Laura "Mama Lau" Caroccia

Laura "Mama Lau" Caroccia
There are no words beautiful enough for the extraordinary life of Laura "Mama Lau" Caroccia. She loved with a strength that was fierce, a joy that was radiant, and a generosity that was utterly selfless. Her hundred-watt smile lit up every room and her laughter, bright and unforgettable, carried joy straight into the hearts of others. She gave everything she had to everyone she met, never asking for anything in return. To know her was to know love, and to be loved by her was the greatest blessing of all.
Laura was born and raised on South Beach, Staten Island, where she learned the importance of family and tradition from her beloved mom and grandmother, G'maNY, who made her promise to always carry the Leone Family traditions forward. She kept that promise faithfully, building a life rich with love, memory, and meaning sharing her teachings with us all over the years.
At a time when women were rarely given a seat at the table, she made her own. A proud graduate of New York University, she stepped boldly into an executive leadership position in the home fashions world at Georges Briard, working at the landmark 225 Fifth Avenue building in New York City. Her career carried her all across Europe and the Far East, yet for all her achievements, her proudest role and deepest joy was being a mother to her daughter, Jenna.
Jenna was her world, her life, and her very heartbeat. Their bond was unlike any other, a love so deep it transcends words and will endure forever. Laura also embraced her son-in-law, Daniel, as her own, lovingly calling him her son, her rock and her hero. Her closest friends, her beloved "Ya-ya's," were her chosen sisters, and she loved them as deeply as family. She poured her heart into everyone she loved: her family, her friends that became family, her community, and all her "kids" who called her "Mom." She also adored her dogs, Mori, the rescue pup she gave a second chance at life, often smiling and saying, "Who rescued who?" And her cherished grandpup, Loui, who brought her endless laughs and joy.
Laura loved her Lacey Township community and led with a servant heart. She served as President of the Lacey Township High School PTA, was named Ocean County Woman of Achievement, a proud Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow and held title of Lacey Township Citizen of the Year. She was a mentor to many and for years served as Chair of the Lacey Food Bank Kids, where she kept the promise of Christmas for all her neighbors in need. Every Thursday, she proudly wore the title of "head potato peeler," finding joy in feeding and caring for the homeless at the soup kitchen.
For Laura, peeling potatoes for strangers and preparing Sunday meatballs & gravy for her family came from the same place: a belief that everyone deserves to be fed, cared for, and welcomed. Cooking truly was Laura's love language, and it had the power to bring people together in a way only she could. There was always room for one more at her table, and she proved it by welcoming family, neighbors, friends, and strangers alike. In her kitchen, everyone belonged.
She left behind many recipes, but our favorite was her recipe for a good life: take what you need and give the rest away. Always add a touch of olive oil on top. Remember that what you see in the world is what you carry in your heart. Make a wish. Do what makes you powerful. Dreams are real. Thoughts manifest. Stay focused on what is good and give your fear-filled thoughts to the angels. Listen. Only use San Marzano tomatoes. And above all, always choose JOY.
Laura is now an angel reunited in Heaven's kitchen by endless loved ones, including her beloved mother, Bessie, and her grandmother, G'maNY, who will surely hand her an apron and wooden spoon, planting in heaven's garden with her G'paNY, and dancing again with her father, Carmine, among the stars.
Laura's legacy is written in love. Her laughter stitched hearts back together, her smile lifted burdens too heavy to bear, her presence turned loneliness into belonging. Every lasagna she delivered became a story of hope retold at another table. Every Christmas morning she created for those in need became a tradition of generosity that will echo for years to come. The shelter pups she cradled, the neighbors she cared for, the strangers she fed all carry forward her spirit of compassion. Her absence leaves a heartache beyond measure, but her light, Mama Lau's light, will never dim.
Services
Family and friends are invited to celebrate the extraordinary life of Laura "Mama Lau" Caroccia at Riggs Funeral Home in Forked River, New Jersey. A Viewing will be held on Sunday, August 24, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m and again on Monday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Her Funeral Service will take place on Monday, August 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Riggs Funeral Home, with a Celebration of Life lunch to follow at The Captain's Inn.
Because Laura lived her life out loud and in color, we ask that you please wear your favorite color in her honor. And just as she always said, there is always room at her table, all are welcome to join us.
Honoring Her Legacy
In remembrance of Laura's generous spirit and her lifelong devotion to her community, we are creating the Laura "Mama Lau" Caroccia Legacy Scholarship Fund. This fund will honor her love by supporting others in the community she cherished so deeply. Contributions will be set aside for this purpose as we formally establish the scholarship in her name.