Rocco Pietro Venezia of Emerson, 93, formerly of Northvale, died peacefully at home surrounded by his children on Oct. 18, 2026.
Rocco was born and raised in Palisades Park, the fifth of nine children born to Rosina and Domenic Venezia. He met the love of his life, Maria, who lived around the block, and their romance blossomed into marriage.
He was a professional tile installer for most of his life, a trade that he treated like a form of art. Any drive with Rocco included him pointing out many homes and businesses where he had installed tile, particularly those with intricate designs.
He and Maria moved from Ridgefield to Northvale in 1966, where they became active in the community. Rocco was a long-time member of the Northvale Volunteer Fire Department and an active exempt member. He was a parishioner of St. Andrew’s R.C. Church in Westwood and formerly of St. Anthony’s R.C. Church in Northvale.
After retiring, he became the train engineer at Van Saun County Park, driving the “choo-choo” train for many happy children. He was also a beloved school crossing guard in Westwood for many years.
In his later years, “Pop-Pop” spent hours in his workshop, crafting an array of incredible projects. He built cradles, rocking horses and dollhouses for his grandchildren; a replica of the zoo train now displayed at the Bergen County Zoo; dozens of model trains, cars, planes and boats; and a large replica of St. Andrew’s Church in Westwood that is displayed there.
He transformed two go-carts into finely detailed replicas of fire trucks; both were driven in parades and ultimately donated to the New Jersey Firemen’s Museum in Boonton, NJ, where they are currently displayed. He also remodeled the antique tool room at the Ridgewood Schoolhouse Museum.
On any given day you could find Rocco fixing something or puttering around in the garage, working on some project or another. He had every tool or device you could imagine and a workbench that he built by hand. He could fix anything and seemed to have any part or material you needed.
Rocco enjoyed spending time at the Jersey shore, sitting outside his garage in Point Pleasant Beach (where he also had a workbench!) and listening to all types of music on one of his many radios.
Rocco could not sit still, likely from the countless cups of coffee he drank each day along with dozens of Werther’s caramel candies. He read the Bergen Record each morning and loved word search puzzles. He colored hundreds of mandalas; most were given to Meals on Wheels in New York City and delivered with daily lunches for the homebound.
Rocco never said good-bye without adding “Love You More” – and he truly loved so many people. He leaves behind a legacy made of simple but important things: the value of work done well, kindness as a way of life, family at the center, and community as the natural extension of home.
He is survived by his cherished children, Joyce Venezia Suss and husband Sherwin; Lisa Venezia Thomas and husband Charles; and Anthony Venezia and wife Tracy; his treasured grandchildren Jeanette (Matthew), Rebecca (Zach), Mollie, Nicholas, Elizabeth, and Robert; two great-grandchildren, June and his namesake Rocco; his sisters Aida and Marie; brother Pietro; sisters-in-law Angela, Carol, Barbara and Roberta; many nieces and nephews; Tracy’s children Shannon and Vivian; and many friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Maria; his cherished granddaughter Jacqueline; his sister Lucia; his brothers Michael, John, Nunzio and Frank; his Matera brothers and sisters in law Gennaro, Biagio, Joseph, Pasqualina and Joseph.
Visitation is Thursday, Oct. 22 from 4 to 8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave., Northvale (201-767-3050). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 AM at St. Andrew’s Church in Westwood, followed by entombment at Madonna Mausoleum in Fort Lee.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Northvale Volunteer Fire Department, 204 Washington St., Northvale, NJ 07647 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: www.StJude.org