Obituary of Laurel "Laurie" Monteforte

Raritan NJ

Laurel “Laurie” Monteforte, 81, died at home on July 17, 2022, surrounded by her devoted family. She was born on March 26, 1941, to her late parents Elizabeth “Dolly” Mitterando and Jack Lao.  She was blessed with three siblings (Dale, Bill and Robin through her mother’s marriage to Bill Ingenito).  Laurie was delighted to discover another surprise sister Millie Paterra through Ancestry.com.  Laurie trained to be a hairdresser but became a full time wife to Bob Monteforte and mother to Craig and Laura.  She was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother (Gigi). She loved her large extended family and loved helping her Aunt Marge with her 10 children.

Laurie had “hands of gold” and created beautiful items with her sewing, crocheting, and knitting talents starting when she was a teenager making personalized girl and boy baby bibs with her Singer sewing machine.  She loved babies and gifted newborns of friends and family with beautiful hand made blankets, hats, and sweaters.  Laurie outfitted quite a few family brides by making their veils, doing alterations, and even deconstructing one bride’s mother’s wedding dress to make something special for her wedding. She liked dolls and built decorated dollhouses and miniatures starting with a dollhouse that she furnished for her young sister with handmade “furniture” made from household items.  Laurie in her younger years was an avid bowler.  She loved to travel and visited a vast number of the world’s greatest cities.  Paris was her personal favorite. She especially loved the time spent camping with her 29 cousins at Smith Point beach.  Laurie loved baking especially cupcakes.  She enjoyed photography and accumulated 150,000 pictures on her computer – most of them were probably of her great grandson Tyler.  Laurie enjoyed gardening and loved her flower and vegetable garden.  Roses were her favorite and she always said they reminded her of growing up in the Bronx.  She was the family historian who created and maintained a huge family tree on ancestry.com and collected and chronicled old photographs.  Laurie was proud of her New York City roots and enjoyed Broadway shows and Arthur Avenue’s Little Italy.  While living in Florida Laurie enjoyed attending dances with friends.

Laurie was quick witted and had a good sense of humor.  She was opinionated and was quick to share ALL her thoughts with others.  Laurie was fiercely loyal and loving to her family. She was a planner and an organizer and always did things her way and planned the end of her life.  As she was valiantly fighting leukemia she said, “I planned my life, I can plan my death”.   She shared numerous words of wisdom with her family such as “Keep a Grateful Heart” “It’s been a Wonderful Life” and “Embrace the Journey” 

Laurie is survived by her loving children, Laura (John) Vingara and Craig Monteforte, a brother William “Bill” Ingenito, three sisters Dale Ingenito, Robin Ingenito and Millie Paterra, three grandchildren Kristina “Sunshine” (Greg) Kushto, Lindsey “Rainbow” and Fiancée Liz and Nicole “Star Bright” Vingara and three greatgrandchildren, Tyler, Charlotte and Grant.  She is one of 29 1^st cousins and has several nieces and nephews and lots of wonderful friends.

A viewing will be held on Thursday July 21, 2022, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and on Friday July 22, 2022, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home 910 Rt 202 S Branchburg NJ.

Donations in Laurie’s memory can be made to a Medical Charity of your choice.

Cremains will be set free off of Fire Island and Smith Point Beach at a later date. 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Bongiovi Funeral Home of Raritan NJ (908)725-1887 utilizing the Branchburg Funeral Home facility for viewing on Thursday and Friday.

                                                          “FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS”