Obituary

Susan Rae  Mascaro Grossi

Our family unexpectedly lost its Matriarch, Susan Rae Mascaro Grossi, on February 18, 2023. She was just 71 years old. Gratefully, she was surrounded by her loved ones when she went home to her Heavenly Father.

Susan’s life would seem too short to many, but those of us who were blessed to be touched by her know that her existence and the imprint she left on our hearts exceed the quantity of time that she stayed here.

Susan was born on August 24, 1951, to Nick and Raeola Mascaro in Murray, Utah. During her senior year at Hillcrest High School in 1969, she met Serge Grossi, whom she married in 1970. Susan and Serge were married for 25 years and went on to have 4 children: Jason, Mesia, André, and Danielle.

Susan always loved sunshine and the beach; therefore, the family decided to move from Utah to Mission Viejo, California in 1984. She had always been determined to finish her post-secondary education and did so by graduating with a Bachelor’s in Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton in 1992, then continuing on to complete one Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 1994 and another Master’s in Educational Psychology from Alliant International University in 2004.

She met her husband Raymond Pasillas in 1997 and they wed in 1999. They spent many years together with their cherished Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Reggie and Chloe.

Over her 22-year career as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she counseled many marines and their families pre and post deployment onsite at Camp Pendleton as well as running her own practice specializing in children and adolescents with emotional disturbances and learning disabilities and helping families in crisis until January 2014, after which she went into retirement.

Even in retirement she always had an ear for anyone who needed it. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was a Ward Missionary and the backbone of this program. She felt all people deserved her love and attention; she saw no barrier between members and non-members. She loved them all and could call on someone she didn’t know and would love them right away. Just days before her passing, her Bishop called her to teach an Emotional Resilience class because of her experience and all that she could offer.

She also donated her time to speak at various research conferences and workshops regarding our family’s genetic connective tissue disorder.

She spent time making as many special memories as possible with her family, including her 6 grandchildren, and her friends. She always loved to travel and had said many times that if she could do it all over again, she would have traveled even more.

Susan was preceded in death by her eldest son, Jason Grossi (✝️ 1995).

She is survived by her husband, Raymond Pasillas; her children: Mesia (Matt) Kempton, André Grossi, Danielle (Antonio) Ciminiera; her 6 grandchildren: Seneca Kempton (14), Adah Kempton (8), Zara Grossi (12), Zidane Grossi (8), Jason Ciminiera (12), Nicolas Ciminiera (9); Serge Grossi; and countless loving family members and friends.

In Lieu of flowers please consider donating in Susan’s memory to one of the Charities listed in the Charity section of the obituary