Virginia Elizabeth Cerulo, 98, of Monroe Township, passed away at Monroe Village peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her son and daughters on December 9, 2022. Virginia was born in Elizabeth, NJ on May 13, 1924, to Nicholas and Elizabeth Olimpia. She was raised in Cranford, NJ where she attended the public schools, graduating from Cranford High School as a scholar athlete where she excelled in girls' basketball, field hockey and tennis. She was a member of the National Honor Society. Virginia was a graduate of Drake's School of Business and then studied at Seton Hall College in South Orange.

Working as an executive secretary in Eastern Aircraft/General Motors in Linden, she met John  Cerulo, the love of her life. They married and settled in Linden and then Perth Amboy, NJ where they raised their family of five children centering their life around Most Holy Rosary Church and the City of Perth Amboy where John was an executive at the First Savings and Loan. It was truly 'a wonderful life.'

Virginia was a dedicated wife, homemaker, and PTO president/officer/member at Holy Rosary School, St. Mary's High School in Perth Amboy, and St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen. With her team of Holy Rosary's mothers, they created memorable decorations with amazing Italian cuisine at the Annual Calendar Party. Her Monday Chicken Soup was a student favorite in the Holy Rosary Cafeteria. Her talents in the kitchen were legendary for holidays and family celebrations. John gifted her with one of the first 1950's state-of-the-art kitchens in Perth Amboy! He also made sure she had a large upright freezer filled with food and ice cream to keep up with the appetites of their growing family. Virginia had numerous hiding places locked or unlocked to tuck away various holiday baking yet her clever children figured out where everything was stashed. It was a source of funny memories throughout her life. Virginia was truly the heart of the Cerulo home, serving as a haven for family and friends who needed her at a moment's notice for comfort with the challenges of life.

At the early age of 42 in 1968, she was widowed with a growing family of 5 ranging in age from 6 to 20. With her Catholic faith as her strength, she was both father and mother to her children who all became college graduates all with advanced degrees. Her expectations were high, with NO exceptions! Her nurturing was ongoing. She was a loving task master who continually raised the bar. Her parenting was priceless! The results were multiple prideful events to see every one  of her children receive awards too numerous to count in their respective careers as an executive educator; executive banker; a Catholic Trinitarian priest who was a vicar general, superior, and beloved pastor in the United States and Europe; an executive in the oil & energy industry; and a small business owner and published author.  She emphasized community service and each of her children were and continue to give back a great deal within their respective communities with Perth Amboy being at the top of the list. Virginia was the school secretary at Thomas Mundy Peterson school from 1978 until her retirement in 1998, where anything she touched was made more efficient. Virginia was the driving force, the inspiration and guiding light of her family throughout her 98 years. Her yearbook said that everything she did, she did well. As a mother, she demanded the BEST and only the BEST from her children until the end of her life!

Virginia was predeceased by her parents,  Nicholas and Elizabeth Olimpia; her sister & brother-in-law, Marie and Joseph Hirsch; her husband of 23 years, John F. Cerulo, Sr; her sons, Rev. Thomas Nicholas Cerulo, John "Jack" Cerulo, and her son in law, Thomas M. Keating.

Virginia is survived by her daughters, Susan Cerulo Keating, Elizabeth "Betsy" Cerulo and her wife, Susan, and son, David A. Cerulo Sr and his wife Susan, and Cynthia Cerulo, her daughter in law. She leaves 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Cerulo, Errico and Olimpia families.

VISITATION will be held on Monday, December 12, 2022, from 4 – 8PM at Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Ford Avenue, Fords, NJ.

FUNERAL SERVICES will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 9:30AM from Flynn and Son Funeral home, 23 Ford Avenue, Fords. A 10AM MASS will follow at Holy Rosary Church of the Good Shepherd Parish, Hopelawn. Interment will be a Holy Rosary Cemetery in Fords.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, donations in Virginia's name may be made to ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL at www.stjude.org