Lisa Marie Angelillo

The Lord received Lisa Marie Angelillo, 56 years old, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She fought every centimeter of the way for the life that she loved and for those that loved her. Those she leaves behind remain in awe of her resilience, strength and positivity that she maintained for the 26 months following her diagnosis. Lisa did not go gently into that good night, she fought; but on the evening of April 5, 2025, Lisa caught her final Sun in flight and climbed its setting beams to Heaven.

Lisa loved the Sun. Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey she was always happy to be outside during the warm seasons tending to her gardens. Lisa could nurse any plant back to health and was happy to share her latest success with a photo to the family. She would often display her plants on furniture and benches she restored. There was never a piece of furniture that Lisa could not, after sanding, staining or painting, bring new life to. Lisa saw the beauty, and the potential for beauty in all that she encountered. It is this gift for creativity that Lisa is so well-known and admired for. With just a few items, Lisa could transform any room into a comfortable haven. She could sew and create articles of clothing for herself and others to wear. She could take flowers and shells and make an amazing centerpiece. She could take a few pieces of clothing and create a stunning outfit. Lisa always took simple objects and transformed them into small treasures. She was a truly beautiful person who was a master at making everything in the world more beautiful.

With this talent, Lisa achieved a very successful career in design. Staring her career at Ashley Furniture she went on to become the director of merchandising at Capitol Lighting transforming showroom after showroom into her beautiful works of art. Her business acumen, creativity and her ability to naturally connect with others led her to be admired by her colleagues. Lisa loved having a career that honored her expertise and creativity. Her family and friends will miss Lisa sending snapshots of her displays and her tales of adventures from markets across the country and her travels to and from Capitol’s locations in New Jersey and Florida.

Her love of the Sun, warmer weather and passion for her work led her and her beloved husband Paul to relocate to Florida in 2016. There they enjoyed endless sunshine, palm trees, visiting parks, walks on the beach and the many new tropical flowers and gardens that Lisa enjoyed designing and tending. She loved swimming and sunsets and enjoying a great meal with an evening cocktail. Her family admired her passion to live in The Sunshine State and are comforted in knowing that she achieved that dream and that she followed her heart.

Lisa had a giant heart while simultaneously taking much happiness in the smaller moments of life. Lisa found such joy in simplicity. She loved sitting on a couch chatting with friends and family, sewing, dancing, 80s music, working on crafts, creating digital room layouts, giving herself a perfect manicure, cooking with Paul, enjoying a nice glass of wine, dark chocolate, a great cup of hot coffee, BBQs, family reunions, catching up with a phone call and spending time with family and friends. Lisa made it a priority to pause all of the business of her days to have fun with the holidays, especially Halloween where she was famous for her handmade costumes, parties and decorations. Halloween will forever belong to Lisa. In addition, Lisa loved spending joyful, quiet moments with her many loved and spoiled cats, especially Lemon who would ride around on her shoulders and make Lisa laugh. She deeply mourned the loss of every one of her “Boo-Boos” and we know Lemon is back where he loved to be, riding high.

Lisa was an authentic and beautiful person. She had a gorgeous, genuine smile. She was pure and good. She radiated warmth and kindness. She will forever be the sweetest of the sweet. Lisa’s ability to acknowledge and honor the small moments of life with her big, open heart is something her entire family will strive to imitate and honor. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 31 years, Paul, whom she met when she was just 18 years old, her father and mother, Anthony and Lee Dalfonzo, who deeply love her, her adoring sister Leann and husband Nicholas Apicella III and niece Lyla Apicella, her father and mother-in-law, Ralph and Theresa Angelillo, and her many sister and brother in-laws who dearly love her and miss her: Thomas Angelillo and Darlene Tonks, Linda Angelillo and Carl Wiltsee, Stephen Angelillo, Gabrielle Angelillo, John and Vanda Angelillo, Janice (nee Angelillo) and Adas Wroblewski and Richard and Pamela Angelillo, in addition to her many nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, colleagues and friends who love her and will hold onto her memory forever. We will all miss her laugh and being enveloped in one of her big, warm hugs. Lisa was a wife, a daughter, a sister, a godmother, a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, an aunt, a cousin, a colleague and a friend. We are blessed by how she ensured every single one of us knew how much we mattered and were loved by her. Our tears over Lisa’s passing will evolve into reminiscing on all of the cherished times and the honoring of her life.

A prayer service and celebration of Lisa’s life will take place in late spring in New Jersey. In lieu of flowers please consider recognizing a small moment and pausing to enjoy it, planting a flower in Lisa’s memory, making a contribution to a no-kill animal shelter on her behalf or toasting Lisa with a glass of wine while sitting in a sunbeam. Our profound loss is Heaven’s gain. An angel on Earth became an angel in Heaven. We will love you forever, Lisa!