Obituary of Ann Bocchieri

Ann (Bilardo) Bocchieri, 92, passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on Sunday, January 9, 2022, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Ann was born in Oceanside, New York to the late Samuel and Angela (Pulverenti) Bilardo. She moved to North Brunswick in 1939 to a home her dear father built and remained there to raise her family and throughout her later years. She attended New Brunswick schools, graduating NBHS in the class of 1940, followed by employment with Dr. Irving Rineberg as an assistant. It was at NBHS that she met her beloved husband, Sam Bocchieri and began their love story through 68 years of marriage.

Married in 1953, Ann raised her family of three children while actively involved in school activities, including PTA president, Football Booster Clubs, and many volunteer positions. She was passionate about her children's education and instrumental in the opening of North Brunswick HS.

Ann was deputy Township Clerk for the Township of North Brunswick for 20 years before her retirement in 1991. Most proud of the family business, she assisted her husband, Sam, son, Brian and daughter in law, April at Bocchieri 's Farm, Garden, Landscaping and Floral Center in Edison where customers were treated like family.

She loved the shore and her times at the beach. Not only with family, but also at the St.Joseph's retreat center with the Sisters Phillipini and St Lucy groups. She lived her Catholic faith every day and was devoted to the rosary, where she found peace and strength, praying for others' needs as she watched daily mass on EWTN.

Nothing was more important than time spent with family, be it for Sunday dinners, beach trips, holidays, or just being together. Her grandchildren were the loves and joy of her life and gave her her youthful spirit!

Ann was a daily communicant and active parishioner of St. Mary of Mount Virgin R.C. Church (Parish of the Visitation) in New Brunswick. She was the first woman invited to not only serve as a Eucharistic Minister, but also to read at daily masses. For many years, she served as an Extraordinary Minister visiting hospital patients and homebound parishioners. In her senior years, when she was no longer able to continue, it was these friendships as she served the Lord that she missed the most. Ann contributed greatly of her time as a member of the church's St. Anne Society, ASLF Sr. Jacinta Basile Group and as cofounder of Rosary Group #1.

In the community, she was a longstanding member of the North Brunswick Italian American Ladies Auxiliary Club, Pioneers Club, Senior Citizens, and the local AARP.

Ann is remembered for her many gestures of caring, from home cooked meals to prayers, she made everyone feel special. She was a woman of great grace and generosity of spirit, always there to listen, love and serve. Strangers were just friends she had not met yet.

Surviving is her husband Salvatore "Sam" J. Bocchieri; two daughters – Connie Bocchieri of Reston, Virginia, and Sharon O'Loughlin of Monroe; her son Brian Bocchieri and wife, April, of Monroe; her sister Carol Terebetsky and husband Jerry of Carteret; and four grandchildren – Kyle Bocchieri and wife, Hailey, Cody Bocchieri and Kelly Ann and Trevor O'Loughlin.

Visitation will be 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Friday at Selover Funeral Home, 555 Georges Road, North Brunswick. Funeral services will be 8:15 AM Saturday from Selover Funeral Home followed by a 9:00 AM Mass at St. Mary of Mt. Virgin Church (Parish of the Visitation) in New Brunswick. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery in New Brunswick.

Contributions may be made to the Filippini Sisters, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960 or at www.filippiniusa.org or to Parish of the Visitation (St Mary's Church), 198 Sandford Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 or at www.parishofthevisitation.org.

To view a livestream of the funeral Mass on Saturday, 1/15/22:

https://parishofthevisitation.org/

 - Click on three lines on top left

 - Then click on "Live Mass" (a YouTube pop up will appear.  Click on that to take you to their YouTube channel.

 - Mass will start no earlier than 8:55 AM.  Do not click before then.