Obituary of Gregoria Cruice

Gregoria R. Cruice, 84, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at Arbor Terrace, Morris Plains, NJ. Born in New York City, she lived in Convent Station, NJ, for over 30 years.

She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College, NY, in 1959 with a Master of Arts Degree. Her journey began on the stage with the New York City Ballet, where as a ballerina, she learned the discipline of grace and the power of a perfect line. She carried that fluidity into her later years, trading pointe shoes for sculpting tools and pens. Whether she was coaxing a soul out of a block of stone or finding the precise word to describe children playing with animals, Gregoria was a master of form and feeling. 

She is survived by her daughter, Danielle N. Cruice, and her boyfriend, Chas Lessig, Sussex, NJ, and her son, William G. Cruice, and his long-time partner, North Chelmsford, MA, who will continue to enjoy her sculptures and see her spirit in every sunrise.

 She was predeceased by her husband, William J. Cruice, in December 2013.

Gregoria did not simply live life; she choreographed it, sculpted it, and wrote its most beautiful chapters. She passed away on March 11, 2026, leaving behind a world significantly more vibrant than the one she found.

In her free time, she enjoyed taking walks at local parks, swimming in the ocean, when she could, listening to music and loved meeting new people to have endless conversations with.

Her greatest "work in progress" was her family. She taught us that life, like a sculpture, requires both strength and a delicate touch. 

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30am at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main St., Madison, NJ. A graveside service will follow at 12:00pm at St. Vincent Martyr Cemetery, Noe & Shunpike Ave., Madison, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Gregoria’s memory to St. Hubert’s Animal Shelter, Madison, NJ, (www.sthuberts.org) or a local animal shelter

near you.