By Forum Staff
On Wednesday, July 23, family, friends and community members laid to rest one of the most impactful and iconic matriarchs Howard Beach has ever known.
Lenore Gurino was 96 when she passed peacefully at her home.
Paying their respects to “The Queen” were hundreds of people who filled the church at St. Helens on Wednesday morning.
Trying to describe the magnitude of giving and contributions that Lenore Gurino and her family have had on the community here in Howard Beach is nearly an impossible task. However her granddaughter, Kristina, delivered an eloquent and poignant description of “The Queen,” when she eulogized her beloved “Gram.”
We know no better way to pay homage than to print that eulogy below. Thank you, Kristina:
Eulogy for Grandma Lenore – “The Queen”
Today, we gather not only to mourn, but to celebrate the incredible life of a woman we all lovingly called The Queen—my grandma, Lenore. And if you knew her, you know that title wasn’t given lightly—she earned it every step of the way.
My grandma was 96 years old, and even in that long and full life, she never once dulled her light to make others more comfortable. She taught me—by word and example—to never tone myself down just to be accepted. To speak my truth. To know my worth. And to never, ever settle for mediocre. People say we were a lot alike, and I take that as the highest compliment. We were outspoken, unfiltered, and always clear about what we wanted—and what we wouldn’t tolerate. She would say, “If you don’t want the truth, don’t ask me.”
That same energy runs in me too. And I’m so lucky to have found a partner who embraces that side of me, just like she did.
Gram had standards. High ones. She believed in always being put together, never putting your face in the sun, and expecting the best—because she deserved the best. She didn’t apologize for that. She set the bar high not just for herself, but for all of us. And because of her, I carry myself differently. I carry her with me.
She leaves behind her two beloved sons, Anthony and Angelo, and so many of us who were shaped, sharpened, and supported by her strength.
And while we’ll miss her every single day, there’s some comfort in knowing that she’s not alone—she’s with my pops again. I like to think they’re up there now, side by side at a casino in heaven, laughing, betting big, and doing exactly what they loved to do together.
She may be gone from this world, but her fire, her truth, and her legacy live on in all of us. Especially those of us who were lucky enough to be raised, mentored, and loved by The Queen—Lenore.
