Janet Masiello, of Paramus, died on November 21, 2025 after bravely facing the challenges of Alzheimer's. She was 76 years old.
Born in Astoria, New York on February 28,1949, Janet was the daughter of the late Thomas and Esther (Morante) Masiello. She lived in Queens with her parents and two brothers, Donald (deceased) & Richard until the family moved to Paramus, New Jersey in 1957. Janet graduated from Paramus High School in 1967. She began her studies at Drew University and graduated cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in English.
A lifelong lover of libraries, it was fitting that her first job was as an audiovisual specialist in the library at Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) in Massachusetts, where she also served as a dormitory head. It was at NMH where Janet met the love of her life, Sal. They remained at NMH until 1980, then moved to Boston where Sal continued teaching and Janet earned her master's degree in education from Boston University.
In 1982, Janet & Sal moved to Paramus, to aid her aging parents. Janet served as director of media and technology at Ramapo College. After the birth of her daughter, Livia, she left the workforce to become a full time mother. She was active in the community, especially through the PTA and the school library. She helped establish a foreign language program at Stony Lane Elementary School and led voter-registration drives to support local elections. In 1994, Janet returned to work as a media specialist and later, the director of the testing center at Bergen Community College. Always a devoted educator, she took great pride in guiding young people and championing accessible education for all. She worked at BCC for over twenty years until retiring to be a full time grandmother.
A talented cook and baker, she passed her love of baking on to her granddaughter Emma, while grandson Lukas proudly served as the official taste tester for all her sweets. In addition to being an avid reader, Janet adored opera—attending performances in New York and always filling her home with music. Sal and Janet shared a love of traveling, including numerous trips to Europe, New England, and Florida. Her friendships spanned the world.
Janet was a longtime member of Paramus Congregational Church, where she sang in the choir and served as an usher until the church closed. She later found a spiritual home at the First Congregational Church of River Edge.
She is survived by her husband, Salvatore Lauro; her daughter, Livia Lauro, and son-in-law, Paul Cronk; her brother, Richard Masiello; and her treasured grandchildren, Emma and Lukas Cronk. She also leaves behind many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
It was Janet's wish to donate her body to science, a final reflection of her lifelong generosity. Her body was entrusted to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University for medical research and education.
Memorial donations may be directed to The Charles E. Reid Library, 239 West Midland Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652, a community she cherished and where she had many dear friends.
A celebration of life is being planned for the spring of 2026.
Born in Astoria, New York on February 28,1949, Janet was the daughter of the late Thomas and Esther (Morante) Masiello. She lived in Queens with her parents and two brothers, Donald (deceased) & Richard until the family moved to Paramus, New Jersey in 1957. Janet graduated from Paramus High School in 1967. She began her studies at Drew University and graduated cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in English.
A lifelong lover of libraries, it was fitting that her first job was as an audiovisual specialist in the library at Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) in Massachusetts, where she also served as a dormitory head. It was at NMH where Janet met the love of her life, Sal. They remained at NMH until 1980, then moved to Boston where Sal continued teaching and Janet earned her master's degree in education from Boston University.
In 1982, Janet & Sal moved to Paramus, to aid her aging parents. Janet served as director of media and technology at Ramapo College. After the birth of her daughter, Livia, she left the workforce to become a full time mother. She was active in the community, especially through the PTA and the school library. She helped establish a foreign language program at Stony Lane Elementary School and led voter-registration drives to support local elections. In 1994, Janet returned to work as a media specialist and later, the director of the testing center at Bergen Community College. Always a devoted educator, she took great pride in guiding young people and championing accessible education for all. She worked at BCC for over twenty years until retiring to be a full time grandmother.
A talented cook and baker, she passed her love of baking on to her granddaughter Emma, while grandson Lukas proudly served as the official taste tester for all her sweets. In addition to being an avid reader, Janet adored opera—attending performances in New York and always filling her home with music. Sal and Janet shared a love of traveling, including numerous trips to Europe, New England, and Florida. Her friendships spanned the world.
Janet was a longtime member of Paramus Congregational Church, where she sang in the choir and served as an usher until the church closed. She later found a spiritual home at the First Congregational Church of River Edge.
She is survived by her husband, Salvatore Lauro; her daughter, Livia Lauro, and son-in-law, Paul Cronk; her brother, Richard Masiello; and her treasured grandchildren, Emma and Lukas Cronk. She also leaves behind many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
It was Janet's wish to donate her body to science, a final reflection of her lifelong generosity. Her body was entrusted to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University for medical research and education.
Memorial donations may be directed to The Charles E. Reid Library, 239 West Midland Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652, a community she cherished and where she had many dear friends.
A celebration of life is being planned for the spring of 2026.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Janet Masiello, please visit our flower store.
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