Yolanda C. “Toni” Cross (nee Scriffignano), 97, of Norwood, NJ, entered into eternal life with our Lord on April 21, 2023, surrounded by the love of family and friends. Born February 16, 1926 to Filippo and Grazia.  Beloved wife of the late George L. Cross. Devoted mother of Philip Cross and wife Gerilynn, Jonathan Cross and Maria Cross. Proud grandmother of Meaghan and husband John, Jonathan and wife Samantha and Bryanna and husband Trevor. Loving great-grandmother of Finn. Dearest sister of the late Peter, Frank, John, Thomas, Mildred, Louise and Carol.

Toni graduated from Columbus Hospital School of Nursing in Newark, where she served as an operating room nurse. She was a dedicated parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church, Norwood where she was a Eucharistic Minister, song leader in the choir and a member of the Pre-Cana team. She also was an avid bowler.

Visiting hours are Wednesday, April 26, 2023 from 4-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 10 AM at Immaculate Conception Church, Norwood with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.

The Funeral Mass can be viewed through the link below:

https://boxcast.tv/channel/yolanda-c-toni-cross-funeral-mass-pjlud0t90lvofgornsgd

In lieu of flowers, donations in Toni’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org or the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, www.jewishhomefamily.org would be greatly appreciated.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Joan Riccardi (nee Massa), 90, of Northvale, NJ, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Joseph Riccardi. Cherished mother of Linda Shlemon and her husband Brian and Denise Bigelow and her husband William. Proud grandmother of Christopher Shlemon and wife Kayla, Jessica Shlemon, Allison Shlemon, Ryan Bigelow and wife Sara, Joseph Bigelow and Davis Bigelow and great-grandmother of Abigail Shlemon. Dearest sister of Barbara Testa.

Joan was a devoted parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church and an active member of the Northvale Senior Center for many years.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 12 PM at St. Anthony’s Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in Joan’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Lynne M. Pontillo (nee Malmed), 67, of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, April 21, 2023. Beloved wife of Peter W. Pontillo. Cherished mother of Bret and wife Jess and Lucas and partner Julia. Loving daughter of Gail Williams and her husband Bert and dear brothers Foster Malmed and wife Terri and Glenn Malmed and wife Marianna. She was predeceased by her father Howard Malmed. Lynne is survived by many relatives and friends. She also loved her dogs, Jackson and the late Shasta.

Lynne was an Art Director for NBC and WPIX for many years before retiring and then teaching art at Dwight Englewood.  She was a proud graduate of Penn State and was a founding member of the Bergen County Charity Classic.

Visiting hours are Sunday, April 23, 2023 from 2-5 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lynne’s memory may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 

https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give/make-a-memorial-or-tribute-gift, to support breast cancer research.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Frank Negri, 79, of Valley Cottage, NY, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023. Beloved husband of the late Anne (nee Ciuffo). Devoted father of Deborah Mazur and her late husband Michael of Congers, NY and Frank A. Negri and his wife Michelle of New City, NY. Proud grandfather of Michael, Anthony, Frank, Joseph and Thomas.

Frank was a police officer for the NYPD, working in the 34, 44 and retiring out of the 50. He was also a US Army Veteran. Frank was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was an avid fisherman and loved fishing and boating. He will be missed.

Funeral services will be private.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Frances A. Slavik (nee Greenbaum), 96, of Bergenfield, NJ, passed away on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Milan.  Loving mother of Richard Slavik of California, MD and David Slavik and his wife Margaret of Dumont, NJ. Proud grandmother of Michael and his wife Janelle and Christopher. Dear sister of the late Doris Ilovichny. Also survived by her niece, Susan Farley and brother-in-law, Daniel Slavik

Frances was a devoted and loving grandmother and cherished her time with her grandsons. She belonged to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in New Milford for many years.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 11, 2023 from 10-11 AM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.  A Funeral Service will be celebrated by Rev. Lisa Holliday at 11 AM with interment to follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support Metastatic Breast Cancer Research and Awareness, www.metavivor.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Joseph (Joe) A. Mancini, 73, of Northvale, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 3, 2023. Beloved husband of Debbie (nee Minutoli), devoted father of Joseph, dear brother of Louis Mancini and his wife Sharon. He is also survived by many loving relatives and friends as well as his loyal sidekick, Kenji. 

Joe studied the martial arts from the time he was a young boy.  In 1973 he traveled to Japan to study Karate with Sensei Obata of Keio University and upon his return enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War.  He graduated jump school at Ft. Benning Georgia, becoming a Paratrooper assigned to the 509th Airborne Combat Team in Verona, Italy.  There he joined the elite recon platoon and served with Nato until he was honorably discharged in 1976.

His mastery of the art of Karate led him to open and operate the Academy of Self-Defense in Teaneck, NJ, where he met his wife.  He eventually passed down the ownership of the school and began to work for the USPS in Teaneck as well as serving as the Court Officer for the Borough of Northvale.  His and his son’s long involvement in the Boy Scouts of America led Joe to eventually become Scout Master for Troop 124, encouraging his son and other members to earn their Eagle.  Because of his knowledge in dealing with the DAV, he began to dedicate his time to assist other disabled veterans with their benefits.  He also became an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution, as well as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. 

Visiting hours are Friday, April 7, 2023 from 5-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale. A graveside service will be held at Garden of Memories, Building 4, Washington Township at 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com 

Russell J. Chiandusse, 74, of Mahwah, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, March, 29, 2023. He is survived by his children, Jillane and Brian (Liz); sister, Jeanne Greco; grandchildren, Alexi, Nixon, Jovie, Pippa and Maddox; and nephews and niece, Kevin, Darren (Danielle) and Kim. He was predeceased by his parents
Joseph and Lillian and his brother Joseph “Butch”.

Russell had owned and operated the IHOP Restaurant in Ramsey for 23 years. Prior to that he owned Carvel in Ramsey and was an executive at Volvo in Rockleigh. He was a loyal Yankees fan and loved animals, especially his cherished pets Sandy, Puppy and Kitty.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 2, 2023 from 2-5 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale. A
Funeral Service will be held Monday, April 3, 2023 at 11 AM at the funeral home with interment to
follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Sylvia M. Donato, a 57 year resident of Tappan, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2023 with her family at her side.   Sylvia was born on December 7, 1935 in the Bronx NY to Sylvio and Angelina (Tirella) Toriello where she attended Evander Childs High School.   She married Mario J. Donato on September 8, 1957 at Our Lady of Grace Church in the Bronx.  

Sylvia was a shipping clerk for a local textile company while her children were in school, and then an account manager at several insurance companies.  She was the center of her large boisterous Italian family, and loved nothing more than being surrounded by her family and friends.    She was manager, historian, and repository of all family information and will be sorely missed.   Sylvia was a member of the Altar Rosary Society and a communicant at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church in Tappan.

Sylvia was pre-deceased by Mario, her husband of 63 years, in July 2020.   She is also pre-deceased by her brother Peter Toriello.   She is survived by her son Mario J. Donato, Jr. (Melissa) and daughter Stephanie Donato Gaba (Stephen), granddaughters Christine, Juliet and Mia, her sister  Patricia Cipollaro, sister-in-law Judee Toriello, and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting will be held from 4 pm to 8 pm at Pizzi Funeral Home,  120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ 07647 on Thursday March 30, 2023.  A Mass of Christian burial will held at 10 am at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, 120 Kings Highway, Tappan, NY 10983 on Friday, March 31, 2023.  

Noel C. O’Malley, 55, of Harrington Park, formerly of Inagh, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. 

He was the beloved husband of Eileen “Biddy” O’Malley (nee Campbell). Proud and devoted father of Emma. Cherished son of Peter and Peg O’Malley,  brother of Peter, his wife Aoife,  Marie and her fiancé Brendan Boyle. Predeceased by his brother David. 

Also survived by many other loving relatives and friends.  

A beautiful tribute to Noel written by the food editor of NorthJersey.com, Esther Davidowitz, can be viewed through the link below:

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2023/03/21/noel-omalley-biddy-omalleys-irish-gastropub-owner-dies/70034013007/

Visiting hours are Friday, March 31, 2023 from 5-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, Northvale.

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

https://boxcast.tv/channel/noel-c-omalley-funeral-mass-jiffrcgcpzi6mfkszrt4

In lieu of flowers, donations in Noel’s memory may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Gertrude Kersting (nee LeCount), 99, of Dumont, NJ, formerly of the Bronx, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Joseph Kersting, Sr. Loving mother of Joseph Kersting, Jr. and his wife Margaret, Irene Delalla and her husband Paul and Kevin Kersting. She was the proud and cherished grandmother of eleven grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Dearest sister of the late John, William and Warren.

Gertrude was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a secretary for many years in Englewood and was reportedly the first female bank teller in the United States during WWII.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale, NJ with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Calvary Hospice, www.calvaryhospice.org, would be greatly appreciated.