Ralph C. Merola, 88, of Tappan, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. Cherished father of Charles A. Merola and wife Marirose of Manhasset and Denise Karamian and husband Ashot of Forest Hills. Adored grandfather of Danny, Lauren, Sara and Rebecca. He will be dearly missed by his loving partner Elizabeth Brown and her children, Stephanie Lauler of Palisades and John Harrington of Tappan. Dear brother of Michael of Floral Park and Alexander and his wife Carmelina of California. Also survived by the mother of his children, Theresa Merola of Howard Beach.
Mr. Merola worked in the garment industry in NYC for many years, retiring from House of Ronnie, Inc. as VP of Sales and Production.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 10:00 AM St. John’s RC Church, Piermont with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill. Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ (201-767-3050).
Those who wish may make donations in Ralph’s memory to the Weill Cornell Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program, 1305 York Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10021, www.weillcornell.org/gicancer.
www.pizzifuneralhome.com
Poppop,
There are not enough words to describe how much I love you and miss you. You have been my role model and the person that I look up to the most ever since I was a little girl. Whenever I was having a bad day and needed guidance, you were always the first person I would call. Thank you for all of the things you have done for me. Thank you for teaching me how to drive, going to visit colleges with me and driving me to school everyday. Thank you for loving me and encouraging me every single day of my life. But most importantly, thank you for being my biggest supporter and for always believing in me when no one else did. You are the best grandfather a girl could ever have and we will always have the strongest bond in the world that no one could ever understand. I will always cherish all of our memories that we have and there was a never a dull moment when I was with you. My favorite memory of us is when you would drive me to preschool. You would bring me to preschool every single morning and pick me up every afternoon. After picking me up, you would take me to go get pizza and that was our every day lunch date. Our lunch dates were great; however, the rides home were the absolute best. You would open the sun roof of your black Mercedes and let me stand out of it while driving and listening to music. Of course you made me get down after a few minutes but that is my favorite memory with you. I love you so much Pop, I know that you’re in a better place and that you will always watch over me to keep me in check like you have done all of my life. I will continue to make you proud and use everything that you have taught me to carry on your legacy. My anchor, my rock, my hero and now my guardian angel. I love you Poppop, forever and always.
Love your granddaughter,
Sara