Giustina M Pagliuca

Justina (born Giustina Maria Fiore) Pagliuca, 90, cherished mother, grandmother and wife, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 22nd 2025.

Justina was born in 1935 to Italian Immigrants in Brooklyn, NY. She was the only daughter of Prospero and Elmerinda Fiore. She is predeceased by herparents and adoring brothers, Primo and Italo Fiore. Justina married Michel Albert Pagliuca in 1959. In addition to her husband Michael, Justina is survived by her four children and their partners Michael and Ruth Pagliuca, Marie Sciarra and Michael Ippoliti, Valerie and Darren Rosario and Carolyn and Wayne Meda. Justina is survived by her grandchildren Tabitha, Jordan (and her husband Ryan), Robby, Logan, Taylor, Anika, Scottie and Alyssa.

Justina was devoted to her family in ways that were beyond belief. When her mother was stricken ill and died, Justina was at a young age. She selflessly cared for her father, brothers, uncles and other Italian immigrants who lived in their house which served as their first stop in America. She started her own family in Brooklyn before moving to Cresskill, NJ where the last of her four children was born. Justina continued to care for other family members while serving all the needs of her own young and growing family. Her family was smothered with love and never wanted for anything. She kept an impeccable house, was an amazing cook, shuttled her kids and other children to and from activities and so much more. Everything Justina did was rooted in love and her devotion for her family. Justina was always someone who could be counted on and her children could always count on Mom.

When her children were older, she channeled her devotion and commitment of helping others into her work. She worked in customer service and various companies including Lipton Tea/ Unilever. If a customer was upset or needed help and they were lucky enough to get Justina on the telephone, they got a caring soul who would truly listen to them. She would do everything in her power to ensure they were satisfied and felt better. She would occasionally get reprimanded for spending too much time with a customer! At one point, and with no experience, she became an aerobics instructor at Jack LaLanne, specializing in helping women her age feel good about themselves and get fit. She was often called upon by local parishes to cook for their priests. The meals those priests received were made with love and guaranteed to be delicious. Mom always tried to help others and make their lives better.

Justina was an angel and a gift from God. She never hurt a soul and was always kind and compassionate to others. While her passing leaves an unpatchable hole in many lives, her love, caring and compassion is woven into all with whom she spent time.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at The Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ. Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM, with a funeral service at 1:30 PM.

The family kindly requests that, in place of flowers, donations be made to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (www.adaa.org) in Justina Pagliuca’s name."