Obituary of Thomas V. Colapietro

Toms River - Thomas V. Colapietro, 87, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. Born and Raised in Westfield to the late Carmine and Rose, he married and moved to Plainfield in 1952. He and his wife later settled to Silver Ridge Park - North in Toms River over 25 years ago where he was a well-known and active member of the community. A proud veteran of the United States Army, Thomas served during WWII in the 83 Infantry Division and was awarded the Purple Heart for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge. He was later stationed in Paris prior to his honorable discharge. He retired from Bell Labs in 1998, where he worked as a Carpenter, a skilled trade he learned early in life from his wife's father. Tom was a long time member of St Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Toms River where he served as an usher. Predeceased by his siblings; Rae Clevenger, Mary Colapietro, and James, surviving are his beloved wife of 65 years, Mary Otranto, daughter; Cynthia Severino and her husband Ronald of South Plainfield, son; Thomas C. Colapietro and his wife Jacqueline, and sisters; Christine Materia and Madeline Aryes. Also surviving are two granddaughters and their husbands; Alyson and Scott Oller and BethAnn and Brian DeGeronimo and six great grandchildren. Funeral services will begin on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 9:15 AM in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield NJ 07080, a funeral mass will follow in Sacred Heart RC Church, South Plainfield at 10 AM. Interment will take place in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran Memorial Cemetery. Family and friends may attend the visitation hours on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 Union Street, Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691.