Hazlet mom, substitute school lunch aide, wins $1 million in Asbury Park

ASBURY PARK - Suzanne Valluzzi didn't feel quite right before she arrived in Convention Hall on Friday.

The Hazlet mother, who works as a substitute school lunch aide, and her husband, Rocco, had rushed to get to the New Jersey Lottery's Million Dollar Replay Grand Drawing being held there. They made a wrong turn on the way to Asbury Park and were running late.

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Valluzzi, 44, was a semifinalist after entering the program last year. The couple plays the lottery nearly daily.

The credit card had gotten stuck in the parking meter as they waited to go inside and someone had to pull it out with pliers.

"We thought it was a bad omen," she said.

Turns out, it was her lucky day.

First, the announcer said the winner was from Monmouth County. Then from Hazlet. Then she heard her name.

"I can't believe I won it," Valluzzi said, just moments afterward standing in front of the room packed with more than 250 other semifinalists. You can see a video of her priceless, better yet $1 million dollar, reaction above this story.

The year-long NJ Lottery Million Dollar Replay program offers lottery players a second chance to win cash with eligible, non-winning instant tickets.

"I'm glad he was standing right there to hold me because I thought i would faint," she said, pointing to her husband.

The couple said they plan to use the money to help pay for their 14-year-old son's college education. He didn't know about the good news, yet, as he was in school. "That's taken care of no problem," Valluzzi said. She said they'll also take a vacation.

Fourteen other cash prizes were to be awarded Friday including two $100,000 prizes, three $50,000 prizes, four $25,000 prizes and five $10,000 prizes.

Austin Bogues abogues@gannettnj.com 732-643-4009