Wake Sunday 2-4 PM

Interment Monday 11 AM at

Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY

Irene Papa (nee Bonzagni), 82, of Northvale, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Beloved wife of the late George. Cherished mother of Barbara Masterson and husband Walt of Northvale, Lorraine Jones and husband Bob of River Vale and the late George. Dear mother-in-law of Nancy Papa of Dumont.  Adored grandmother of Charlie and wife Laura, Jenny, Robert, Danny and wife Isabella, Jimmy, Kevin, John, Nick as well as a loving great-grandmother to Nate and Zach.

Irene was a cashier at Grand Union in Closter for 20 years.  She was loved by all her customers.   She enjoyed living in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach Florida for many years where she spent time helping others and enjoying the sunshine.  Irene spent the last 10 years living at Mill Gardens Assisted Living in Midland Park, NJ.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Wednesday 10 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale with burial to follow at St. Raymond’s Cemetery, Bronx, NY.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to The Valley Hospital Foundation. www.valleyhospitalfoundation.org .  Click Donate Now and choose Hospice Care as the designation.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Spiro L. Mifsud, Sr.

Visiting hours are Thursday 6-8 PM.

Funeral Mass Friday 10 AM at Our Lady of Victories, Harrington Park, NJ.

Interment Ascension Cemetery, Airmont, NY.

James S. Gallagher, 78, of Hackensack, formerly of Norwood, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Beloved husband of the late Patricia.  Loving father of Julie Gallagher of Hackensack, Daniel and his wife Teresa of Upper Saddle River and the late James. Adored grandfather of Christina and Sandra. Dearest brother of the late Joseph, John and Edward.

James worked for General Motors in NYC for many years before retiring. He was an active parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church in Norwood and enjoyed being in the choir.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart RC Church, Haworth with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY. Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

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LUZZI – Gregory, 62, a lifelong resident of Norwood passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2016.  He is survived by his loving twin brother Bruce, and brothers, Robert and George Luzzi, his devoted niece, Michelle Luzzi and a nephew, Michael Luzzi.  His nephew Bruce Luzzi, Jr. predeceased him in 2004.

Gregory was born to Salvatore and Evangeline (nee Iulo) Luzzi on October 14, 1953.  He worked as an Automotive Insurance Adjuster for Rockland County Body Inc., Haverstraw, NY for many years.

Visiting hours are Thursday 10 – 11 AM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ 201-767-3050.  A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM at the funeral home with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.

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MERRIMAN – Patricia A. (née: Dugan) of Norwood formerly of New Milford, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Friday, July 8, 2016.  Devoted wife of John Merriman.  Cherished mother of Robert Dennerlein and wife Carla, Jean Marie Petro and husband Christopher, Bill Merriman and wife Jennifer and Richard Merriman and wife Traci.  Adored grandmother of Rob, Mary Kate, Kristen, Sara, Jessica, Kelly, Emily and Patrick.  Patricia was born in the Bronx, NY and moved to New Milford in 1971 and has been a resident of Norwood for the past 13 years. She was an avid Yankee fan, an Irish Step Dancer and Eucharistic Minister at St. Anthony’s Church for many years. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday 10 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah.  Visiting hours are Monday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale (201-767-3050). Those who wish, may make donations in Patricia’s memory to the American Cancer Society with a restriction to lung cancer, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.  www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Maureen L. Naperschat (nee Barba), 73, of Point Pleasant, formerly of Rockleigh, passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2016. Beloved wife of Robert. Cherished mother of Theresa Butler and husband Thomas of Rockleigh, Lisa Sorrentino and husband Anthony of Englewood Cliffs and Brendan Naperschat of Stony Point, NY. Adored grandmother of Anthony, Christopher, Michael, Katie and Thomas. Dearest sister of Brendan Barba of Franklin Lakes.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday 11:30 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Madonna Cemetery, Fort Lee. Visiting hours are Wednesday 4-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale (201-767-3050).
Those who wish may make donations in Maureen’s memory to the Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike #420, Rockville, MD 20850, www.fisherhouse.org.
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Anne Claudia Grassi (nee Piano), of Airmont, NY,formerly of Closter, beloved Mother, Spouse, Sister, Aunt, and Friend, passed away on July 2, 2016 in New City, NY. Anne passed just 2 weeks after being diagnosed with small cell lung cancer.

 

A wake will be held Tuesday July 5 between 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.

Pastor Angela Maddalone (Chaplain at the hospice where Anne spent her last few weeks) will lead prayers at the end of each viewing on Tuesday. Father Jerry Hahn of St. Anthony’s Parish in Northvale will officiate the funeral service on Wednesday July 6 at 10am at the Pizzi Funeral Home.  Anne will be entombed next to her beloved daughter Jane in Garden of Memories, 300 Soldier Hill Road, Township of Washington, NJ.

 

Anne Grassi was born in the Bronx, NY to Sarah and Anthony Grassi on October 8, 1932.  She grew up on Arthur Avenue and studied art at Washington Irving High School in Greenwich Village.  After graduating Anne went to work as an administrator at the NBC Radio Network in Manhattan, where she later understudied with the famous talk show star Jinx Falkenburg. A true multi-faceted artist, Anne dabbled in performance art (acting and dancing in several productions) and fine art, creating many paintings and drawings that are treasured by her entire family.

 

She met her future husband Anthony Piano at NBC, and they started a family in 1955. Anne put her career on hold until her three children were teens, and she eventually made her way back to WNBC radio, the flagship station of the NBC radio network, serving as Public Affairs Manager until the station closed in 1988. Anne juggled her full-time career with weekend college at Dominican to obtain her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. During Anne’s tenure at WNBC, she was responsible for several successful public service campaigns, covering such issues as HIV, Lyme Disease, Addiction, the Homeless in New York, and a wide range of family-related social issues.  Anne also produced several public affairs radio programs, regularly filling in as host on Sunday nights.  In 1987, Anne won the prestigious Gabriel Award for creating, writing, and producing a radio program entitled “AIDS: Fear and Facts.”

 

As the devoted parent of a developmentally disabled child, Anne was instrumental in helping Spectrum for Living get their first facility built in Closter, NJ. Anne was a Closter resident for many years, and helped lobby the Closter Zoning Board to allow Spectrum to build a residential facility for developmentally disabled adults, against the protestations of many Closter residents, who were afraid of a residence for disabled people in their town. Anne always said that engaging in that ‘battle’ was one of the things she was most proud of.  Her daughter Jane was one of the facility’s first residents, and Anne served on their Board of Trustees until Jane’s death in 2011.

 

Anne is preceded in death by her daughter Jane Piano, her sisters Connie Reilly and Janet Johnson, and her brother Robert Grassi.

 

Anne is survived by her son Mark Piano, daughter Claudia Piano, son-in-law Michael Dryden, life partner Anthony Piano, and her beloved nieces Jessica, Jennifer, Cheryl, Andrea, and nephews Robert and Erik. She was adored and loved by many, and respected by all who knew her. She will be missed beyond measure.

 

Memorials may be given to The Jane Piano Memorial Foundation (http://charitysmith.org/memorial-funds/the-jane-piano-memorial-fund/), a fund established by Anne and Claudia to help honor Jane and raise money for the developmentally disabled.

 

The family of Anne Grassi wishes to extend our sincere thanks to The Joe Raso Hospice Residence in New City, NY, for helping Anne make her final transition as comfortable and painless as possible.

 

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George DeGennaro, 81, of Harrington Park, former Northvale resident of 47 years, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Devoted husband of Irene (nee Sumner), for 59 years. Cherished father of Debbie Gordon, of Westport CT, George Jr. of Northvale, Marlene Westhelle and husband Bob of Norwood, Kathy Berger and husband Robert of Westport, CT, and Ken and wife Peg of Northvale. Adored grandfather of Nicholas, Robert, Amanda, Gregory, Simon, Gavin, Juliette, Christopher, Sara, Carley, Lauren, Marin, and Katelyn. Dear brother of Nicholas and his wife Marie of Colorado, and the late Rose, Vincent, Steven, Joseph, and Anthony.
Before retiring, George worked for the family business, DeGennaro transportation in Hoboken and Kearny for many years. He was a parishioner of St. Anthony’s RC Church in Northvale and belonged to the Northvale Golden Age Club. George was an active resident of Brookside Village where he enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends and neighbors. Of all he enjoyed in life, nothing surpassed his love of family and the time he spent with them.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday 10:00 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, Northvale, with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY. Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to Northvale Ambulance Corp or Harrington Park Ambulance Corp.
www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Joseph Michael Alvino, 72, of Summerfield, FL, formerly of Lakewood, Old Tappan, and Northvale, passed away on Friday, June 10, 2016. Predeceased by his parents Joseph Sr. and Lola Valk Alvino. Beloved husband of Marianne (nee Perna) for 51 years. Devoted father of Angela Alvino of Dumont, Jeanine Doyle and her husband Kelly of Dripping Springs, TX, John and his wife Yvette of Palm City, FL and the late John Joseph. Cherished grandfather of Ryan, Matthew, Michael, Madyson and Gabriella.

Before retiring Joe owned a plumbing business in the Bronx for many years. Besides his love of family he enjoyed archery, billiards, bowling, bocce and horseshoes at Stone Crest Community in Summerfield.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday 10:00 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale with entombment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY. Visiting hours are Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale (201-767-3050).

Memorial donations in Joe’s memory may be made to St. Rita’s Church, 448 College Ave, Bronx, NY 10451 or Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation at www.curethekids.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com