Baby Nicholas Robert Barbieri passed away on Friday, May 12, 2017 after a courageous three month battle. Nicholas is survived by his loving parents, Christopher and Lauren Barbieri of Hillsdale and his big sister, Noelle. He was the cherished grandson of William and Renee Barbieri of Closter and Robert and Sharon Vallario of River Vale and great-grandson of Lucy Barbieri and Marie Vallario. Adored nephew of Alexandra Barbieri, Tony and Shelley Vallario and Lisa Vallario.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Victories RC Church, Harrington Park. Visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday from 4-7 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale (201-767-3050).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nicholas’ memory may be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities, www.rmhc.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

Jeffrey H. Kalish, of Northvale, passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Beloved husband of Linda J. (nee Wangrycht). Devoted father of Jennifer Rilli and husband Edward of Hillsdale and Mark Kalish and wife Katie of River Vale. Cherished grandfather of Matthew, Jason, Dylan and Joseph. Dear brother of Shari and the late Michael.

Jeff dedicated his life to the children in the Northern Valley. He was the Northvale Baseball Commissioner for many years and coached countless kids in all sports as well offering baseball clinics for decades. He was one of the founders of the Northern Valley PAL and helped developed the football program. He will also be remembered as the voice of Old Tappan High School.

Jeff was proud to have been drafted by the Minnesota Twins and went as far as AAA. He was a salesman for Wallachs, Gant Shirts and most recently Bon-Jour sporting goods in Norwood. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, a supportive coach and a dear friend to many. He will be dearly missed.

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 3-6 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeff’s memory may be made to the John Theurer Cancer Center, 92 2^nd St, Hackensack, NJ 07601, www.jtcancercenter.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

Mary B. McDonald (nee Buckley), 75, of Dumont, NJ, formerly of Blauvelt, passed away at home on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Beloved wife of John J. McDonald. Loving mother of Edward and his partner Sandra of Nanuet and Cara Chappell and her husband Walter of Dumont. Adored grandmother of Kyle, Andrew, Ryan, Kasey, Emily and the late Kevin. Cherished sister of John Joseph Buckley and wife Brid of Ireland. Also survived by ex-daughter-in-law Kara McDonald of Orangeburg.

Mary was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a devoted parishioner St. Catharine’s Church, Blauvelt for many years before moving to Dumont and joining Sacred Heart Church, Haworth. She retired from Manufacturers Hanover in NYC where she had been a banker.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 10 AM at Sacred Heart Church, Haworth. The family will receive friends Sunday from 3-6 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

In lieu of flowers donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Valley Hospice, www.valleyhospitalfoundation.org.

pizzifuneralhome.com

 

Donald Gonzalez, 55 years old, of Hackensack, formerly of Maywood, passed away on April 10, 2017. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 6 PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace RC Church, Maywood.

pizzifuneralhome.com

 

Mitchell A. Duncan

It is with much sadness that the family of Mitchell Ayres Duncan announce his passing after a long and courageous fight with cancer on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at the age of 77.

A native of Arcadia, CA. Mitch began his career in the automobile business in 1956 at Ed Barbari Studebaker in East Los Angeles where he drove his first Volvo, a PV444. This launched a 40 plus year passion for and career with Volvo Cars of North America. In 1962 he became a Volvo Parts Representative, calling on dealers in California, Arizona and Nevada. By 1966 Mitch was running Volvo’s West Coast parts operation. He moved to Volvo’s headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey in 1972 as parts distribution manager. He became Vice President of Volvo’s US parts operation in 1977 and by 1986 was responsible for all of North America’s parts operations including cars, trucks, marine and construction equipment parts and recreational products. When the parts operation became a separate division of Volvo North America, Mitch was named President.

In 1993 during a major reorganization of the Volvo organization, Mitch was named Vice President of the Western Region, responsible for the marketing and sale of new Volvo products in 13 western states. He remained in that position until his retirement from Volvo in 1998.

He had a passion racing and ran in the Silver State, a 90 mile race in Nevada, where he averaged 150 mph with a top speed of 168 driving a Volvo station wagon. He also set a record in class of 149 mpg at the Muroc Reunion held at Edwards Airforce Base which still stands today. After retirement he began participating in historic racing with his 1961 Volvo P1800.

 

When he wasn’t racing he was enjoying retirement at his home on Moosehead Lake in Maine where he spent many hours in his beloved garage enjoying woodworking, metalworking and restoring his 1959 Volvo PV544.

Mitch will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Diane and his children, Marcus and Katie Duncan of Tacoma, WA., Loren Duncan of Thousand Oaks, CA., and daughter-in-law Kathleen Duncan of Moorpark, CA. He will be fondly remembered by his grandson, Timothy and Caitlin Duncan of Simi Valley, CA, two great-grandchildren Levi and Lily, his brother Robert and Marie Duncan of Auburn, CA. and sister Diane Duncan and husband Joseph Cisek of Larkspur, CA. Mitch will be affectionately remembered by his nieces, nephews and extended family and dear friends. He is pre-deceased his father, Robert Duncan, mother Charlotte Mitchell Duncan and son Gene Duncan.

A celebration of Mitchell’s life will be held at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 from 4 to 8PM. A funeral service will be held at Pizzi Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 10 am with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Mitchell may be made to the Pine Tree Society (pinetreesociety.org).

pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

Katherine Whittaker (nee Paliotto), 92, of Johnston, RI, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Beloved wife of the late John Whittaker. Dedicated and cherished mother of Margaret Eliasof and husband Louis of Valley Cottage and Joan Whittaker of Northvale. Adored grandmother of Laura Jimenez and husband Pedro, Jonathan Eliasof and Katherine Senatore. Proud great-grandmother of Maya Rose. Dearest sister of Louise DelBonis and Alex Paliotto.

Katherine worked for Allendale Insurance Company in Johnston, RI for many years. She devoted her life to her family and was a committed and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She was also proud to be a “Red Hat Lady”.

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10 – 11 AM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050). A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM with interment to follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, Clarkstown.

pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

 

Gloria P. (nee Speciale) Wright

 

Gloria Wright, 93 of Hillsdale, formerly of Palisades Park died Friday, April 14, at home. 

Gloria was born in Union City, the daughter of Michael Speciale and Josephine Bono Speciale.  She was a graduate of Emerson High School, class of 1941.  During World War II she worked at General Electric. In 1946 she married Thomas H. Wright who survives her.  She is also survived by her sons, Mark T. and Keith D. and his wife, Anne, and two grandsons, Christian and his wife, Jennifer, and Matthew as well as three great-grandchildren: Tyler Jameson, Riley Elizabeth, and John Thomas.  She is also survived by her dear sister, Theresa Poller and many devoted nieces and nephews.  Gloria loved music and frequently sang solos in various vocal groups to which she belonged particularly the choir of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Union City. 

The family will greet friends and family and celebrate her life in a memorial at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale on Saturday, April 22 from 2PM- 5PM. Donations in her memory will be gratefully accepted by “Swim-in for the Handicapped” c/o Barbara A. Lightbody, 31 Margie Avenue, Cresskill, N.J.  07627.

pizzifuneralhome.com

 

John Verdigi III, 58, of Palisades NY, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, April 17, 2017, surrounded with love by his wife, daughters and son-in-law. Loving husband to his wife, Cathy Butterworth Verdigi.  Loving father to his daughters Jaime, Jessica and Taylor. True friend and father-in-law to John Hyla Jr. Proud Papa to Averie, Johnny, and Aiden.  Beloved son of Fran and John Verdigi Jr.  Caring brother to Joanne Verdigi Campora, Jill Verdigi Rovito and the late Joseph Verdigi. Son-in-law to Joan and the late Walter Butterworth. Brother-in-law to Dan, Charles, and James Butterworth. Proud uncle, cousin, and friend to all that have known him.

John was an electrical contractor for Ken-Jil in Northvale for over 35 years.

He loved life and enjoyed boating, hunting and most of all, time spent with family, especially Cathy, his daughters and his cherished grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 20th, 2017 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale. Funeral Mass will be Friday, April 21st at 10 AM at Immaculate Conception Church Norwood with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.

pizzifuneralhome.com 

 

John S. Gonzalez, 91, of Northvale, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Beloved husband of the late Carmen. Cherished father of Mercedes Pedrick of Old Tappan and the late John M. Gonzalez. Dearest uncle of many loving nieces and nephews. Also survived by his beloved dog Danny.

John was a US Navy Veteran of WWII. He worked his entire life in the restaurant business and was a waiter at Confetti’s in Norwood and Old Tappan, Danny’s Steak House in Closter, and in NYC at Basin Street East, The Edison Hotel and Fafies.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY. Visiting hours are Monday 5-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

pizzifuneralhome.com

Visiting hours will be held at St. Zita’s Villa, 50 Saddle River Road, Monsey, NY on Sunday from 2-6 PM in the chapel.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 10 AM.