Joseph Giarnella, 56, of Stony Point, passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2013.  He was the cherished father of Jennifer, Talia and Victoria Giarnella.  Beloved son of Ralph and Kathleen Giarnella.  Loving brother of Donna Orecchio and Kathy and Randy Pioli.  Dear ex-husband of Tracey Giarnella, mother of Talia and Victoria.  Loving uncle of Adam and Michael Orecchio and Lea and Carly Marshiano.  Joseph owned J. Giarnella and Son, a construction company in the Bronx.  Although taken from us too soon, the time he spent with us was full of love for his family, friends, and the great outdoors.

Wake hours are Monday 2-4 and 6-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday at 10:00 AM at St.Anthony’s RC Church in Nanuet.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to benefit the college education of the Giarnella children, in care of Kathy Pioli.    

   www.pizzifuneralhome.com

  Kathryn Koch (nee Ruff), 98, died peacefully at home in Old Tappan, NJ on Wednesday, December 4, 2013.  Widow of Henry who passed away in 1993, she was a former NJ public school teacher at Thomas Jefferson School in Northvale and a founding member of the Rosary Society of St. Pius X Church in Old Tappan.

  She is survived by a daughter, Sr. Charlotte Koch, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace of Haverstraw, NY,  and a son, Robert Henry Koch of Old Tappan and two beloved grandchildren, Allison and David.  In addition, she is survived by two siblings, Anne Schiebel of West New York, and Sr. Barbara Anne Ruff of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Peekskill, NY.

  She is also survived by numerous treasured nieces and nephews.

  The Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, December 7^th at 10:30 AM at St. Pius X RC Church, Old Tappan with interment to follow at Old Tappan Cemetery.  Visiting hours will be at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale on Friday, December 6^th from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.

Beatrice Perez (née MacDonald), 97, of Norwood, passed away at home on Thursday, November 28, 2013. The cherished daughter of the late Andrew and Helen (née MacLellan) MacDonald and predeceased by her dearest sisters Gertrude Wilson and Doris MacDonald. 

Beloved wife of the late Julio A. Perez. Loving mother of Andrew J. Perez of Seattle, Washington, Betsy Bieler of Glendale, New York, Julie Perez of Norwood and Stephen J. Perez of Norwood. Beloved mother-in-law of Christopher Bieler and Georgia Slakey Perez. Cherished grandmother of Sara Bieler and Julien Bieler. Dearest aunt of Barbara Wilson of Riverdale, New York, and two generations of the Perez family in New York and Virginia. Matriarch to four generations of the beloved descendants of Emmanuel and Mariah MacLellan of Indian River, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Before retiring at the age of 65, Beatrice worked for many years as a marine lighting designer for Gibbs & Cox, Marine Architects, of New York, in service to the United States Navy during World War II and to the design of the S.S. United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. An avid and lifelong lover of books, she enjoyed spending time at the Norwood Library and also belonged to the Book Club.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at 10:00 A.M. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Norwood, with interment to follow at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. Visiting hours are on Monday, December 2, 2013, from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. at the Anthony R. Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

   www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Genevieve “Jenny” McDowell (nee Cona), of Old Tappan, NJ, formerly of Pearl River, passed away at home on Friday, November 29, 2013.  Beloved wife of David.  Devoted mother of Anthony Schmerler of Haverstraw, Gary Schmerler of Pearl River and Mary Beyer and her husband Michael of Old Tappan.  Adored grandmother of Nicole and Brooke.  Dearest sister of Michael Cona of FL and the late Marie Cona. 

  Jenny was a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern for many years.  She then worked for Sony in Park Ridge, NJ where she retired as an executive secretary.  She belonged to the Romanesque Lodge in Blauvelt and taught religious education at St. Margaret’s RC Church in Pearl River where she was a parishioner.

   A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Dec 4 at 9:30 AM at St. Pius X RC Church, Old Tappan with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill.  Visiting hours are Tuesday 5-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

   www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Celia Verra(nee DeMarco), 91, of Palisades, NY, formerly of Flushing, NY, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2013.  Beloved wife of the late Gaetano Verra.  Cherished mother of Mary Ann Miller of Northvale and James Verra and his wife Shay of Strafford, NH.  Adored grandmother of Erika Miller and her husband Scott Douglass of Washington DC, Guy Robert Verra and his wife Julie of Somersworth, NH and the late Braden James Verra.  Loving great-grandmother of Gina, Mikayla, Jennica and Braden.

Celia will be remembered for her soft shoulder, listening ear and keen eye for fashion.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart RC Church, Tappan, NY with interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Flushing.  Visiting hours are Monday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

Memorial donations to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org would be greatly appreciated.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Flora Albanese(nee Menti), 85, of Northvale died on Friday, November 22, 2013. Born in Newark, Flora was a lifelong resident of Northvale. She leaves behind her loving husband Joseph and their daughters and son-in-laws, Marianne and Mike DiLuzio of Tappan, Kathleen and Robert Miller of Tappan, Denise and Robert Wagner of River Vale and Linda and Kenneth Kraus of River Vale. Flora has nine grandchildren, Melissa, Kristina, Jenna, Andrew, Joseph, Eric, Michael, Olivia and Lauren and one surviving brother, Peter Menti of Bayonet Point, FL who, along with the rest of her family, friends and lifelong neighbors, feel her absence deeply.

Predeceased by her parents Anthony and Josephine Menti , her brother, Robert Menti and sister, Teresa Menti.  After the untimely deaths of her parents, Flora was adopted by her step parents Guido and Angelina Sterchele, both deceased.  Her step brothers were Romeo, Alchede and Fulvio Sterchele, also all deceased.

Flora worked as a telephone operator in New York City until she became a wife and mother.  She was a generous woman who lived a happy life until her last day. Flora was an active parishioner of St. Anthony’s RC Church.  She loved to read, crochet and of course, to cook and bake.  The stomachs of everyone she knew will ache without her food, but their hearts ache even more without her radiant warmth.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday 9:30 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.  Visiting hours are Monday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Anthony’s Church, 199 Walnut St., Northvale, NJ 07647.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

  Robert E. McLeester, 86, of Westfield, formerly of Northvale, passed away on Friday, November 22, 2013.  Beloved husband of Triny (nee Naranjo).  Loving father of Kenneth and his wife Debra of Clark and Douglas and his wife Carmen of Flemington.  Adored grandfather of Alec and Luke. Dear brother of the late William, Marion and Dorothy.

  Robert was a US Army Veteran, and a graduate of Syracuse University.  He was a career journalist and retired from American Color in Hackensack as Editor.  In his spare time, he was a journalist and photographer of HS athletic events for several Bergen county newspapers.  While in Northvale he was a parishioner of St. Anthony’s RC Church and was a member of the Parish Council, Choir and the President of the St. Anthony’s School Parent’s Guild.  After moving to Westfield he became a parishioner of St. Helen’s RC Church and joined the Choir there as well.  His hobbies included singing, photography, bowling and watching his favorite sports teams the NY Giants, both football and baseball, as well as the NY Mets.  He also enjoyed his time with the Maplewood Glee Club.

   A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday 12 Noon at St. Anthony’s Church, Northvale with interment to follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.  Visiting hours are Monday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org would be greatly appreciated.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Thelma Russ (nee Cullum), 92, of Old Tappan, passed away on Friday, November 22, 2013.  Beloved wife of the late William Russ.  Devoted mother of Kevin Russ of Old Tappan and the late Barbara Lynn Russ.  Also survived by her sister Frankie Hooshagen.  A Funeral Service will be held Sunday 2:00 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.  Visitiation will begin at 1:30.

   www.pizzifuneralhome.com

  Robert C. Planz, 88, of River Vale, formerly of Harrington Park, passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.  He was born in the Village of Port Chester, New York on June 10, 1925 to Charles Christian and Alice (Deutsch) Planz.  Robert married Josephine Marie Terp on November 7, 1948. Beloved husband of Josephine (nee Terp).  Devoted father of Denise Katherine Cornell and her husband John of Stony Brook, N.Y.  and Suzette Alice McKeon and her husband Kevin of Stony Point, N.Y.  Cherished grandfather of John Christopher and Robert Charles Cornell and Kevin Patrick and Mathew Andrew McKeon.

  Mr. Planz was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII.  Before retiring he was president of Opti-Wright, a manufacturing company of West Warren, MA.  Upon retirement he volunteered at Pascack Valley Hospital and was treasurer of the gift shop and was president of Holiday Farms Condominiums for eleven years.  Robert was a member of the Harrington Park American Legion Post 30.  In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, golf, target shooting, and stamp and coin collecting.

   A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday 10:00 AM at Immaculate Conception RC Church, Norwood with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.  Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

   www.pizzifuneralhome.com

   Richard J. Nelson, 81, of Manahawkin and Hollywood, FL, formerly of Northvale, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2013.  Beloved husband of Ann (nee Provitera).  Devoted father of Ricky Nelson of Clifton, Tracey Ferraro and her husband Christopher of Northvale and Christopher Nelson and his wife Maryann of Oradell.  Cherished grandfather of Sean, Christopher, Chelsea, Jamie, Olivia, Sophia and Christopher.

   Mr. Nelson was a US Navy Korean War Veteran.  Before retiring he worked for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 52 in NYC for many years.  Besides the love of his family, Richard enjoyed spending his time by the water, fishing, playing cards and especially loved gardening.  He will be dearly missed.

   A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday 11:00 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale.  Visiting hours are Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale.

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

   www.pizzifuneralhome.com