Archives for May 2020

Samuel J. Milano, Jr., 83 of Cresskill, NJ passed away on May 5, 2020 after a brief illness. Sam was a warm hearted and gentle man who was an avid walker and a hard worker his entire life. He was born on January 13, 1937, Newark, NJ and was the cherished son of the late Sam and Marie Milano and brother of the late Rosemarie Milano. Sam spent his formative years in the Ironbound section of Newark, NJ and later moved to Kearny, NJ where he was a longtime resident, followed by Belleville, NJ and most recently Sunrise of Cresskill.

Sam worked at Westinghouse in Newark, NJ for over 20 years. He is survived by his cousins Mr. Joseph Policastro, Toms River, NJ, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Paglia, Belleville, NJ, Mr. and Mrs. George Paglia, Nutley, NJ, as well as many extended family members.  

Sam will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ and his burial will be private. Funeral arrangements were coordinated by Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Edith Gregory (nee Aird), 93, of Old Tappan, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Beloved wife of the late John. Devoted mother of James and wife Laurie, Karen Kierce and husband Roger, Patricia Carroll and husband William, John and wife Theresa and Daniel. Cherished grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of 5. Dearest sister of Nancy Prescott.

Edith was a graduate of Teaneck High School in 1944. She was a manager at Bank of NY in Norwood.

Funeral services were private.

Arrangements Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale, NJ.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Diones B. Castillo, 80, of the Bronx, formerly of Manhattan, passed away at home on Friday, May 1, 2020. Beloved husband of Milagros Castillo (nee Paulino). Proud father of Lilia Gomez and husband Ramon, Leslie Zakian and husband Scott, Diones Castillo Jr. and wife Claudia, David Castillo and wife Jamie, Carolynn Kolinsky and husband Jason and Abby Paulino. Adored grandfather and great-grandfather. Loving brother of Milciades and Magaly and was predeceased by 13 brothers and sisters. Also survived by many nieces and nephews and other loving relatives and friends.

Diones worked for the House of Heydenryk in NYC, where he specialized in gold-leaf art frames. He loved to dance, cheer the NY Yankees, and play dominoes and cards. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Although the funeral service is private, those who wish may view online on Tuesday at 3PM at the following link:

https://boxcast.tv/channel/pizzi-funeral-home-diones-castillo-funeral-service-220227

Donations in Diones’ memory may be made to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org.

Arrangements by Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale, NJ.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Kathleen M. Gysin (nee McCullough), 81, of Norwood, formerly of Ridgefield, passed away at home on Friday, May 1, 2020. Beloved wife of the late Charles. Cherished mother of Thomas and his companion Emily Diguglielmo of Fair Lawn, Christopher and wife Christine of Waldwick and Laura Cooper and husband Kelly of Fort Lee. Adored grandmother of Timothy, Matthew, Megan and Nicole. Loving sister of Joan Currid and husband Michael  and the late Arthur. Dear sister-in-law of Janice McCullough, Frederick Gysin and the late Frances Gysin and the late Arlene Donaghue.

Kathleen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  She was a crossing guard in Englewood Cliffs for many years before becoming an office manager at George H. Swatek, Inc. in Ridgefield until she retired. Kathleen also enjoyed volunteering her time at Englewood Hospital.

A Memorial Mass to celebrate Kathleen’s life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Following a brief illness, Lurline S. Jacobsen (nee Seelig), 93, of Monroe Township, NJ, formerly of Northvale, NJ, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.  She was the oldest daughter of the late Arthur F Seelig and the late Olga Rose Russo.  Lurline graduated in 1944 from Matawan High School.  Interestingly, Lurline was named after a cruise ship, the SS Lurline, as her father knew the captain.  This may be where her future love for cruising began.  

Beloved wife of the late Joseph.  Loving mother of Barry and his fiancé Debbie Sills and Cheryl Blum and her husband Steven. Adored grandmother of Brandon, Christopher, Lori, Wendy, Stephanie, Jeffrey, and the late Kevin. Dearest sister of Joan Thompson, Barbara Clause and the late Arthur Seelig, Jr.  Lurline will be missed by a large number of nieces and nephews and cousins

Following secretarial training, Lurline had an exalted career as an executive secretary initially working in New York City for Sinclair Oil Company and later while raising her family, she was employed as the Superintendent’s secretary at the Northvale Public Schools.  Lurline continued to work through her 70s in similar positions at Volvo of America and MEM in Northvale.

Lurline was an adventurous traveler from an early age.  She was 19 years old when she took a solo trip, by train, crossing the United States to visit relatives in California.  A trip few young women in the 1940s would have taken alone.  In later life she fulfilled her life-long dream to travel and, in particular, to take cruises all around the world.  In 1993, at the age of 67 she embarked on an even longer solo trip to visit her pen pal of over 60 years, who lived in New Zealand.

Lurline’s host of riveting stories were shared endlessly with friends and family, including her varied travels around the world.   She will be missed dearly.

Funeral services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The National Kidney Foundation.

Arrangements by Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale, NJ

pizzifuneralhome.com