Caterina Gerace (née Francese) of Bayonne passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the age of 88.

Born on August 28, 1937, in Arena, Calabria, Italy, Caterina lived a life defined by faith, resilience, hard work, and unwavering devotion to her family. She built a life in three countries, always striving to create a better future for those she loved.

In 1953, following the hardships of World War II, Caterina left Italy with her parents and siblings for Argentina in hopes of a better future. There, she reconnected with Nicola, whom she had known in Italy, and together they began the next chapter of their lives. She worked as a talented seamstress before immigrating to the United States in 1979, where she settled in Bayonne, New Jersey. She continued her work as a seamstress at Maidenform and several other garment companies, earning the respect of those around her for her skill, dedication, and strong work ethic.

While she took pride in her work, Caterina's greatest joy was being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She created a warm and loving home, always putting the needs of her family before her own. Mentally strong and deeply resilient, she faced life's challenges with grace, courage, and unwavering faith. She loved to cook and found happiness in bringing family together around homemade meals. Her greatest pride was raising her children and watching her grandchildren grow into remarkable young adults.

Guided by strong religious beliefs and traditional family values, Caterina lived with kindness, humility, compassion, and unconditional love. Her legacy lives on through the values she instilled, the traditions she passed down, and the countless memories she created with those who knew and loved her.

She was the devoted wife of the late Nicola Gerace; the beloved mother of Maria Gerace Intile (the late Omar), Michael Gerace (Michele), and Isabel Orlando (Anthony); and the cherished grandmother of Mariana, Mariel, Paola, Cristian, Maria Lujan, Nicholas, Michael Jr. (Saylor), Gaetano, Vittoria, Giana and her (fiancé, Nathaniel), and Anthony Jr.

She was predeceased by her beloved son, Miguel Gerace; her parents, Domenico and Maria Felicia (née Iorfino) Francese; her brother, Antonio Francese and his wife, Maria (née Francese); and her brother-in-law, Antonio Brosio.

She is survived by her loving siblings, Anunciada Brosio (née Francese), Francisco Francese and his wife, Teresa (née Vartuli), Alba Maria DeRoia (née Francese) and her husband, Luis, along with many cherished nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends in the United States, Italy, Argentina, and Australia.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, at Migliaccio Funeral Home, 851 Kennedy Boulevard (at 33rd Street), Bayonne.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:45 a.m. on Monday, August 3, at St. Henry's Church, Bayonne. Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home beginning at 9:30 a.m. before the procession to the church.

Mausoleum entombment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, New Jersey.

Caterina will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Though she is no longer with us, her love, strength, faith, and unwavering devotion to her family will continue to inspire generations to come.