded by family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many.

Claire was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and grew up in the Hudson County NJ town of Guttenberg, the youngest of four. After high school, Claire worked as a secretary in the banking industry in New York City, commuting to work on the ferry.  That is where she met her future husband Daniel.  Even though they grew up on the same block in Guttenberg, they never knew each other.  As Claire would say, they started “keeping company” and were married in 1949.  They moved into a two-bedroom apartment in West New York NJ where they started their family. As the family grew from 3 children, Claire and Daniel moved from that apartment to a house in Ridgefield Park NJ, where 3 more children were born.  In 1968 Daniel’s job transfer moved the family to Denville NJ.

Claire loved spending time with her family and she treasured each of her six children, sixteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

Though we are saddened by her passing, we take comfort in knowing that   Claire is at peace, reunited in heaven with those who passed before her; including her devoted husband, Daniel.  We look now to those she leaves behind to carry on her memory.  She is survived by her loving children Robert (Susan) LaRosa, Christine (William) Craley, Daniel (Madeline) LaRosa, Ron (Debbie) LaRosa, Jim (Jane) LaRosa, and Lisa (Tom) Pilrun. Her sweet grandchildren Bryan, Diane, Tracey, Stefanie, Nikki, Lori, Jennifer M, Joe, Greg, Cindy, Jennifer B, Alaina, Matthew, Timmy, Anthony, and Amy. Her great grandchildren Emma, Peyten, Ben, Penelope, Kennedy, Ruby, Owen, Micah, Isabel, Stella, Ethan, Sophie, Dean, Makayla, Jack, and Trudy. 

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 5^th, 2023 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834. A funeral mass will be held Monday, November 6^th, 2023 at 10:00AM at St. Mary’s Church, 15 Myers Ave, Denville, NJ. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ. Memorial Donations are being accepted by way of https://inmemof.org/claire-larosa to ensure receipt of your donation to either Pancreatic Cancer Lustgarten Foundation or St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, or share your favorite memory of Claire here to continue to celebrate her life and let her light shine. Her family will cherish it forever.