Obituary of Lillian Mae DePuglio

Lillian Mae DePuglio, 94 passed on to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, December 31, 2018 after a brief illness.

Lillian was born in Crystal, Kentucky in Lee County on October 20, 1924 to Millie Mae Rankins and Robert Rankins.  Mrs. DePuglio was predeceased by her husband Joseph John DePuglio, her sisters Alma and Katherine, and her brother Jack all of Kentucky.   She is survived by her loving son Joseph Saint Michael DePuglio of Ewing, her brother Boyd Rogers, her nephew Christopher Plyman, of Danville and  Lexington, Kentucky,  Louis D’Angelo, Sue D’Angelo, and Tina D’Angelo, a nephew and nieces both of Cream Ridge, New Jersey in Hamilton Township, many cousins in New Jersey and in Kentucky as well as numerous friends from her days at Elsie Galavan Dress Shop and  Stacys Dress Shop in Lawrence.

During her school days, Lillian was always proud of being a great speller and of being the runner-up in the State Spelling Bee of Kentucky.  After high school graduation in Lee County, Lillian went on to attend Cleary College for Business in Howell, Michigan. This was fortunate because that’s where she met her future husband Joseph. While working at the PX as a cashier during her college years, she met Captain Joseph DePuglio and she caught his eye at first glance.  They were married on July 17, 1944 and after military service they moved to New Jersey living first in Trenton and later in Ewing. They had one son, Joseph to whom she was totally devoted.  The father and son gifted her with a beautiful cross necklace which she wore continuously all her life.

Always having an interest in fashion, Lillian began working at Elsie Galavan Dress Shop and later at Stacys Dress Shop assisting customers in their choices of attire for daily living, events, and weddings.  She herself was always dressed as a fashionista and was known by everyone as Miss Lillian.  Her weekly activities included luncheons with friends from her days at Stacys, bus trips to Atlantic City, visiting relatives in Lexington, Kentucky, baking many cakes and pies for anyone who came to visit, attending her son’s musical events, and their time together eating out at various restaurants.  Lillian’s love for God was strong and she was devoted to her son.  She was faithful and attended services weekly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 11AM at Our Lady of Rosary Chapel, 1 Bishops Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.  The viewing will be held from 10AM until the time of the mass at the chapel. 

Interment will follow at the Ewing Cemetery, Ewing Township.

Memorial donations can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice in her name.