Lawrence A. Tilli

Lawrence A. Tilli, 78, died Sunday, Oct. 2, at home, after a 5 month battle with pancreatic cancer, with his family by his side. Born in Paterson to Frank and Helen (Latini) Tilli, he lived there throughout his childhood. Later he would reside in Wayne and Ridgewood, before moving to Vernon in 1985. He lived there until 2008, when he moved to Hardyston Twp.
Larry graduated from Paterson’s Eastside HS in 1956. He went on to attend Paterson State College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1960 and Master of Arts in Administration in 1966. He began a 40-year-career in education at the Preakness School in Wayne, as a fifth-grade teacher, and was also a member of the inaugural staff to open the A.P. Terhune School. When duty called, Larry had a two-year break in his teaching career while he served in the U.S. Army. After returning to teaching in Wayne, he would later be appointed as a principal to the Randall Carter School and then the Packanack School, from which he retired in 2000.
The two most important elements of his life were faith and family. Larry was an active parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Church in Vernon. He volunteered in many of the various ministries, including religious education, food pantry, communications ministry, men’s Emmaus group, Outreach, and assisting with Rainbows.
Larry enjoyed spending much of his free time with his wife, children, and grandchildren at their home on Long Beach Island. A lifelong learner, he looked forward each year to participating in the Elderhostel seminars held at the University of Notre Dame.
Larry is survived by his wife Pamela, his son Andrew Tilli and wife Kalee of Denver, Colo., daughter Erin Luzadder and husband Shane of Winnetka, Ill., grandchildren Derek and Marshall Tilli, and Noah and Riley Luzadder. He is also survived by his brother Frank Tilli and wife, Cheryl, of Saylorsburg, Pa., and his sister-in-law Carol Kadish and her husband, Daniel, of Vernon.
Relatives and friends will be received on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 3-7 p.m. at the Ferguson-Vernon Funeral Home, 241 Rt. 94, Vernon, NJ (GPS use 1 Vanderhoof Ct.) and will gather at the funeral home on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial Service at St. Francis de Sales Church 614 Rt. 517, Vernon, N.J., and are invited to attend committal and interment services on Friday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. at Restland Memorial Park, 77 De Forest Ave., East Hanover, N.J. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Francis de Sales Building Fund in memory of Lawrence Tilli.