Gilberto Rodriguez

March 6, 1931– August 15, 2026

Gilberto Rodriguez, 95, of Tappan, New York, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 15, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

He was the beloved husband of Ofelia, his devoted partner of 67 years; cherished father of Gilbert (Joann), Marjorie (Bernard Rodriguez), and Maritza (Antonio Rivero); and proud grandfather of Gilbert Joseph Rodriguez, Lauren Danielle Rivero, and Gianna Marie Rodriguez. He was also a dear brother to Ricardo.

Gilberto was predeceased by his beloved granddaughter, Jessica; his parents, Manuel and Encarnacion; siblings, Bernardo (Argelia); Ruperto (America); Jose (Margot); Lorenzo (Raquel); Manuel (Cecha); Maria (Joaquin Armero); Carmen (Francisco Ricardo); Maria(Andres Govea); Marta (Manuel Lopez); Juana (Juan Cerezo); Encarnacion (Docto Gimenez); Lola (Joaquin Milan); Sister-in-law, Loida; nieces, Gladys; Connie; Margarita; nephews, Carlos; Gonzalo; Joaquin; grand nephew, Robert Eli Coriat and many treasured family members and friends.

Born in Cuba, Gilberto’s life was marked by perseverance, faith, and a deep love of learning. During the hardships of the Great Depression, he began delivering newspapers at the age of seven to help support his family. Although financial circumstances prevented him from pursuing a traditional education, his thirst for knowledge never diminished.

At age of twelve, he left home to study with priests at a seminary, where he assisted with daily responsibilities while learning Latin and philosophy. When his father passed away two years later, Gilberto returned home to help care for and support his family.

By his early twenties, he had become the radio voice of a Cuban broadcasting station. At age twenty-nine, he met the love of his life, Ofelia. They married in 1959 and built a beautiful life together, raising three children. During those years, Gilberto proudly owned and operated a hardware store.

Following the rise of the Castro regime in Cuba, Gilberto faced the loss of his business and possessions. Determined to create a better future for his family, he made the courageous decision to immigrate to the United States in 1968. Through hard work and dedication, he built a new life and eventually became a partner and salesman in a distribution warehouse (RCN Sales Company) in the Bronx serving neighborhood bodegas throughout the five burrows.

In his retirement years, Gilberto found great joy in reading theological and philosophical works, engaging in thoughtful conversation, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. He will be remembered for his resilience, faith, wisdom, strong work ethic, and unwavering devotion to those he loved.

His legacy lives on in the family he cherished and the lives he touched throughout his remarkable 95 years.

Visiting hours are Friday , August 21, 2026 from 4-7 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 9:30AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, 199 Walnut St Northvale, NJ, with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, 201 Kings Hwy Sparkill, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gilberto’s name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org/donate

Anne L. Gilmartin (nee Rodgers), 89, of Dumont, NJ, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 17, 2026.  Loving wife of the late Richard, Sr.  Beloved mother of Richie and his late wife Denise, Nancy Lorenzini and her husband John, Timothy and his wife Janet, and Anneliese.  Caring grandmother of Nicole, Erika, Anthony, Michael, Abdul, Dakota, Alex, and Ryan.  She was predeceased by her siblings Mary Carberry, John Rodgers and Thomas Rodgers.

Anne was born and raised in Washington Heights, NY.  She worked as a nurse for 30+ years, both at hospitals and in home healthcare.  She was an active member of the Rosary and Alter Society at St. Mary’s RC Church in Dumont, NJ, where she lived for 60+ years.  Her faith and her family were at the center of her life.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026 at 11 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne’s memory can be made to a charity of your choice. www.pizzifuneralhome.com

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donald Gomez DaCosta Jr., who left us peacefully on Saturday, August 15, 2026, surrounded by the warmth and love of his family.  

Born on September 2, 1950 and raised in Northvale, New Jersey, Don built a life defined by hard work, deep connections, and a profound passion for music. After raising his family in Dumont, NJ, he eventually found his way to his favorite place under the Florida sun, retiring in Hallandale Beach.

Don was a man of many talents, but his soul was truly anchored in music. A gifted lead guitarist, songwriter, and recording artist, he didn’t just play music—he lived it. Through his own recording studio, he dedicated himself to helping local artists find their voice and fulfill their dreams. His musical journey was storied, marked by his time in bands such as The Utmosts, Bogada, Friends and Brothers, The Deck Lizards, Vertigo and Blaze. Many will fondly remember his performances alongside the late Shorty James and The Kools at The Blues Burger in Florida.

Beyond the stage, Don was a pillar of his community. For 50 years, he owned and operated Westwood Seed & Feed Co., a business that became a local fixture. He poured his heart into that shop until closing its doors this past March, leaving behind a legacy of service and friendships that will be remembered for generations.

Above all, Don was an extraordinary father, pop-pop, brother, cousin, uncle and friend. He possessed a rare ability to touch the lives of everyone he met; to know him was to love him.

He is survived by his loving ex-wife Helene Bailey, and their daughters, Beth Kasbarian and her husband Greg Kasbarian and Bibi DaCosta and her husband Anthony Mathews; his cherished grandchildren, Bailey, Julia, Chloe, and Avery Kasbarian, and Skylar, Zoe, Rachael, and Logan LeRose; his brothers, Michael DaCosta and his wife Anne and Steven DaCosta; and his lifelong best friend and brother in spirit, Kevin Felici. 

Don’s absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but his rhythm, his kindness, and his spirit will resonate in our hearts forever. May he rest in eternal peace.

A celebration of Don’s life will be planned at a later date for close family and friends to gather and honor his memory.

Donations in Don’s memory can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/donate

Salvator Ndoja, 79, of Shkoder, Albania, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.  Beloved husband of Mirjam (nee Shehaj).  Loving father of Salmi and his wife Azalina and Eder and his wife Elona.  Caring grandfather of Gloria, Kleisti, Salma, Ama and Roi.  Proud brother of Valentin, Franceska and Albina.  He was predeceased by his other siblings Ndrek and Davida.

Visiting hours are Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 9-10 AM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.  A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Our Lady of Victories RC Church, Harrington Park, NJ, at 10:30 AM.  Interment will be held at Westwood Cemetery, Westwood, NJ, with a repast to follow.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Mark Michael Piano, 71, of Airmont, NY, passed away on May 9, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY. Despite being otherwise healthy almost his entire life, Mark died from an aortic aneurysm that ruptured. Mark was known for being a loyal, steadfast friend and co-worker, and a devoted, loving family member.

Born on February 6, 1955, in Queens, NY, Mark was the oldest child of Anthony Piano and Anne Grassi Piano. With his two younger sisters, Mark grew up in Closter, NJ, a bedroom suburb of New York City. In those days, Closter was still semi-rural — full of farms and farmstands, horse stables, and quaint family-owned shops – the perfect place to raise a clever and curious boy like Mark. As a child, Mark became an amateur zoologist and anthropologist; he studied all kinds of animals, including the ones that were extinct. Through his school years—from Tenakill Elementary and Village Middle Schools in Closter to Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest –Mark was an honors student who distinguished himself as an independent thinker—a trait which served him well throughout his life. Mark became an expert at whatever topic he put his mind to learning and was considered a reputable source of knowledge by all who knew him.

Fate led Mark into a baker’s apprentice job, where he learned the craft of baking before working his way up to becoming a senior baker at busy family-owned bakeries, then bakery dept manager for chains like Stop & Shop, A&P, and Shop Rite. The baking profession enabled Mark to channel his attention to detail and express some of his creativity. He worked as a professional baker in some capacity for his entire life.

Mark loved collecting classic comic books, primarily for their artwork, which he used his considerable drawing skills to mimic. Mark was able to combine his passion for comic art and his artistic talent by going to work for Marvel Comics as a freelance colorist for a number of years. He also tried his hand at commercial art, working for a few advertising agencies, but found the work to be less creative than being a baker. In fact, over the last 20 years of Mark’s career, he focused on making custom ice cream cakes, and he took tremendous pride in perpetually refining his techniques. He looked forward to complex custom orders and was highly motivated to make each customer’s special occasion even more memorable with the cakes that he made.

Mark is survived by his sister Claudia Piano, his brother-in-law Michael Dryden, and beloved cousins on both sides of his family. He was preceded in death by his sister Jane Piano, mother Anne Grassi, and father Anthony Piano.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, August 29 from 11am-1pm at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ 07647. Mark’s family will host a casual repast immediately following the service.

Peter Pastras, age 67, passed away on August 8, 2026.  Beloved husband of Debra Thompson, loving father of Thea Pastras and Devin Pastras. Dear brother of Constance Pastras and Dean Pastras.  Brother-in-law of Deborah Bajakian, Lesley Thompson, Laurie and Edward Wikoff, Joanne and Robert Maransky. Son-in-law of Roger and Mary Jane Thompson.

Peter was born November 23, 1958, to Spiro and Katherine Pastras.  A first-generation American, he grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Childhood friendships made there would continue throughout his life. He graduated from Ramapo College and earned a Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University.  

Peter had a deeply fulfilling career in the mental health field, which spanned forty years.  He worked at (then) Mid-Bergen Community Mental Health Center, Morristown Memorial Hospital, and had a private psychotherapy practice.  With friends as partners, he founded a clinical and healthcare consulting practice to achieve better outcomes for people receiving mental health services. 

Peter moved to the maple-shaded suburb of Harrington Park, where he resided for thirty years.  He participated actively in town life.  Coaching his kids’ recreation teams provided him some of the best memories and friendships of his life.

Peter was blessed that his brother and sister lived locally and could share all birthdays, celebrations, and holidays.  Peter belonged to Debbie’s family as well.  The farm in upstate New York served as a second home to him in adulthood.  His relationships with his nieces and nephews, Amanda, Peter, Haley, Stephen, and Lauren, had their foundation in the annual Shore vacation.

Other cherished memories were ski trips to Vermont, fishing trips with friends, and especially a family trip to Alaska.  Peter loved to golf, watch the Mets, and spend time with cats.  He was an avid reader and, despite a goofy sense of humor, was a serious intellectual. 

Peter and Debbie were married for thirty-one years, and shared forty-one years together as a couple.  Peter was a devoted husband and true partner throughout their time together. Once a father, his children became the center of his life and were his true joy.

Friends and family are invited to visitation at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ, August 28 from 4:00-7:00pm.  A service honoring Peter’s life will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Norwood, 701 Broadway, Norwood, NJ, August 29 at 10:30am.  Friends are welcome to share thoughts and stories at that time.  A repast will follow.  Internment will happen at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.  

Theodora Ann McDaniell (nee Persico), 78, of Manahawkin, NJ a former long time resident of Northvale, NJ passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Theodora’s (Thea) life was defined by her devotion to her family and her unwavering commitment to serving others.  For more than two decades, she answered the call of her community as a dedicated member of the Northvale Volunteer Ambulance Corps.  Her compassionate nature also shone through her professional life as a longtime  medical practice administrator for MetroHealth in Teaneck, NJ.

Above all, Thea cherished her family.  She was the beloved mother of Douglas McDaniell, Jr (Jourdan Wilner), Jeffrey McDaniell (Lois Shipman) and Stephen McDaniell and the adoring grandmother of Elianna Grace McDaniell.  She was the cherished sister of Eugene Persico (Judy Giangoia), MaryGrace Ferrara (Nicholas) and the late Michael Persico. She was also the beloved cousin of a large extended family.

Service Details:

-Visitation: Sunday, August 9, 2026 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm 

Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, N

-Funeral Mass:  Monday August 10, 2026 at 10:00am

St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale, NJ

-Interment:  St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Hackensack, NJ

In honor of her granddaughter the family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Color the Spectrum at https://nextforautism.org/get-involved/color-the-spectrum or to the Northvale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 196 Firenze St, Northvale, NJ 07647

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.pizzifuneralhome.com                                                                                                                         

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Giacomo C. Gianfrancesco at the age of 89 after a battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Angelina (nee Cambrea), his beloved children, Gina Tietjen and late husband Christopher, Tina, Antonio (Tony), his beloved granddaughter Vanessa, his cherished sister Louisa Anastasi and husband Floro and devoted brother Emilio Gianfrancesco and all his dearest nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his many cherished relatives and friends in Italy, Australia, and Canada. Giacomo was predeceased by his sisters Emilia and Maria and his brother-in-law Giacomo D’Andrea.

Giacomo was an immigrant from Roccamandolfi, Italy who came to the United States when he was 17 years old. He created a memorable life here in Northvale, by being a part of the laborers union and mastering that craft. He was a huge inspiration to fellow immigrants and to many others by showing his hard work, leadership, and his beloved Italian up bringing throughout every moment of his life. He carried on many family traditions like making wine and homemade sausage, along with his passion for gardening.  He was a great man who was loved by all and showed what being an honorable Italian man who never gives up truly means. He was a warrior until the end and never shown a sign of weakness, which sums up the type of man Giacomo was.

He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing him. 

Visiting hours to celebrate his life will be at Pizzi Funeral Home in Northvale, NJ on Thursday August 6 from 4-8pm. A funeral mass will be held Friday, August 7 at St. Anthony’s Church in Northvale, NJ at 10:00am. Entombment will follow at Garden of Memories, Washington Twp., NJ.

The Funeral Mass can be viewed through the livestream link below:

https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-mass-for-giacomo-jack-gianfrancesco-ghqtxucbhqfrfqkjo6sb

May his soul rest in eternal peace and his memory live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Giacomo’s memory may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

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Dr. Antonio Pierre, 86, of Orangeburg, New York, affectionately known as “Toto”, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on July 30, 2026.

Born in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, Antonio was the son of Antoine Pierre and Philise Pierre (née George). He was the beloved husband of Anne Marie Pierre (née St. Vil), the devoted father of Marie Pierre and her husband, Madior Gueye, Florence Pierre, Wendy Pierre, and Jessie Pierre, and the proud and loving grandfather of Djovan, Tatianna, and Carolynne. He is also survived by his siblings: Christine Pierre-Olibrice, Jacqueline Pierre-Antoine, Marie Lourde Magloire, Ascensio Pierre, Cliphote Pierre, Marguerite Pierre-Gurosier, Noemi Pierre, Marie Rose Pierre-Nerree, Felicienne Pierre, Yanick Pierre, Kettlie Pierre-Hypolite, Lunie Pierre, Nandy Pierre-Ranbol, many beloved family members, dear friends, and cherished colleagues.

A devoted Catholic throughout his life, he was deeply committed to his faith, his family, and his profession. Fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, he completed three years of law school while earning his medical degree in Haiti. In 1968, he moved to the United States to complete his medical residency in Pediatrics and settled in Laurelton, Queens.

Dr. Antonio Pierre dedicated more than 50 years to the practice of medicine, touching countless lives through his compassionate care. He is best remembered for his many years of service at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx. Dr. Pierre ultimately moved his family to Orangeburg, New York, where he resided for more than 40 years. Known for his warmth, kindness, and genuine friendship, Dr. Pierre never met a stranger. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion, generosity, and service. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Friday, August 7, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Pizzi Funeral Home in Northvale, New Jersey. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. at St. Catharine’s RC Church in Blauvelt, New York. Internment will follow at Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Pierre’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: www.stjude.org/donate

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.pizzifuneralhome.com.

Kathleen Ann Sullivan (nee Konrad), 82, of River Vale, NJ, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Eugene Sullivan. Cherished mother of Camille Loge, Bernard Recanati , Christine Hort and her husband Avi. Proud grandmother of Nicole, Elan, Lexi and Rachel. Dear sister of Melanie Bauer and the late Christine Condon.

Kathleen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved butterflies, tending to her garden, cooking, baking bread , shopping, and collecting beautiful jewelry. A true animal lover, especially to her cat Max. She was incredibly artistic and creative, with a special gift for turning anything she touched into something beautiful. Her warmth, kindness, and loving spirit will forever live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Visiting hours are Tuesday, August 4, 2026 from 4–7 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathleen’s memory to a local animal shelter would be much appreciated.