Ellen L. Illuzzi

Ellen Lee Illuzzi (nee Nuss) age 80, died unexpectedly in her home in Pompton Plains, NJ on Saturday, November 20, 2021. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 52 years, Frank (3/6/2015).

Ellen was born in Queens, NY on January 2, 1941, to the late Francis B. Nuss and Edna (O’Gara) Nuss. Ellen grew up in Great Neck, NY and lived in Ramsey, NJ for more than 50 years before moving to Cedar Crest Village one year ago. Ellen graduated with a bachelor’s degree from The College of Saint Elizabeth and graduated from Fordham University with a master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling.  As a longtime parishioner of St. Paul RC Church in Ramsey, Ellen’s greatest gift was creating The Prayer Shawl Ministry of St. Paul in March of 2005. She began this with 15 women meeting at her home knitting prayer shawls which became a physical sign of love and continuing prayer for those in need (i.e. sickness, bereavement,etc.).

Ellen is survived by her devoted children: Anne and her husband Patrick Boccio, Kathleen and her husband Gregory Hewitt, and Frank M. Illuzzi and his wife Lisa. She was the cherished grandmother of Andrew and his wife Sarah, Nicholas and his wife Michelle, Timothy, Sean and Matthew Dudzik, Katherine and her husband Benjamin Seider, Frankie, Joey, Angela and Vincent.  Ellen is also survived by her sisters, Dorothy Finnegan, Rita Leyden, and Edna Leyden, and her brother Thomas Nuss and his wife, Sue. There are also many nieces and nephews who will miss the numerous heartfelt conversations shared with their loving Aunt Ellen.  Ellen was predeceased by her brother, Reverend Francis Nuss, and brothers in-law, Frank Finnegan, Lawrence Leyden and Thomas Leyden.

The family will receive family and friends on Friday, November 26, 3:00 until 7:00 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff. A mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, November 27 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul’s RC Church, 200 Wyckoff Avenue, Ramsey. Interment will follow in Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah.

Memorial contributions in Ellen’s name may be made to Feeding America https://www.feedingamerica.org/.

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