Livia Lee (Nucci) Saragnese

It is with great sadness that the family of Livia (Lee) Saragnese (née Nucci), of Burlington, announce her passing on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at the age of 92. A 1950 Burlington City High School graduate, Lee was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Willingboro. She dedicated time to the church’s mission by volunteering in the nursery, library, and spent many Thursdays assisting with the church’s food pantry and distribution. Lee spent time with friends playing shuffleboard, Bible studies, and even attended workout classes into her 90s. However, it was time with her family that she cherished most. Her kitchen was home for her family. She loved to bake her famous chocolate cake for holidays and birthdays, she made Christmas special with homemade ravioli and lasagna, and celebrated being together. If cooking and baking wasn’t enough, Lee enjoyed crafts, making family scrapbooks, crocheting, and being the person in charge of hemming everyone’s dresses and pants. She enjoyed taking trips with family and friends. Lee and her husband, Gene, traveled to Clearwater, Florida to visit friends and attend the Phillies’ Spring Training. Every summer, Lee and her family took a vacation to Long Beach Island, Ocean City, or her son’s lake house in Wisconsin. At the lake, she enjoyed spending time on the boat. For many years, Lee and Gene ran their service station, Gene’s Atlantic Service. Lee handled the financial side of the business, on top of raising her children and keeping their home a place where everyone was welcome. Lee is predeceased by her loving husband of 55 years Gene Saragnese, and her grandson, Steven Van Sciver. She is also preceded in death by her parents, John and Carmela Nucci. To cherish her memory, Lee leaves her children: Michele (Mark) Merlino, Eugene (Anne) Saragnese, Linda (Larry) Anderson, six grandchildren: Daniel (Leyla Isik) Saragnese, Kristen (Graham Medak) Saragnese Medak, Lindsey Merlino, Alyssa Anderson, and Brittany Anderson, as well as four great-grandchildren: Rami Saragnese, Lucas Kalieta, Emmy Kalieta, and Landon Morales-Merlino, as well as her sister Angelina Melocchi. 

The family invites friends to her viewing and funeral service on Monday, November 18, 2024 at the First Baptist Church of Willingboro, 216 Sunset Road, Willingboro, NJ 08046. Viewing will be held from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. with a funeral service to begin at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery Mausoleum. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the First Baptist Church of Willingboro at the above address. 

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family from www.pagefuneralhome.com

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