LUCILLE'S LOVE STORY by her husband Fred

Lucille and her sister Annette were born in New York City to Catherine and Andrew Farenga. One evening in November 1964, I was introduced to Lucille by my aunt, Carmella Cosentino, and Lucille's mother, Catherine - in their home. My mother's sister Carmella had arranged the introduction with Lucille's mother. Catherine's sister, Mary, Lucille's sister, Annette, and my brother, Richard, were also present. After a long and simply marvelous evening, I went home and told my mother Anna that Aunt Connie had introduced me to the girl I would marry. We married a year-and-a-half later in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Mt. Vernon, NY, in 1966.

When we first met, I was immediately impressed by Lucille's intelligence, warm personality, and deep belief in our Catholic faith. And she was oh, so beautiful. These qualities became the bedrock of our marriage that began in 1966, until her passing in 2020 – more than 54 wonderful years of marriage. The Lord Blessed us with three wonderful sons, Fred III, Andrew, and Anthony. Our granddaughter, Anna Grace, was born to Fred and his loving wife Johanna, a native of Cleveland Ohio. Grandsons, Joseph and Theodore, were born to Anthony and his loving wife Jingjing, a native of Beijing, China, and naturalized American citizen.

Lucille dedicated her life to her family. She created a family environment that was and still is deeply spiritual as illuminated by our Catholic faith. Our boys were raised to be good, strong Catholic men, and to love our country. They are patriotic Americans. Fred and Anthony are loyal, loving husbands, and fathers to their children. Andrew is a loving uncle to his niece and nephews.

Lucille ran a household, raised our children, and had excellent meals on the table on time, every time. Lucille was happiest when she was surrounded by her family and friends. She welcomed our daughters-in-law to our family, and loved them as her own daughters. "Mom was a wonderful grandmother. She nurtured the children's body and soul. Their earliest faith education was from Mom."

As her health declined this year, Lucille made me aware of her final wish: to receive the final Catholic sacraments in the presence of her family. My sons and I sat with Lucille around the clock in the final days. Compassionate Care Hospice nurses, who dearly loved and cared for Lucille, guided the ways and means in which my sons and I cared for her. We prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Lucille's wish was granted. In the presence of our sons and I, Father Augusto Cadavid of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church administered the final Sacraments. We bore witness to her experience, and grew in our Faith in the Lord. We know in our hearts that Lucille is now in Paradise with Jesus.

Lucille Farenga Costello was a Christian Soldier.

A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Becker Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass celebrated by Father Bob Webster will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 720 12 ^th St., Clermont, FL  34711.

The following is the link for the live streaming of Lucille's Mass: https://vimeo.com/488543808/8d1e80c1a5

Donations may be directed to the IPF Foundation (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) – website www.IPFFoundation.org .   Thank you.