Palma Briganti, 90, of Port St. Lucie, FL, formerly of Delray Beach, Florida and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ passed away on Wednesday June 9 with her loving family at her bedside. Palma is the daughter of the late Joseph and Maggie Iannarone and sister of the late Geraldine Affuso, Antionette Babino and Gerard Iannarone. Palma was also predeceased by her husband Frank Briganti, grandson, Dr. Christopher Seiffert and great grandson Liam Francis Briganti.

Palma was born in New York, New York and moved to Garfield, NJ as a young child. She graduated from Garfield High School in 1949. Shortly afterwards, at the request of a friend, she became pen pals with a young man from her home town of Garfield who was serving with the United States Air Force in occupied Japan. The two had never met before, but fell in love through their letters to each other. That young man, Frank Briganti, became her husband in 1951. The two enjoyed a loving marriage of almost 67 years until Palma's husband passed away in 2017.

Palma had a passion for family and community. While her three children were growing up Palma was very involved in their schooling and social activities serving as PTA officer, Class Mother, Cub Scout Den Mother and Brownie Co-Leader. She was also very involved in her church as a Pre-Cana counselor, guiding young couples as they prepared to wed. Although her main focus in life was homemaker, she also worked for a publishing company and the Card-Tique, a card and gift shop in her hometown of Hasbrouck Heights which allowed her to work and be the social butterfly she was.

Palma always said she had no hobbies and lacked creativity. However, this was not true at all. She loved to cook, bake, read, create beautiful photo albums for her grandchildren and most recently doing word search puzzles. She could often be seen sitting at her kitchen table late at night baking holiday cookies, her world-famous chocolate chip cookies or even hand making the latest style Christmas decoration! While her children were growing up, many a Sunday their friends would come over to indulge in an Italian Style Sunday dinner.

Palma and Frank loved to have fun. They dressed up every year not only for Halloween, but also put together a special outfit for every holiday. They also enjoyed traveling and visited Europe several times as well as most of the Lower 48 and Alaska.

Upon moving to Florida in 1995 both Palma and Frank immediately became active in their Country Manors Community. Palma was her Circle Secretary and was very involved in many other community activities.

Palma was the Matriarch of the family and will be sorely missed by her many friends all over the country as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Palma is survived by her children Vincent (Nancy) Briganti, Jo Ann (Joseph) DeCanto and Frank (Michele) Briganti, five grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

A Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 20th 2021 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, 745 NE 6th Avenue (Federal Highway/US1 Northbound) Delray Beach, FL 33483. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, June 21st at 11:30 AM at Emmanuel Catholic Church, 15700 S Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL 33484. Burial will follow at 1:30 PM at South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 SR 7 (441), Lake Worth, FL at 1:30 PM Lane 5.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Palma's memory to either Madison's Miracles, 101 SE Central Parkway, Stuart, FL 34994 (madisonsmiracles.org), The Compassionate Friends of Boca Raton, 9508 Majestic Way, Boynton Beach, FL 33437 or Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997 (treasurehealth.org).