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July 3, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with Christopher’s family on Monday, July 8, 2013, 9:00 – 11:30 AM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. A Funeral Service will follow and begin at 11:30 AM.
Christopher Robert Breen-Stivala, age 22, died suddenly on Wednesday, July 3, 2013.
Chris, or “Breen” as he was known to many of his friends, was born in Raritan Township and lived his entire life in Wayne. He attended Theunis Dey Elementary School, Schuyler Colfax Middle School and following graduation from Wayne Hills High School in 2009, Chris attended the County College of Morris.
Chris was raised by his grandparents, Paul and Sandy Breen. He loved to go down the shore with his Grandma to her sister’s house in Seaside Heights. They would leave on a Sunday and often stay down until the following Friday. If he wasn’t down in Seaside with Grandma, he was in Wildwood with his Uncle Bobby and Aunt Liz Breen or “up country” as Chris called the Catskills with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Paul and the Pinand cousins. Together they enjoyed off-roading, spending time staring at a late-night fire and going deer riding. It was “up-country” where Chris saw his first bear! Uncle Bobby was also Chris’ Godfather so one time Bob kiddingly suggested that Chris drop the “father” and just call him God. Chris liked that and he even had Uncle Bobby’s cell number in his phone listed under “G” for God.
Chris’ mom Tracey Breen died when Chris was just a real little boy. He visited frequently with his father and step-mother Mark and Joan Stivala. Together, they vacationed in Florida and Ocean City and, when Chris was older, he visited them in Texas.
Chris was enthusiastically involved in and was a member of the Wayne PAL wrestling team from second through eighth grade where he took third place in the Passaic County Senior Wrestling Tournament. He also loved roller hockey and was a member of the Wayne Boys & Girls Club roller hockey team from third through eighth grade. Chris loved to go snow-boarding at Mountain Creek in Vernon, skate-boarding just about anywhere, or just staying home playing games on his Xbox or Wii. Chris had one other intriguing interest…..he loved penguins, and, since the real ones were in short supply for a boy growing up in Wayne, his Grandma Sandy was more than happy to satisfy Chris’ fascination with those little creatures by giving them to him for his birthday or Christmas or just because she wanted to.
Chris will be forever missed and fondly remembered as the guy who was always fun to be with. His great sense of humor and penchant for playing pranks endeared him to both young and old.
Chris is survived by his grandparents, Paul and Sandy Breen of Wayne, his father Mark Stivala of Fort Worth, TX, his step-mother Joan Stivala, his grandmother Shirley Stivala, his three siblings: Neil, Kyle, and Jamie; his Uncle Bobby and Aunt Liz Breen, his Aunt Debbie and Uncle Paul Pinand; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was predeceased by his mother Tracey Breen and his grandfather Sebastian Joseph Stivala.
In lieu of flowers and as an expression of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Chris’ memory to a charity of your choice.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with Christopher’s family on Monday, July 8, 2013, 9:00 – 11:30 AM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. A Funeral Service will follow and begin at 11:30 AM.
July 3, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with Christopher’s family on Monday, July 8, 2013, 9:00 – 11:30 AM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. A Funeral Service will follow and begin at 11:30 AM.
Christopher Robert Breen-Stivala, age 22, died suddenly on Wednesday, July 3, 2013.
Chris, or “Breen” as he was known to many of his friends, was born in Raritan Township and lived his entire life in Wayne. He attended Theunis Dey Elementary School, Schuyler Colfax Middle School and following graduation from Wayne Hills High School in 2009, Chris attended the County College of Morris.
Chris was raised by his grandparents, Paul and Sandy Breen. He loved to go down the shore with his Grandma to her sister’s house in Seaside Heights. They would leave on a Sunday and often stay down until the following Friday. If he wasn’t down in Seaside with Grandma, he was in Wildwood with his Uncle Bobby and Aunt Liz Breen or “up country” as Chris called the Catskills with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Paul and the Pinand cousins. Together they enjoyed off-roading, spending time staring at a late-night fire and going deer riding. It was “up-country” where Chris saw his first bear! Uncle Bobby was also Chris’ Godfather so one time Bob kiddingly suggested that Chris drop the “father” and just call him God. Chris liked that and he even had Uncle Bobby’s cell number in his phone listed under “G” for God.
Chris’ mom Tracey Breen died when Chris was just a real little boy. He visited frequently with his father and step-mother Mark and Joan Stivala. Together, they vacationed in Florida and Ocean City and, when Chris was older, he visited them in Texas.
Chris was enthusiastically involved in and was a member of the Wayne PAL wrestling team from second through eighth grade where he took third place in the Passaic County Senior Wrestling Tournament. He also loved roller hockey and was a member of the Wayne Boys & Girls Club roller hockey team from third through eighth grade. Chris loved to go snow-boarding at Mountain Creek in Vernon, skate-boarding just about anywhere, or just staying home playing games on his Xbox or Wii. Chris had one other intriguing interest…..he loved penguins, and, since the real ones were in short supply for a boy growing up in Wayne, his Grandma Sandy was more than happy to satisfy Chris’ fascination with those little creatures by giving them to him for his birthday or Christmas or just because she wanted to.
Chris will be forever missed and fondly remembered as the guy who was always fun to be with. His great sense of humor and penchant for playing pranks endeared him to both young and old.
Chris is survived by his grandparents, Paul and Sandy Breen of Wayne, his father Mark Stivala of Fort Worth, TX, his step-mother Joan Stivala, his grandmother Shirley Stivala, his three siblings: Neil, Kyle, and Jamie; his Uncle Bobby and Aunt Liz Breen, his Aunt Debbie and Uncle Paul Pinand; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was predeceased by his mother Tracey Breen and his grandfather Sebastian Joseph Stivala.
In lieu of flowers and as an expression of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Chris’ memory to a charity of your choice.
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