Jonelle Fusco, a loving fiancée, daughter, sister, auntie, doggie-mom, friend, and insatiable reader who -among so many things- is most remembered for expanding the boundaries of lovethrough generosity, passed away on September 14th. Through her kindness, compassion, gentility, humor, humility, service to others, and understanding, Jonelle shaped the world around her making all those in her presence feel valued, loved and heard. Jonelle was the loving fiancée of Kevin Crane. The pair shared a full life together for twelve years where they raised a beautiful friendly pup named KC at their home in Bloomfield, NJ which Jonelle purchased four years ago, a milestone and an important personal achievement. At home the pair loved to spend time together watching their favorite shows, conversing about life and family, and of course being silly with one another. In her quiet time, Jonelle loved to read. It was her space to decompress and get lost in the stories: the small tales, tall tales, poetry, mystery, fantasy and adventures tucked deeply within each page. As a reader, it’s estimated by her family that in her life, Jonelle read over a thousand books. Jonelle was the incredible loving daughter of Lynn and Morris (Murray) Fusco and a step-daughter to Genevieve Fusco and James McHugh. As a daughter, she sought to honor her parents and treat them with the most love and respect imaginable. Jonelle was a doting big sister to Marc and Matthew and she was the caring younger sister to Heather Patire. As a sister, and as “Auntie Nelle” to Caroline, Jack, and Día, Jonelle offered gentle loving-kindness, sound-advice, words of wisdom and of course the feeling of home. Coming from a large family that relaxed and conversed especially at the end of long meals over dessert, coffee, and digestifs, Jonelle was intrinsically drawn to baking. Recently, she began to push the envelope in the kitchen and consistently researched recipes and ingredients in her free time. She would mix, match, and test different methods to perfect some of the most challenging recipes in the baking world. She is most well-known for and was most proud of her macaroons. Her extensive research on seldom used ingredients and pairings along with plating techniques was used to introduce her family and friends to flavors beyond the scope of their palette and presentations beyond the grasp of their imagination, often striking an emotional chord with those whom she served. When urged by loved ones to build a career as a pastry chef and open a café, she was often quoted as saying, “This is my happy place, and if I sell this stuff, I’m afraid that I’ll lose that.” Professionally, Jonelle was a fifteen year veteran of the Medical Knowledge Group and one of their very first employees. She was most recently promoted to Senior Director for the company’s Speaker Bureau. Jonelle organized, executed, and oversaw meetings for the pharmaceutical industry. She worked long hours and was often juggling three or four things at a time to make sure that everyone that she worked with succeeded. Jonelle’s promotion to Senior Director was a true testament to her hard work and dedication to her role, her colleagues and her company’s mission. And in true Jonelle fashion, very few people knew of her promotion to Senior Director, evidence of her good-natured humility. Jonelle was surrounded by her loved ones day in and day out during her last days.The network created through her love is strong and lives on in all of us. As an organ donor, Jonelle’s generosity continues even after her passing. Families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio have already been blessed by her selflessness. Through the many examples of Jonelle’s generosity in life, whether with family, friends, or in the workplace and through her final acts of humanity in giving life in her passing, Jonelle’s spirit of giving lives on in all of us.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that any memorial donations be made to The Trevor Project for Young LGBTQ Lives or the Associated Humane Societies of Newark. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 19th, beginning at 3P.M. and concluding at 8 P.M. The Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Francis R.C. Church, Hoboken at 10 A.M. A private cremation will follow.