Obituary of Zaira D'Avella

Zaira D’Avella, 82, of Freehold, died Friday, December 4, 2009 in her home. Born in Manhattan to Italian immigrants and raised in Brooklyn, she was a resident of Freehold for 40 years. A retired secretary since 1993, her professional career included work for the Monmouth County Courthouse, the Sheraton Hotel, and Colonial Foods, all in Freehold. In New York, she served as a bilingual secretary for Il Progresso Italo-Americano, the Nation’s only Italian language daily newspaper. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Colts Neck and an active member of its Scripture Sharing Club and Lazarus Society. She was also an ardent community volunteer serving as a hospice worker at CentraState Medical Center, as treasurer for Compassionate Friends, as a volunteer board member for the Monmouth County Family Division, Child Placement Review Board. She also served as a Board of Election Worker. She loved to travel, was a culinary enthusiast and particularly loved spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter. She was predeceased by her son, Bernard Paul D’Avella, and sisters Santina Giuliano and Lena Catalano. Surviving are her husband of 60 years, Bernard P. D’Avella, son Richard D’Avella of Manhattan, daughter Denise D’Avella McCauley of Arlington, Virginia, and one granddaughter, Danielle McCauley. Visiting hours will be held at Higgins Memorial Home at 20 Center Street in Freehold on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.. A mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Church in Colts Neck on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Freehold