John Joseph De Marzo Sr.

John Joseph De Marzo, Sr. Devoted Family Man and Lifelong New Jerseyan, Dies at 94

John De Marzo, a longtime resident of New Jersey, who later moved to Florida to be closer to family, died of natural causes on April 17, 2024 at the age of 94.

Mr. De Marzo was born in 1930 and grew up in Newark, as one of 8 siblings (all now deceased), where his mother was a homemaker and his father worked as a painter.  John joined the Navy at age 17 and served on the USS Orion, a submarine supply ship, where he gained experience running the ship's store and sent earnings home to help support his siblings.

Following his naval service, John worked for many years as a tireless truck driver and delivery man for Anheuser-Busch, navigating the narrow streets of Newark and other New Jersey cities  to supply local businesses. For a second job, he worked as a salesman for Kirby vacuums and also ran his own vacuum sales and repair shop in Hillside, New Jersey for many years.

In his personal life, John exemplified unwavering commitment both to his family and a deep Catholic faith. For over 55 years, he shared a loving marriage with his deceased wife, Connie. Together, they raised four children: Anne, John, Angelo, and the late Helena. Helena, who is survived by her husband,  George Rohal, was blessed with three children: Joseph, Christina, and Johnny.  Angelo, who wed his wife Sandra, went on to have two children: Michael and Lauren. John found great joy in spending time with his close-knit family. One of his most cherished dreams was fulfilled when all four of his children successfully pursued higher education.

After retiring, John remained active, playing golf, bocce ball, and even continuing his main passion, dancing, into his 90s.  Beloved among a group of lifelong friends, John and Connie were known for regularly getting together for monthly gatherings, where they would play cards and reminisce about their lives and children.

In his later years, John relocated to Delray Beach, Florida, accompanied by his son, John Jr., in order to be closer to his daughter, Anne. During this time, John Jr. remained a constant presence and provided care during the last several years of his life. Throughout this period, Anne frequently welcomed visiting family members who came to see John Sr.. In his home, he would be found captivating his visitors with stories from his long and eventful life.

Mr. De Marzo will be deeply missed by his loving family and many friends. His infectious and pervasive joy for life, ability to always live in the moment, tireless work ethic, and devotion to loved ones will long be remembered by all whose lives he touched.

There will be a funeral mass for John on Saturday, April 20th at 10 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Parish Church, 250 Bebout Avenue Stirling, NJ. 

To send flowers to the church the morning of the funeral, please contact Hall’s Florist of Berkeley Heights, NJ at 908-665-0331.

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