HILLSDALE—The Joan’s Joy Foundation has teamed up with Forcellati Brothers and Monsignor Peter Smutelovic of St. John the Baptist Church to restore and beautify the grotto garden that surrounds the Blessed Mother sculpture near the church.
This grotto, created nearly 49 years ago, was established as a gesture of gratitude to the community members who aided in the search for 7-year-old Girl Scout Joan D’Alessandro and offered support following her loss. Over time, the garden had become overgrown, with several plants in poor condition, but it has now been revitalized through a collaborative effort.
Inspired by the Blessed Mother statue at Our Lady of Lourdes and her Nonna’s devotion to the rosary, Joan’s mother, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, envisioned the grotto as a serene space for reflection and peace. With the support of Father Finnegan, the pastor in 1973, who was open to placing the grotto in the area between the church and the rectory, Rosemarie chose a location nearer to the church to create an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of Lourdes.
She now tells Pascack Press that Sergio De Ruvo of Forcellati Brothers designed the new garden layout, bringing his heartfelt commitment to the project. The company also made a generous donation to the Joan’s Joy Child Safety Fest raffle.
The Joan’s Joy Foundation contributed funds raised at various events, supported by Team Joan volunteers. The revitalized garden now features three Andromeda bushes, 24 Rhineland Pink Astilbe, two Golden Mop False Cypress bushes, six Lil’ Raspberry Butterfly bushes, six May Night Salvia, and six Green Velvet Boxwoods, creating a vibrant and inviting environment for visitors.
The restored grotto garden, D’Alessandro says, now serves as a place for meditation, reflection, or prayer—open to all, regardless of beliefs.
“I see it as a place for the St. John’s community, Hillsdale community, and communities all around to pray, meditate, or just stay still and look at the butterflies and colorful flowers and the light they bring,” D’Alessandro says. “It’s a place to experience the freeness of the butterflies, which visit at certain times of the year, attracted by the several dwarf butterfly bushes planted as part of the new renovation.”
Additionally, D’Alessandro notes that child safety expert Alan Robinson will speak at the 10th Annual Child Safety Fest downtown on Sept. 28. Robinson, who has worked with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and has been instrumental in capturing many child predators, will provide handouts with instructions on how to create a child ID kit. The safety fest aims to raise awareness and equip families with tools to help protect their children.