Obituary of John R. Ruggieri

John R. Ruggieri, 96, of Whitehouse Station, NJ, passed peacefully on April 17 at home, surrounded by his loving family. The funeral service will be Thursday, 11:45 at Kearns Funeral Home, Old Highway 28, Whitehouse, NJ. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of the service. A private interment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union, NJ. Born in Ossington, N.Y. on June 8, 1915 and lived in Newark, N.J., John raised his family in Union, N.J. before moving to Whitehouse Station, N.J., 15 years ago. John was a commercial butcher for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company and a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1262 for 35 years. John was decorated Army Private First Class Veteran of World War II serving his country proudly in Italy, Sicily and Africa. He received the Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Service Medal. He was commander of the Sgt. Warren F. Connolly, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 26 and senior vice commander of the Essex County DAV Chapter. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years, Stella Jean and sisters, Louise Bartolotta, Anna Zito and Sarah Spano. He is survived by his daughters, Karen Ross and her husband, Ken, Kim Gajewski and her husband, Rick, grandson, Matthew Ross and granddaughter, Brittany Gajewski. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Hunterdon Helpline or Hunterdon Hospice.