Bessie LoPresti, born December 24th, 1912 passed away peacefully February 6th 2015 at the age of 102. She joins her husband Thomas LoPresti Sr., and her eldest son Thomas LoPresti Jr. She is survived by her 3 sons, Richard. Jerry, Albert, her youngest sister Alice, her seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Bessie was born in Rochester N.Y., the eldest of seven children, to Adele and Phillip Mazzaroppi. She was born premature, and at just under one pound, she was one of the smallest children to survive at that time.

Her parents moved the family to Red Bank, N.J. while Bessie was still young. Although being born tiny, Bessie grew healthy and later even played basketball in High School.

While working at Sigmund Eisner Company making military uniforms she met the love of her life and future husband Tom. They married in 1936 and honeymooned in Havana, Cuba.

Shortly after marriage, Tom started his own business and purchased a house in Shrewsbury, where they raised their four sons, never getting the daughter that Bessie kept trying for. She spent the days as a mother and house wife and evenings as bookkeeper for Tom's business. When the boys got older, and Bessie had more time, she devoted her time to charity work at Deborah Hospital where she was later honored for her devotion and hard work.

In 1971 Tom sold his Company, Atlantic Clothing Corp, and moved west with all of his family except for one son Richard. He moved to Orange County California and, refusing to retire at 70, opened Pacific Clothing Corp and relied once again on Bessie for help. She gladly accepted the responsibility. With her boys grown she became restless during the day and ultimately opened her "own" business in Corona Del Mar doing alterations.

Tom and Bess loved their life in California, however never forgetting their roots in NJ, they made many trips home to visit friends and family. Tom and Bessie, living life to the fullest, also took trips to the Caribbean, and frequent trips to Alaska as well. Tom never stopped working until he died at the age of 91.

Bessie's greatest joy in life was her family. When Tom died she moved in with her sons, Albert and Jerry. In 2007, at the age of 95, and for health reasons, Bessie entered Manor Care Nursing facility In Fountain Valley California. Bessie made new friends there but grieved when learning of their passing. She outlived all her friends and family, except for Alice her youngest sister, even her best friend who passed just 2 months before her own. Towards the end, she just wanted to go home.