Obituary of Margaret Salerno

Margaret Louella Smith Salerno, 79, of Colts Neck, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at Jersey Shore Medical Center.  She was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and resided in North Brunswick and New Brunswick for nearly 60 years before settling in Colts Neck. Margaret, affectionately known as Peggy, spent her early childhood in New Brunswick in the love and care of her immediate and extended family, attending St. Peter’s schools until she graduated in 1959. She studied dance at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and briefly worked as a Barbizon model.

In her early twenties, she married the late Anthony Salerno and bore four children, Mark, Michael, Laura, and Maria, to whom she devoted her life. She was equally devoted to all seven of her grandchildren, raising her first granddaughter Tia Lynn as her very own, and deeply involved with and caring for her other grandchildren Ashley, Jordan, Noelle, Angela, Christina, and Sara Rose. 

As a devout Catholic, Peggy sought to live in the light of God’s wisdom and love for all people. 

She was not a woman of means, but a woman of welcome--a mother, not only to her own children, but a mother to the misfits--to all who found themselves at her table. With a kind word, a hot meal, and clever one-liner, Peggy always opened up her home to all who needed it, lending her motherly affection and one-of-kind humor to the neighborhood kids and all of her children and grandchildren’s friends. She will always be remembered for her good-natured mischief, her resilient humor in the face of life’s many troubles, and the remarkable ability to make everyone who crossed her path feel at home. Her simple gestures of love and welcome rippled out across generations and the loved ones she leaves behind will forever be shaped and inspired by her unique life and legacy.  

She is predeceased by her parents, Merle and Elizabeth Smith and her beloved sister Merle Smith Zarsky. Margaret is survived by her daughter Maria Grizzaffi and son-in-law Michael Grizzaffi, her daughter Laura Salerno Kalck and son-in-law Richard Kalck, her son Michael Salerno, her son Mark Salerno and daughter-in-law Anne-Marie Salerno, her stepson Vincent Salerno; her granddaughter Tia Lynn Ivey, her granddaughter Ashley Kalck, her grandson Jordan Kalck, her granddaughter Noelle Kalck, her granddaughter Angela Grizzaffi, her granddaughter Christina Grizzaffi, her granddaughter Sara Rose Grizzaffi; and her great-grandchildren Rylan Sawyer Lecorchick, Kellan Avery Ivey, Junia Moon Ivey and Rory Rain Kalck. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions an announcement to celebrate the life of Margaret will be announced in the future.  To leave a condolence or find directions, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com