Naomi A. Torriero

Age 84
Bridgewater

Naomi A. Torriero died April 30 at Somerset Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born in East Orange, NJ, but spent most of her life in Brooklyn, NY. She started working at the 42nd St. Branch of the NY Public Library and her last position was with the Somerset County Library. During the course of her life she was a substitute elementary school teacher, a writer of knitting instructions and a legal proofreader. She also raised her children to be independent, curious, well informed, generous and caring. She passed on her appreciation of nature and wildlife. During one camping trip, the park rangers gave a talk on mushrooms. The next day she found many of these the rangers had talked about. She loved her dogs and houseplants, especially her African violets and the crown of thorns which came from a cutting from her grandmother's home. She also had an extensive knowledge of wildlife and was particularly in birds. She spent many happy hours bird watching with her friends. When her grandson was born she moved to Somerset County senior housing and visited him at least once a week. She walked him home from school and played with him in the park. She was a wonderful mother in law. A running family joke was that she got along better with her son and daughter in law than with her own children.She leaves behind her children John (Martine) Torriero and grandson Steven of New Providence, NJ. Her daughter Lori Torriero (Joe Piotrowski) of Westerville, OH. Their Portuguese Water dogs Rio and Bobbie and her cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her son Eugene, her parents Johanna and Arthur Abrahams and her sister Hermine Rizzo. Visiting hours from 2-4 and 7-9pm on Thursday, May 3 at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. Cemetery Service 11 am on Friday, May 4 at Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charities because Naomi believed that flowers are for people who are alive to smell them.