Obituary of Marie S. Pelligrino

Marie Pelligrino (Presuto) passed away peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2019, surrounded by family at the Avalon Assisted Living Residence in Bridgewater. Marie was the youngest of the six daughters of Mary and Joseph Presuto, of Brooklyn, NY then North Plainfield, NJ. Marie moved to Bridgewater, NJ in 1993 and was a member of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Martinsville. Marie enjoyed traveling and spending time at the Jersey shore with her family and extended family including many nieces and nephews. Spending time in Atlantic City was one of her favorite pastimes. One of Marie's most admired qualities was her selflessness and her ability to always look on the bright side. Not only was Marie a doting wife and mother, she was one of the founding owners of Bridgeway Senior Healthcare in Bridgewater and Hillsborough, NJ. Marie was instrumental in the startup and oversight of financial services of Bridgeway in the early years. Marie enjoyed working alongside her friend and business partners, Dr. Rebecca Rivera and her sons, Jere, Jon and Jason Dugenio. Marie's hard work laid the foundation for her family and the Rivera- Dugenios to grow Bridgeway to include the Avalon Assisted Living Residences. Marie was happy to see the family business grow to include her son and grandchildren. Marie is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Anthony Pelligrino, son Donald and his wife Elaine, grandson Donny, and granddaughters Alexandra Pelligrino and Jessica Pelligrino Tsoukalas and her husband John Tsoukalas, and two adoring great-grandchildren Nicholas and Eliana Tsoukalas; sisters Rose Molinari, Florrie Catapano, Josephine Micioni and Yolanda Hummel, she was predeceased by her sister Ann Herbst. Marie's family is grateful for the angels at the Avalon Assisted Living Residence at Bridgewater who helped care for Marie in her final year of life. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 from 4-8 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd. Watchung, NJ. A funeral gathering will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 9 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, Martinsville. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Basking Ridge.