Obituary of Lily K. Krasovetz

Lily (Franceschi) Krasovetz, devoted wife of the late Martin. Mother of Mary Martha (J.Anthony) Brown, Martin (Mary Ann), Kristen (Barbara), Kevin (Karen) and sister to Ada Gomilar. Lily is survived by10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Lily was born on Dec. 20, 1919 to John and Mary Franceschi. Her parents were from Austria, present day Northern Italy. Her father was a coal miner and her mother was a housewife. They spoke Italian which Lily could speak and understand, but she was to learn English and help them. They settled in Carpenter's Park, PA where her mother took in coal miner borders which was common in those times. Her sister Ada was born in 1921. She attended Conemaugh Twp. Elementary School until 1934, then Johnstown High School graduating with honors in 1938. She next went to Cambria Rowe Business College receiving an Associates Degree in 1939. She was baptized (1933) and confirmed (1934) Roman Catholic at St. Peter's Church in Somerset, PA. During the Johnstown Flood in the 1930's she stayed in a high rise apartment building with a classmate down town as she could not get home. During that time she learned to drink her coffee black, something she did all her life. She began her professional career as a secretary to Atty. Reginal Parsons in Johnstown, PA.She had already met her husband, Martin, as a teenager. He was the love of her life. She called him "My Martin" or "Martine". They were married (eloped, though her parents were happy) on August 17, 1942 in Florence, South Carolina where he was stationed in the Army prior to going over seas for four years. Lily was by then working in Philadelphia, PA for Signal Corps (1942-1945), an emergency war service Military Organization during WWII. When Martin returned in 1945 they settled into a house in Germantown, PA where Mary Martha and Martin John were born (named after grandparents). In 1950 the family moved to Gibbsboro, NJ. Here Lily and Marty bought a Texaco Station/home they called "Marty's" and settled in. Lily's accounting background helped with the business aspect. However, she also made and sold sandwiches. She was especially known for her hoagies. In 1968 they moved into their promised dream home at 107 United States Ave., Gibbsboro, NJ. This was the last residence for both. Lily was very active with the elementary school in Gibbsboro. She substituted, began the library, was on the Brd. of Education and the PTA . She became a member of Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Berlin, NJ in 1950 where she taught Sunday School, was active in the Women's groups, and was always avaiilable to help where needed. During the 1950s both Kristen and Kevin were born. In the 1960's Lily decided to go back into her original field of secretarial and accounting work. She enrolled in Camden County Community College to enhance her secretarial and accounting skills. Continuing into the 1970's she then enrolled in Glassboro College for School Law. During the next 35 years or so she worked in her fields at Eastern High School (general office manager for Principal Wm. Wert 1965-1970), Sterling High School (assistant/bookkeeping to BOE Secretaries E. Davies and Wm. Asterino 1970-1979), and the Pine Hill Schools ( BOE Secretary and school payroll accounts1979-1981). Lily then changed into the real estate field with her skills for Maffucci Realty, Inc.of Cherry Hill, NJ in charge of all accounting responsibilites. After five years she switched to Sieh Realty also in Cherry Hill where she remained until she had to retire due to Martin's health in 1996. During Lily's life time she and Martin raised four children, enjoyed their grandchildren and did a little traveling. Martin convinced Lily to visit Europe to retrace some of his WWII sites, to find his family in Slovenia, and to visit with her family in Fiave, Italy. He also took the Rotary International flags with them to share as she too was a Rotary Ann. The year was 1982. Lily feared flying but she did it. In 1986 they flew to Yokosuka, Japan to be there for the arrival of their grandson, Quintin. She returned to both Slovenia and Italy to visit family after Martin's death. That was the last time she flew! When the children were young, and later in life,they traveled the east coast to many historical sites and famous cities or Veteran and Rotary events, by car. Lily had motion sickness! For their 50th wedding anniversary Lily planned the entire event. It was held at the Philadelphia Naval Base. She said it was the wedding reception they never had due to WWII and she wanted no surprises. She and Martin danced the polka, the dance they loved and were famous for at the Berlin Rotary events. She truly enjoyed seeing all the family and friends she had grown to love and sharing her celebration with them. Lily was known as a caring person. She helped many families and friends giving clothing, food, shelter, rides and advice as needed. However, only those receiving knew, she kept their personal situations private. She was very intelligent, funny, caring, opinionated, religious, patriotic, hard working, devoted to her family, a good friend and yet only five foot two (so she said). Unfortunately a stroke on April 8, 2008, after having raked the yard the day before, changed everything. She entered first the Lutheran Home in Morrestown,NJ and then St. Mary's Catholic Home in Cherry Hill, NJ to wonderful care.There she spoke Italian occasionally, much to everyone's surprise, especially her children. She left St. Mary's on February 24, 2016, the morning she passed away.The last personal change in her life had been to return to the Roman Catholic Church after Martin died. She had prayed the Rosary her whole life, so the completion of her religious circle ended at St. Andrews Church, Gibbsboro, NJ on February 29, 2016 with the blessings of Father Michael Rush, her family and friends. Memorial Mass will be held in Lily's name Monday, February 29, 2016 at 10:30am, St. Andrews the Apostle Parish, 27 Kresson-Gibbsboro Road, Gibbsboro, NJ 08026. Visitation for Family and friends begins at 9:30am Interment will be held at the convenience of the family. In Lieu of flowers contributions to Berlin Rotary Club, PO Box 413, Berlin, NJ 08009 would be appreciated.