Lucille Audrey Cusolito

Lucille Cusolito, dear wife, step-mother, aunt and great-aunt passed away peacefully at her beloved home on Monday evening, January 23 at the age of 90 years.
Her family and friends were forever impressed by her warm bright smile, easy laugh, adventurous spirit, generosity, loyalty, kindness, productivity and style.
Her journey through life began as the fourth child of Dutch immigrants, Frank and Adrianna Van Leeuwen. Her parents were modest, industrious, resourceful and resilient whose traits she inherited and served her well as she and her five siblings navigated childhood in the vast, rustic Depression Era terrain of the San Fernando Valley.
During this time, Hollywood's burgeoning film industry fostered opportunities for local residents to innovate and participate in large and small ways. While the occupation of Lucille's father was primarily as a house painter and handyman, he and his family also maintained a private and small menagerie of domestic and exotic animals to rent out to movie studios. It is likely that her love of show business and all living creatures stemmed from such a backyard environ.

Following Lucille's graduation from Canoga Park High School in 1950 and a year or two spent at Los Angeles Valley College, she happily gravitated towards a career in dental hygienics. She soon found employment with a popular Van Nuys dentist, Dr. William Thomas affectionately called Doctor "T".

In 1954 she met a patient and future first husband, Ray Taylor Jr. who was the son of an established film director. Ray was also employed in the movie industry as an assistant director and it was only a few years into this marriage that Lucille realized that she could actually pursue a profession in a field of a more creative interest.
Her effervescent personality and strong work ethic quickly landed her jobs on television variety shows in the wardrobe/costuming departments of many studios.
Lucille had found her niche. She spent the next thirty plus years diligently working on one television series project after another along with a handful of feature films. Her own keen fashion sensibility was second nature to her as she wore every garment she casually selected enviably well.
Following the divorce from her first husband, she began another long, productive and fulfilling chapter in her life with the meeting of her second husband, Arthur Cusolito. The charming L.A County fire captain possessed an equal fondness for entertaining cherished family and friends, world travel and the culinary arts. They married in the month of April, 1975 and made their home with his three children in Whittier. A decade later, the move to San Juan Capistrano began with the construction completion of their dream house.

Getting on a plane, attending theater or charity events, putting on a kitchen apron or simply giving a loved one a hug and a peck on the cheek seemed to provide them with the most joy.
As they grew older, their two darling Cockapoo pups, Nina and Bella, offered great delight, comfort
and companionship.
Together, Lucille and Art shared forty-six remarkable years of devotion and discovery.

Our lovely Lucy will be forever adored and appreciated. The lives of family and friends have
been enriched by her presence and now remain a great deal emptier without her.
We wish her nothing but serenity and love during her next unknown journey.
She is survived by her step-children Jan Cusolito-Golner, Alan Cusolito and Karen Cusolito
Nieces Robin Bissiri-Lewis, Ona Jean Van Leeuwen-Probst, Cindy Van Leeuwen-Pair, Michelle Van Leeuwen and Mindi Donaldson - Nephews David Bissiri, Christopher Bissiri and Von Van Leeuwen

In her memory, please make a generous donation to The Humane Society of the United States.