Mary “Rochelle” Alessi, age 90, formerly of Clifton & Toms River, NJ, went home to be with the Lord on June 28, 2026.

She was born on May 30, 1936, in Passaic, New Jersey, a daughter of the late Mary Gaudet.

In the 1950’s, Rochelle and her brother, the late John Gaudet, were members of the music group called The Tassels. The Tassels’ 1959 patriotic hit To A Soldier Boy was written by Mary Glen Gaudet, the mother of Rochelle and John. The group frequently performed on Alan Freed’s television show and appeared on Dick Clark’s Saturday Night Beechnut Show. They also toured along side rock and roll stars of the era like Neil Sedaka and Duane Eddy.

Rochelle met her husband, the late Matthew Alessi, through a blind date that was arranged by Matthew’s brother, Joseph, who worked with Rochelle at a bank in Passaic. They were married on January 18, 1958 and celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary before Matthew’s passing in 2022.

Rochelle loved going to Atlantic City and loved playing BINGO. Most of all she loved her family and our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Rochelle is survived by her two daughters, Susan Kosturko & son-in-law, William Kosturko, of Clermont, FL, & daughter Patricia Scardigno of Shark River Hills, NJ. She had 5 wonderful grandchildren, Tyler, Melissa, Brittany, Kelsey, and Billy, and 2 great grandchildren, Gwenivere and Thalo.

She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at the Brigadier General’s William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, New Jersey.

Rochelle always ended her phone conversations with a 'totaloo!'. So it’s not goodbye, it’s totaloo!' till we meet again.