Obituary of Louise C. Palumbo
Louise Carolyn Palumbo, 82, of Bridgewater, New Jersey passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 8, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on March 16, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, Louise was the cherished daughter of Peter and Catherine Lipari. Raised in a lively Italian-American household as the youngest of 3 sisters, Louise’s early years were filled with music, dance and the arts, alongwith a vibrant family life. From an unusually young age, her extraordinary talent for ballet was undeniable. At just 9 years old, she was the youngest member of the Brooklyn Museum Dance Company and celebrated by the local press with the nickname “Brooklyn’s Baby Ballerina.” A truly gifted performer who featured in many productions for the Brooklyn Museum, Regina Wynsor Academy of Music and later, the Brooklyn Ballet, she also became a teacher of ballet in her teenage years, inspiring and mentoring many others with her grace, beauty and discipline.
Louise attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn and, following graduation, earned her certifications as an X-ray and phlebotomy technicianfrom The Eastern School for Physicians’ Aides. She worked for many years in Manhattan as a medical technician for US Life Insurance Co., directly under medical director Dr. Jack Weinstock—a noted author and playwright best known for writing the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Broadway musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” (1961). Louise’s extensive medical knowledge, gentle bedside manner and attention to detail made her a valued member of the healthcare field.
It was at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn where she met the love of her life, Frederico Palumbo. They were high school sweethearts whose love would span more than six decades. Louise chose to forego a career as a professional ballerina for a life devoted to marriage, motherhood and family, and they were married on November 2, 1963—the start of an enduring love story that became a living example of devotion, joy and faith. The couple first resided in Brooklyn before moving in 1967 to Northvale, New Jersey, where they raised their three children. In 1984, they made their home in Bridgewater, New Jersey, which remained Louise’s treasured home for the rest of her life.
Together, Louise and Frederico cultivated a beautiful family life rooted in faith, love and creativity. A longtime parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville, New Jersey, Louise found strength, peaceand purpose in her Catholic faith, with a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary—and shared this faithdeeply with her husband and children.
Home and family were always at the center of Louise’s life. A woman of boundless creativity, she had a remarkable gift for interior design and was constantly reinventing the spaces around her until they reflected the harmony and beauty she envisioned, to create theperfect family home. A gifted artist, she enthusiastically embraced an endless variety of crafts—from stained glass, crochet, macramé, knitting and quilting to making dolls by hand—and displayed her endless creations throughout her home. She also enjoyed collecting, restoring and selling antiques—mostly for the sheer joy of it. Her home was truly her canvas.
She was also an incredibly gifted cook, especially apparent during the holidays, where she brought her family together with traditions, laughter, and truly unforgettable meals. Her kitchen was a place of magic, and her legacy of love for the culinary arts continues in the hearts and recipes of her children and grandchildren.
Louise also took a special interest in nurturing, guiding and encouraging the creativity of her children and grandchildren, all of whom inherited at least one if not several talents in music, theater, dance, art, singing, design and cooking. Her love and passion for the arts were woven into the everyday moments of her life. Whether it was dancing with Frederico, ever since their high school days of sock hops and dance competitions. Or, entertaining friends and family at home to celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Louise always knew exactly how to make every moment, and every person, feel special.
A love for family vacations was also central to Louise’s life. She spent countless annual summer vacations with her children and grandchildren on Long Beach Island, enjoying the beach, crabbing, and creating a lifetime of unforgettable stories and memories. Upon her husband’s retirement, they spent their winters in Fort Myers Beach, Florida—where for over 20 years together, they enjoyed the sunshine, time on their beloved boat (affectionately named after her), and the slower pace and relaxation of seaside life.
Above all, Louise will be remembered for her deep devotion to her family, her enduring faith, herboundless creativity, her generosity and kindness to others, and the enduring and unwavering love she shared with Frederico, who she is now reunited with—a great love story that continues to inspire everyone who knew them.
She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Frederico Palumbo, who passed away earlier this year on March 19, 2025; her parents, Peter and Catherine Lipari; and her two beloved sisters, Lila Hilgenfeldtand Annette Ferrara.
Louise is survived by her three children: Doreen Colatrella-Aricola and her husband Peter, Frederic Palumbo and his wife Patricia, and Peter Palumbo and his wife Claire; her beloved grandchildren: Marc Colatrella, Alyssa Colatrella, Frederic T. Palumbo, Theophilus Palumbo, and Olivia Palumbo; and her step-grandchildren: Peter Aricola, Jr. and his wife Carissa, and Jillian Aricola.
A Visitation will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated the following day,Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1890 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville, NJ. Entombment will follow her funeral mass, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 145 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: the Church of the Ascension in Fort Myers Beach, Florida—Louise and Frederico’s winter parish that was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, and is currently being rebuilt. Donations may be made at this link.
