Obituary of Nancy A. Parello

Nancy Ann Parello (nee Leonard) peacefully passed away on July 18, 2006 after a brief illness at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, surrounded by her family. She was 74. A New Jersey native, Mrs. Parello was the loving wife of Stephen M. Parello, the devoted mother of Joseph D. Buccellato, Beth MacArthur, Jeffrey Buccellato and Peter, Nancy and Leslie Parello, a loving sister to Linda Ramachandran, Janet Schumann and David Leonard, and an attentive mother-in-law to John MacArthur and Maria Buccellato. She was the daughter of Grace and Louis Leonard. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren: Alexander and Benjamin Scheffer, Stephen and Michael Parello, Alexis, Dante and Gabriella Buccellato. Mrs. Parello lost her oldest son, Jody, in July 2004. Mrs. Parello was born in Elizabeth, grew up in Plainfield, graduated from Mount Saint Marys Academy in North Plainfield and raised her children in South Plainfield, before moving to East Amwell, Hunterdon County in 1978. In 1991, she retired to Florida with her husband, Steve. When her youngest child went to kindergarten, Mrs. Parello opened the first of what would become a small chain of womans clothing stores. The first Lady Leslie was opened in Scotch Plains in 1972. Over the years, the business became a family affair with daughters Beth and Leslie and son Jody helping to operate the chain, which grew to 11 stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. While an energetic and successful businesswoman, Mrs. Parellos greatest joy was celebrating life with her family and friends. She will be sadly missed. _____________ Funeral services will be held at 10:15 am on Monday July 24, 2006 at Higgins Home for Funerals 752 Mountain Blvd. Watchung NJ 07069 followed by a 11:00am funeral mass at Our Lady of the Mount R.C. Church 167 Mt. Bethel Rd. Warren. Entombment to follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge. Visitation will be held on Sunday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at the funeral home. A reception for family and friends will immediately follow. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Francis of Assisi breadline, 135 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001.