Obituary of Alexandra M Petrozzo

Two-hundred and thirty-six original Facebook posts, 150-plus "Likes" and countless private messages with many exclaiming, 'You were the nicest person I ever met,' and 'You knew how to bring a smile to everyone's face,' mark the Facebook wall of Alexandra Mary Petrozzo, 24, who passed away on Monday, December 26, 2011, in the comforts of her parents' home in Bernardsville, NJ, in her sleep. Born to Peter James and Margaret Mary Petrozzo on April 24, 1987, the kind-hearted, infectiously positive Alexandra, better known as "Ally," to her close family and friends, graduated from Bernards High School in 2005, where she often performed in the school's seasonal theater productions, before attending and graduating from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., with a B.S. in Educational Studies in December 2010. From singing to playing the piano to watching (and even auditioning for!) FOX's "American Idol," Alexandra expressed interest in music at an early age. She performed in the regional revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, alongside Debby Gibson and Patrick Cassidy at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ, in 1999, and later, while in college at Lynn University, sang "The Star Spangled Banner," at many of the school's sporting events. As she neared her graduation from Bernards Middle School, Alexandra was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor at age 13, which was removed successfully but left her with residual seizures. She remained strong and resumed classwork under the instruction of a private tutor in order to graduate and attend Bernards High School in 2001. While at Bernards High school, Alexandra performed under the instruction of Dolores Dellisanti musicals and plays, including "God Spell," along with many other theatrical presentations. After graduating, Alexandra first attended Farleigh Dickson University in Madison, NJ, before transferring and finishing her studies at Lynn, where she was a sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma's Eta Eta Chapter, and held a position as a chapter officer. Alexandra also participated in Relay for Life, a life-changing charity event celebrating those who are battling against cancer and those who've fought against it. Through these events, Alexandra shared her experience and the challenges she confronted as a result of her diagnosis, in hopes of giving those in similar situations glimmers of hope. Most recently, Alexandra moved back home, was a part-time employee at the Far Hills Pharmacy, and was expected to begin an internship at Autism Speaks in New York City in January 2012. "So excited to start my internship at Autism Speaks in New York City. We must be the change we want to see in the world," she exclaimed on her Facebook wall on December 22, 2011, just four days before her unexpected passing. She is survived by her parents Peter James and Margaret Mary Petrozzo; sisters, Christine Petrozzo and Aislynn Makely, brother, James Petrozzo; nephew, Xander Luke; grandmother, Gertrude S. Petrozzo; cousins, friends and all the people she loved and touched in this world. A viewing will be held at the Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge on Thursday, December 29, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 30, 2011 at The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 111 Claremont Road, Bernardsville. For further information, contact Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, (908)-766-0250 or visit our website at www.gcfuneralhome.com to light a candle and leave a letter of condolence.