Obituary for Kerry Gizzi
In Loving Memory
Kerry Jean Gizzi, 74, of Neptune, NJ, passed comfortably in the hospital with her family at her side after a short battle with illness on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. She was born in Staten Island, NY to Betty (Kreuger) and Frank Goss, the first daughter in a family of five. Kerry was preceded in death by Betty and Frank Goss (parents), Michael Goss (brother), Lori Pendleton, (sister) and is survived by Curtis Goss (brother) and Kim Greene (sister); children Rebecca Wells, Amanda Hessels, Heather Laird, Nicholas Gizzi, and William Daniel Gizzi; their loved spouses Sam, Gina, Mike, and Kirsten; and her loving and adoring husband William (Bill) Gizzi. She loved fullyand made everyone realize how special they were, including her 10 grandchildren Sam, Peter,
Katherine, Philip, Esther, Madelyn, Sadie, Jake, Cole, and Diedrich; her two great-grandchildren Maverick and Penelope; nieces and nephews Abigail, Andrew, Sarah, Adam and Allison; Ryan and Doug; Jessica and Kelly; Regina, Frank and Lynne; and Michael and Anthony.
Kerry attended Brookdale Community College earning her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1984 before starting her career at Monmouth Medical Center as a staff nurse, becoming a Manager and then House Supervisor, continuing with Monmouth Pulmonary Consultants and then retiring. Kerry was not one for idle time and her expertise was well known. Kerry was recruited and became a school nurse for the Neptune Township School District, educating other staff as well as providing direct care to students and staff. She considered retirement again- though with the emergence of the COVID pandemic she was a sought after expert and became the system nurse at the Monmouth County Food Bank Fulfill.
Kerry was a natural healer and had an innate drive to rescue others, it began with Ripper, a rescue Collie puppy she brought home, and continued with plants and people. She attended college to learn the skill of nursing at which she excelled. Despite many of life’s challenges—including a lack of funds to buy textbooks—Kerry was determined to make her life better and that for her children too. She always set an example of what you CAN do, not what you cannot do. Kerry always cared for people, bringing the best of her professional and personal assets to nurture in any way she could. She never missed a beat in life, love, or dance—she was authentic, always positive and persevering. She lived the “make do or make don’t” approach to life instilled by her parent’s family tradition. Kerry loved to tell stories and share details of family heritage and yesteryear along with antics of the current day, she had a way to draw you in and make you want to hear more. As a young girl she loved getting into mischief and was a natural born leader, she bossed her big brothers around to clean her room and take her to dance. She loved tap dance, pointe ballet and dreamed of becoming a Rockette- 10 years ago they sent her a try out form!
Her smile lit the room of every gathering. She was an entertainer who excelled at planning and making every event—no matter how large or small—important for all; whether it be finding the shiniest gold pennies to place out on St. Patrick’s Day with green milk for her kids, or holidays, weddings and family birthdays.
Kerry will be known for generations for making a warm home, always fresh baked goods, open to all her children’s friends and others—present and genuine—she was “everybody’s mom” and welcomed all, whether spontaneously or planned. Kerry had a love for animals, and every pet had a story as unique as hers-she brought out the best in all and they loved her in return. She was an avid gardener, passionate about planting and harvesting flowers, herbs and vegetables.
She and Bill always did yard work together. She had a wealth of knowledge- there was nothing she could not learn. Kerry shared her “Goss grit” with all, she was a Girl Scout through and through, and beyond—she had a knack for ingenuity and creativity—nothing slowed her down.
She was a self-taught contractor—restoring her 200-year-old home she learned and applied how to do everything from wallpaper, to flooring, electric and more. She learned sewing as a young girl out of necessity, and made functional and beautiful clothes for all of her children. A hallmark of her sewing skills are her Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that she made by hand for each of her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews; each embroidered with their name in a heart.
Everyone was special and unique in her eyes, and Kerry had a way of making you feel like you were the most special person in the world. Kerry loved her family unconditionally to the fullest, no one made her more complete than her beloved Bill.
The friends and community of the Gizzi family are invited to attend the services celebrating the life of Kerry Gizzi. The wake will be held Monday, March 4, 2024 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the Fiore-Buckley Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, Ocean Township, NJ (https://www.fiorefuneralhomes.com/). Her Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Church, Neptune, NJ.
In lieu of flowers or gifts in Kerry’s legacy consider donating to the Food Bank of Monmouth County (https://fulfillnj.org/search_donations), or Monmouth County Friends of Parks
(https://www.friendsofmonmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?ID=3787).
Please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com for condolences for the family.
Kerry Jean Gizzi, 74, of Neptune, NJ, passed comfortably in the hospital with her family at her side after a short battle with illness on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. She was born in Staten Island, NY to Betty (Kreuger) and Frank Goss, the first daughter in a family of five. Kerry was preceded in death by Betty and Frank Goss (parents), Michael Goss (brother), Lori Pendleton, (sister) and is survived by Curtis Goss (brother) and Kim Greene (sister); children Rebecca Wells, Amanda Hessels, Heather Laird, Nicholas Gizzi, and William Daniel Gizzi; their loved spouses Sam, Gina, Mike, and Kirsten; and her loving and adoring husband William (Bill) Gizzi. She loved fullyand made everyone realize how special they were, including her 10 grandchildren Sam, Peter,
Katherine, Philip, Esther, Madelyn, Sadie, Jake, Cole, and Diedrich; her two great-grandchildren Maverick and Penelope; nieces and nephews Abigail, Andrew, Sarah, Adam and Allison; Ryan and Doug; Jessica and Kelly; Regina, Frank and Lynne; and Michael and Anthony.
Kerry attended Brookdale Community College earning her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1984 before starting her career at Monmouth Medical Center as a staff nurse, becoming a Manager and then House Supervisor, continuing with Monmouth Pulmonary Consultants and then retiring. Kerry was not one for idle time and her expertise was well known. Kerry was recruited and became a school nurse for the Neptune Township School District, educating other staff as well as providing direct care to students and staff. She considered retirement again- though with the emergence of the COVID pandemic she was a sought after expert and became the system nurse at the Monmouth County Food Bank Fulfill.
Kerry was a natural healer and had an innate drive to rescue others, it began with Ripper, a rescue Collie puppy she brought home, and continued with plants and people. She attended college to learn the skill of nursing at which she excelled. Despite many of life’s challenges—including a lack of funds to buy textbooks—Kerry was determined to make her life better and that for her children too. She always set an example of what you CAN do, not what you cannot do. Kerry always cared for people, bringing the best of her professional and personal assets to nurture in any way she could. She never missed a beat in life, love, or dance—she was authentic, always positive and persevering. She lived the “make do or make don’t” approach to life instilled by her parent’s family tradition. Kerry loved to tell stories and share details of family heritage and yesteryear along with antics of the current day, she had a way to draw you in and make you want to hear more. As a young girl she loved getting into mischief and was a natural born leader, she bossed her big brothers around to clean her room and take her to dance. She loved tap dance, pointe ballet and dreamed of becoming a Rockette- 10 years ago they sent her a try out form!
Her smile lit the room of every gathering. She was an entertainer who excelled at planning and making every event—no matter how large or small—important for all; whether it be finding the shiniest gold pennies to place out on St. Patrick’s Day with green milk for her kids, or holidays, weddings and family birthdays.
Kerry will be known for generations for making a warm home, always fresh baked goods, open to all her children’s friends and others—present and genuine—she was “everybody’s mom” and welcomed all, whether spontaneously or planned. Kerry had a love for animals, and every pet had a story as unique as hers-she brought out the best in all and they loved her in return. She was an avid gardener, passionate about planting and harvesting flowers, herbs and vegetables.
She and Bill always did yard work together. She had a wealth of knowledge- there was nothing she could not learn. Kerry shared her “Goss grit” with all, she was a Girl Scout through and through, and beyond—she had a knack for ingenuity and creativity—nothing slowed her down.
She was a self-taught contractor—restoring her 200-year-old home she learned and applied how to do everything from wallpaper, to flooring, electric and more. She learned sewing as a young girl out of necessity, and made functional and beautiful clothes for all of her children. A hallmark of her sewing skills are her Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that she made by hand for each of her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews; each embroidered with their name in a heart.
Everyone was special and unique in her eyes, and Kerry had a way of making you feel like you were the most special person in the world. Kerry loved her family unconditionally to the fullest, no one made her more complete than her beloved Bill.
The friends and community of the Gizzi family are invited to attend the services celebrating the life of Kerry Gizzi. The wake will be held Monday, March 4, 2024 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the Fiore-Buckley Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, Ocean Township, NJ (https://www.fiorefuneralhomes.com/). Her Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Church, Neptune, NJ.
In lieu of flowers or gifts in Kerry’s legacy consider donating to the Food Bank of Monmouth County (https://fulfillnj.org/search_donations), or Monmouth County Friends of Parks
(https://www.friendsofmonmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?ID=3787).
Please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com for condolences for the family.