Anna Gross

Anna Gross (née Maiorano), 95

Family Matriarch

Anna (Ann) Gross, 95, of Lanoka Harbor, NJ entered eternal rest on March 16th, 2025, at home surrounded by family. Ann was the youngest of five children born to Italian immigrants Joseph and Julia Toscano Maiorano on Staten Island, NY, April 11th, 1929. She graduated from PS 11 elementary school in Dongan Hills and New Dorp High School.

After high school, Ann began working in the underwriting department for American Fore Insurance Company in downtown Manhattan. She met her husband Lawrence (Larshie) Gross through her brother Nunzio who married Larshie’s sister Loretta June. When two siblings marry two siblings from another family, it is referred to as a “double-in-law marriage” and is the closest blood relation that you can have legally. Ann and Larshie married on June 30th, 1951, at St Ann’s Church, Dongan Hills. Ann is the last surviving member of her generation in both the Maiorano and Gross families and was the family matriarch. She always remembered holidays, birthdays and wedding anniversaries for many family members and never forgot to send a card.  She was the sweetest, most caring woman and never had an unkind word to say about anyone. There was aways a place at her table for any friend or family member who happened to be visiting.

In the early fifties,  while her husband was away in Korea with the Marines, Ann purchased two  properties in Dongan Hills  at auction. One  would become the family home which Larshie,  Nunzio and other family members helped build, while the other was sold to Larshie’s brother James for his family. Such independence and foresight  for a  woman at that time!

Ann spent many years as a homemaker on Staten Island raising six daughters. She was active in the St Ann’s School parents club when her children were young, the United Units Civic Association in Dongan Hills and the American Legion Hunter-Pasqualini Post with her husband. She worked for a few years in retail sales at Robert Halls department store when her children were older. She retired to Lanoka Harbor in 2002 when her husband was ill to escape the city and live close to water and boating, which they both enjoyed.

Ann was predeceased by her husband Larshie in 2004, her sister Rose Gordon and her brothers Amodeo, Nunzio and George Maiorano.  She was a member of AARP, enjoyed word searches, sewing, crafting, baking, lottery scratch off tickets, an occasional shot of Amaretto and traveling to Atlantic City with her daughters to play the slots, have dinner and attend shows.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Deborah Gross Tulli (Daniel), Barbara Jean Fabrizio, Jennie Kuus (late Edward), Patricia Palermo (Robert), Mary Ellen DiCostanzo (Vincent), and Margaret Minucci, her caretaker with whom she lived. Thirteen grandchildren: Alison (Bill) and Courtney Tulli, John Fabrizio (ToniAnne), Taylor Morris (Nickolas), Corey Kulessa (Cheyne), Jamie and Edward Kuus, Gene Palermo (Samantha), Nicole Martinez (David), Robert Palermo, Albert (Kerry), Anthony and Joseph (Deanna) DiCostanzo. Seven great grandchildren: Olivia and Madison Morris, John James (JJ) Fabrizio, Julian and Malia Martinez, Henry DiCostanzo, Hendrix Dume and two boys on the way. She is also survived by many beloved Maiorano and Gross nieces and nephews as well as Toscano first cousins.

A visitation will take place at Layton’s Home for Funerals, Forked River, on Fri, March 21st, 2025, from 2-6 PM, and a Mass of Christian Burial, at Church of Saint Pius X, Forked River, on Sat, March 22nd, 2025, at 9 AM. There will be a private cremation with interment at St. Peters Cemetery, Staten Island at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials  in Ann’s honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), Lifestyles for the Disabled (www.lfdsi.org), or a charity of your choice. Please see the link below.

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