For 50+ years, Laura’s parents gave her everything they had. Born with cerebral palsy, she required attentive care, which they provided with love and dedication.
Early in life, Laura had surgery to straighten her legs, but it wasn’t successful. She walked with leg braces and eventually crutches. When the condition progressed, Laura became dependent on a wheelchair.
The weight of responsibility grew heavier with time. Laura’s mother began having her own health issues, and it became clear that the family was facing a crossroads.
Like so many parents of individuals with developmental disabilities, Frank and Patricia had a persistent fear: who would care for Laura when they no longer could?
When the time was right, Laura moved to Rose House’s Parsippany Group Home, and it changed everything. She now lives alongside her housemates Diana and Felicia, in a warm, supportive environment.
“She is happy at Rose House, and it’s been a big help for us,” Frank said. “We can’t do much for her at this point in our lives, so we’re grateful that Laura now has a safe place to live.”
Laura’s story began in the Bronx with her parents and brother, Louis. The family moved to Morris Plains, NJ, when she was nine years old, just a few years after Frank opened Il Villaggio, a restaurant right behind what would later become Rose House’s main office. He soon opened his second restaurant, Italian Chalet, in Denville.
After moving to the suburbs, Laura attended Matheny, a special needs school in Peapack, NJ, where she thrived until graduating at age 18. She continued her education at a specialized school in Morris Plains until age 21.
For the next 30 years, Laura worked at Employment Horizons in Cedar Knolls, NJ. When they presented her with a plaque honoring her service, she was absolutely beaming.
After retiring, Laura began attending Universal Institute Rehab in Livingston, NJ, where she takes part in a range of activities she enjoys, especially ones that involve a computer. She is happy and engaged in a community that understands and supports her.
Those who know Laura describe her as lovable, friendly, and wonderfully curious. She has a great memory and a real talent for spelling.
Laura is also a music lover, especially Michael Jackson. She can often be found on her phone browsing his videos. (As a teenager, her heart belonged to New Kids on the Block.) Laura also loves watching talk shows like The View and Live with Kelly and Mark each morning, and she keeps up with the celebrity world by reading magazines.
There is one more passion that’s especially fitting: Laura loves watching cooking videos on YouTube. Growing up in an Italian American household in the restaurant business, the kitchen was always at the heart of family life. While she can’t stand at a stove, Laura watches chefs work their magic on screen, and she enjoys the results when others do the cooking.
At Rose House, Laura found not just a forever home, but a life fully lived.