Michele M. Rasmussen (nee Sarno), 59, of Hohokus, passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 after a courageous 3 ½ year battle with a rare skin cancer. Cherished wife of Dr. Gary Rasmussen. Beloved daughter of Gertrude Sarno. Loving sister of Anthony Sarno and wife Lucille. Dearest aunt of Brad, Kimberly and Jennifer and husband Edward. She was predeceased by her father Henry and infant child Jessica.

Michele was an office administrator for Englewood Urological/Urologic Specialties. She was a passionate animal lover and rescued many dogs.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday 10 AM at St. Luke’s RC Church, Hohokus with entombment to follow at Garden of Memories, Washington Twp. Visiting hours are Friday 2-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

Donations in Michele’s memory may be made to any Animal Rescue organization of your choice.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

Elaine J. Dealing, 84, of Orangeburg, formerly of Sparkill, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018. She was the devoted mother of Gail Istratescu and husband Cristian of Blauvelt and Lori Dealing-Kelleher and husband Jerry of Piermont. Cherished grandmother of Lance Fiasconaro of whom she was very proud. Dearest sister of Marie McDonald of Sparkill, Benjamin Savoia Jr. of NH, Phyllis Favre of Sparkill and the late Evelyn Kopac. Loving aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Elaine was a Registered Nurse and worked for the County of Rockland at the Yeager Health Care Center in Pomona for many years. After retirement she continued her nursing career at Palisades Gardens. She belonged to the American Legion Perry Post Ladies Auxiliary in Sparkill, the Homemakers Club of Piermont and was active at Thorpe Village. Elaine’s favorite pastime was spent on her iPad keeping in touch with family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 AM at St. John’s Church, Piermont with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill. Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

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Lucy M. McGuire (nee Barbera), 84, of Southbury, CT died peacefully on January 29^th 2018. Born on February 12^th, 1933 in Jersey City NJ, to Joseph and Theresa Barbera.  She was married to Edward McGuire in 1960 and lived in Paramus NJ, Easton CT, Mahwah NJ, Barnegat NJ & River Vale NJ. She is survived by three children – daughter Karen Puskas and husband Andy of Roxbury CT, son Michael and wife Diane of Franklin MA and son Joseph and wife Susan of Northvale NJ. Also survived by brother Joseph Barbera of Lakewood Ranch, FL, and brother Dominick Barbera of Paramus, NJ. Six grandchildren – Edward & Lucy Puskas of Roxbury CT, Liam & Maxwell McGuire of Franklin MA and John & Robert of Northvale NJ. She is predeceased by her husband Edward, her parents, son Edward III and sisters Ann Johnson and Mildred Barbera. She graduated from Snyder High School in Jersey City in 1950.  She was employed by numerous organizations, including First National Bank of Jersey City, Helen Keller Middle School in Easton, CT, Coleytown Elementary School in Westport, CT, and Paragon/Time Warner Cable in Mahwah, NJ.

Lucy was a member of the Women’s Club of Paramus, NJ and the Ladies Council of Notre Dame of Easton (CT) Church. She was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed nothing more than being surrounded by her family while spoiling them with her dinners and desserts.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s RC Church in Northvale NJ on Friday at 10:00 AM with interment to follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. Visiting hours will be Thursday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

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Krystyna S. Puccio, MD, (nee Zajac), 65, of Old Tappan, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Beloved wife of Dr. Carmelo Puccio. Loving mother of Gregory and wife Arica of Baltimore, MD, Alexander of Old Tappan and Benjamin of Old Tappan. Dearest sister of Helena Cannone.

Krystyna was a physician specializing in hematology oncology. She was a devoted “soccer mom” to her three sons and volunteered her time at Don Bosco Prep where they graduated high school. Krystyna also volunteered at St. Pius X Church for many years. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday 10 AM at St. Pius X Church with interment to follow at Warwick Cemetery, Warwick, NY. Visiting hours are Thursday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org would be greatly appreciated.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

 

Kip Gordon DeBoer, 70, of Hillsdale, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018. He was the father of Sean Gordon DeBoer of Philadelphia, PA and the brother of Donald and Kenneth, both of Monroe, NY.

Kip was born October 13, 1947 in Manhattan, NY, son of the late Eugene G. DeBoer and Jacqueline S. DeBoer.

Mr. DeBoer was an IRS Enrolled Agent and a Registered Public Accountant. His life’s work was helping many friends and clients through his practice in Northvale, Kip Financial Services.

In his younger years, Kip was an avid cyclist and often rode in Bike MS events to fundraise for Multiple Sclerosis research. More recently, he became a gun enthusiast enjoying time spent with friends at the shooting range.

Visitation will be Saturday 12-2 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050) with a memorial service to be held at 2 PM.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

Olga I. Rumsey (nee Krinsky), 97, of Upper Saddle River, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Winfield L. Rumsey, Sr. Loving mother of June Bertschi of Lodi, Winfield L. Rumsey, Jr. of Pomona, NY and David Rumsey of Mays Landing. Adored grandmother of Deborah, Michael and Steven and great-grandmother of Olivia, Aiden and Rylee. She was predeceased by 11 brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4-6 PM with a memorial service to held at 5:30 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050).

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Daniel Vincent Samela, 66, of Tappan, NY passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at Nyack Hospital. Born in Bronx, NY to Dominick and Annabelle Samela, he is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Gail Pacifico. He is survived by his sister, Stacey Samela, daughter, Anna Samela and her fiancé, Mark, son, Nick Samela and his wife, Nicole, grandson, Jacob Samela and many other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Daniel never met a stranger. He was the life of the party; everyone knew when “Danny” walked in. He was a loving man who wore his heart on his sleeve and would do anything for anyone. He was very proud of his two children and was blessed enough to meet his first grandson, Jacob, and cried as he held him in his arms for the first time. Dan was diagnosed with cancer in early 2017 and made it a point to make extra trips to Ohio to visit his kids and grandson, spending as much time as he could with them.

Danny was an amazing story teller and it was always a pleasure to hear him talk about “back in the day” when he would sing and play drums in his band “The Special Occasions”. He was always singing to every song that came on…and if he didn’t know the words he would just make up his own. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Pizzi Funeral Home in Northvale, NJ from 11:30am-1:30pm. Service will follow at St. Catherine Church at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers family requests donations be made in Daniel’s memory to the American Cancer Society at donate3.cancer.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

 

Patrick T. “Paddy” Sullivan died peacefully at home on January 15, 2018. Paddy was born in Manhattan, NY on December 7, 1938 and grew up and spent nearly his entire life as a resident of Tappan, NY. He attended Tappan Zee High School and was a devoted Catholic and lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Tappan.  

Upon graduating high school, Paddy worked at Orangeburg Pipe in Orangeburg, NY.  When his father Leonard died suddenly in 1961, twenty-one year old Paddy quit his job to help his mother, Mary Edna manage the family business Sullivan’s Tappan Inn and to help support his younger siblings.

On August 18, 1962, Paddy married the love of his life Kathleen (Giblin) Sullivan and together they lovingly raised their four sons and continued to operate Sullivan’s for nearly thirty years. Their staff and customers were their dearest friends and extended family.  In addition, Paddy loved his home town and proudly served his community as a commissioner and honorary member of the Tappan Fire Department which became another group of dear friends to him.

Paddy is survived by his loving wife, Kathy and his sons and daughters-in-law Patrick and Theresa (Moran) Sullivan of New City, NY, Brian and Cindy (Roper) Sullivan of Eagan, MN, Joseph and Jennifer (O’Brien) Sullivan of Tappan, NY and Barbara (Quinn) Sullivan of Tappan, NY.  Paddy is predeceased by his beloved son, Leonard “Lenny” Sullivan.  He is also survived by his beautiful granddaughters “Pop’s Girls” Lauren, Maggie, Devin, Colleen, Danielle, Kathleen, Grace, Olivia, Tara, Erin, Deirdre, Katherine and his loving grandsons Thomas and Frank.  Few men have loved and enjoyed their grandchildren as much as Paddy did.

He is also survived by his sisters, Sr. Anne Sullivan, O.P., Sr. Mary Agnes Sullivan, O.P., Edna and husband Mark Ciganek, Eileen Kavanagh, brothers, Cornelius Sullivan and Brendan Sullivan and sister-in-law, Anne Giblin. Paddy was predeceased by his parents Mary Edna and Leonard Sullivan of Tappan, and his brothers, Hugh, Leonard, Michael, and Thomas and brother-in-law, John Giblin. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Paddy was larger than life and he had more friends and stories than anyone can count.  Having lived in Rockland County nearly his whole life, it seemed he knew everyone and he was known unofficially by his friends as the “Mayor of Tappan.”  Despite managing his own business and caring for his family, Paddy always had time to help anyone in need.  If someone asked for assistance, Paddy would instantly drop what he was doing and be out the door famously saying, “I’ll be right back!”  Paddy’s friendly face, hearty laugh and his kind and generous spirit is what he will be most remembered for. 

Visitation will be held Friday, January 19th 3-8pm at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ. (201-767-3050). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Saturday, January 20th at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Tappan, NY. Burial will follow at Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, NY.

In keeping with Paddy’s giving spirit, memorial donations may be made to the Tappan Firemen’s Welfare Fund, 123 Washington St., Tappan NY 10983, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, 120 Western Highway, Tappan, NY or any charity of your choice.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

 

 

 

 

Antonio Scorza, of Harrington Park died peacefully on January 11, 2018. He was 92. A native of Castrovillari, a small town in Calabria, Italy, Tony was predeceased by his wife Bernadine (nee Iafrate) and is survived by a number of cousins in Italy with whom he stayed in touch, visiting and hosting them over the years, as well as a wide circle of close friends and in-laws.

As a teenager, Tony moved to Rome where his studies in medicine were interrupted by World War II. Rather than fight for the Axis, Tony and a group of friends lived in caves near his home town to avoid conscription. Following the war, he joined his mother who had moved to the United States several years earlier. Although he did not finish his medical degree, he had a career in surgical pathology, working in and eventually heading up labs in Montefiore, Einstein, and Memorial Sloane Kettering Hospitals. A life-long bicyclist, fly fisherman, and skier, it was a skiing accident that introduced Tony to his wife of 44 years. While recuperating from a broken leg, a mutual friend brought Bea to visit Tony. They were married soon after and moved to Harrington Park the following year. The two shared a love of travel, and spent most of their vacations abroad.

Donations may be made in Tony’s memory to The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065.

Visitation will be at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ on Monday, January 15 from 4-7PM. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday, January 16 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Victories RC Church, Harriot Avenue, Harrington Park, NJ.

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Anthony James Vitale, 42, of Norwood, passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Cherished son of Joseph and Amelia Vitale of Norwood. Adored brother of Samantha. Beloved nephew of Theresa and Fred Smith, Virgilio and Janice Gimino and the late Rose Brickwood. Loving cousin of Stacy and husband Chris, Sean and wife Belinda, Jennifer and husband Matt, Michele and husband Jerry, Chris, Andy, Abby, Tony Bill, Kim, Ava, Patricia, Ty, Zoe, Taylor, Caylee and Christopher.

Anthony was an accomplished art history teacher at Renaissance Leadership Academy MS 322 in Washington Heights, NY.

Visiting hours are Sunday 2-6 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale (201-767-3050). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday 12 Noon at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Changes Treatment and Recovery Center, 2310 East Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33062, www.changestreatmentcenter.com, would be greatly appreciated.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com