Kelly A. Marascio

Kelly Ann Marascio- A child of God, believer in love and free spirit to the world.

In Death-

Kelly Ann Marascio, of long beautiful blonde hair and vivid gentle blue eyes, slender in figure, passed away on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025, after years of battling respiratory health complications. Throughout this battle and up until the very end, she fought with her last breath for life and love, never giving up or in, spending her final days with her loving family as that was her way. Even in her final moments against insurmountable odds, she maintained her loving, caring and kindhearted nature, thinking of others. With her final breath, she gave us a profound gift only giving in silence. She gave us the gift of strength and belief knowing this was not the ending in her book of life, not the final chapter, but just the next page in her illustrious journey. She gave us strength, knowing she would join her father Joseph Marascio and the many other fallen loved ones at the pearly gates of Heaven to be greeted with open arms, adoring affection, and love—all while being pain free.

In Life-

Kelly began life the same way she went out: loved, appreciated, beautiful and kicking! She adored life, love, activity, and adventure both big and small. She passed too soon at the age of 59, but as we all know “Only the good die young”. She enjoyed every moment of her life, living it to the fullest. She created relationships, memories, and moments to rival 100 years in only half the time and lived life without regret always looking forward. Kelly encompassed all aspects of love as everyone was special to her. From phone calls, to visits to family outings she enjoyed them all to the fullest. She relished in music, social gatherings and traveling both near and far but would always find her way back home to Nassau Street, North Brunswick, where she grew up. Kelly was uplifting by nature and known by many as easy to talk to, always generous and the best company to have. She was also known to throw and attend a legendary party or two, and you knew it was a good time if her favorite drink of choice “Jack Daniels” was in the house! Kelly loved freedom and saw herself as a “Free Bird” often taking adventures with world famous musicians that she called friend. Kelly was a fashionista all the time, often ahead of trends and styles and she always looked the way she wanted, never what others expected. She had an amazing jewelry collection and was known to have an eye for beauty. Kelly was also known to push the envelope as she was one of the first women wrestlers at her middle school and a self-taught taxidermist.

Love for Family-

Kelly’s number one love in life was her family. She adored her parents, Joseph and Kathleen Marascio, as her mother was her best friend. They were peas in a pod, both physically beautiful and both just as feisty. A pair of blondes with attitude, tempers and high emotion that was never on “Empty in the House” but always balanced because of deep love and compassion for each other, as empathy ran deep like a river in their blood. Even in Kelly’s final days, both her and her mother stood strong together knowing they faced death in the face, bleak odds, both in pain, together they stood strong. A mother’s love never wavering, a daughter’s hand held to the end. Ultimately, as death arrived at their doorstep and Father Time’s hourglass ran empty, came a cold beautiful moment as they both new that this wasn’t “Goodbye,” but instead, “See you soon.” A Mother and daughter’s love at that moment together froze time and will forever stand still in their hearts together both in this life and the next. Kelly loved her father Jospeh Marascio as they shared a special bond. He was her protector, the man she went to for guidance and wisdom and was her spiritual advisor when she needed direction. He loved her dearly and was her biggest fan even when times were hard. Their bond as father and daughter was as strong as iron forged in fierce fire and was as immovable as the highest mountain. It was fluid like the air that dances about us. She was his original and first “Little Sweetheart” and as flowers bloom in spring and die in winter only to regrow, so was their love, always regrowing, repairing and beautiful. Even as her flower perished on earth, it regrows stronger in heaven where they are reunited again, embracing in each other’s arms: a father’s hug, a daughter’s comfort, a warm embrace, a dance amongst the clouds that is forever echoing in eternity. Kelly also loved her little brother, Joe Jr., with unwavering support in infinite abundance. He was her true north, a guiding light and anchor to always helping her find her way. Their love as brother and sister was special and unique with a bond of unity that sustained the test of time never breaking or faltering even through the very end. She loved his music and enjoyed seeing him play in person. She would always brag about her brother the musician and his talent. Now she will forever be with him, dancing to the beat of his drum, shaking to the rhythm and sound of his harmonica, and humming to the sound of his Congo’s banging as she now has a permanent front row seat to the rhythm of his heart.

Love of Her Greatest Accomplishment-

Kelly’s greatest act of love to the world is her living legacy of children and grandchildren. Matthew, Elia, Sara Star, Anastasia Sky, Raphael, Benjamin, Isabella and Milaina where her gifts that will carry her spirit and essence of her soul forward. Each child and grandchild have their own story of their amazing mother, but Kelly loved each one like the earth loves the sun, forever protecting and shining light in the darkness, chasing away the dark shadows of life. Kelly loved them all and adored talking with them, hearing from them and cerebrating them all. She kept pictures, artifacts and memorabilia that only a mother would love that grew to a large collection or library of memories that would never fade or dull for her. She made every holiday special as Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny or just a spoiling mother with her favorite being St. Patrick’s Day for the “Kelly Green”. She loved to play mini golf with them, take them to Point Pleasant Beach, Colonial Park Nature Trail Walk and on adventures everywhere or anywhere. She loved to take them eating at Taco Bell, Burger King, Buffets, Tumeltys Irish Pub and Arthur’s Steak House being her favorite with her French Onion Soup. She was the best, imperfect mother anyone could ask for, a superhero of sorts that was in constant battle with her nemesis Father Time. She never missed the moments we needed her most; we just didn’t know it until now, the big ones and small ones always there, always present.

Love Enduring-

Lastly, Kelly loved everyone. She loved her Uncle Tony and Vinnie. She loved her Aunts: Kathy, Marie, Eda, Connie, and Sandy. She loved her cousins: Kathleen, Cristina and Anthony. She loved her nephew, Krys, and daughter-in-law, Joyce. She loved her extended family: the family’s dearest friends, the Brereton’s—Winford, Judy, Jane, Melinda, Jenifer and Andy (her son’s best friend). She loved Carmen, Steve, Pepe, and so many more that the list would be too long to name. She would want the world to remember her as a sweet, loving, kind-hearted women who will still always be there for everyone, always in eternity, always watching us. She would want the world to know she will always be there when we cry, always there when we stumble or fall, always there when things fall apart, always there, and she is just one prayer away like her favorite song by Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer”.

God Loves us, and so does she.

She was the greatest mommy in the whole wide world, she will be missed and loved forever-

Survived by-

Her Mother Kathleen Marascio, Father Joseph R Marascio (pre deceased), Brother Joseph A Marascio, Son Matthew A Marascio (wife) Joyce Marascio, Daughter Elia Fama (fiance) Brandon Pringle , Sara Star Herner, Anastasia Sky Lawson, Grandchildren Raphael Marascio, Benjamin Marascio, Isabella Marascio, Milaina Marascio, Nephew Krys Marascio. And many beloved Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

A Memorial Service for Kelly will be held on, Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 at 4:00 pm - 7:00pm at The Crabiel Home For Funerals, 170 N Main St-Riva Ave, Milltown, NJ 08850