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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, October 30, 2016 from 2-6 PM.
A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery, Paramus.
James De Lisa, Sr., age 89 of Wayne, died Thursday, October 27, 2016.
Jim grew up on Staten Island where he was raised by his grandmother. Growing up in the aftermath of the Great Depression made for some hard times and as if that wasn’t enough, Jim lost his father when he was just four years old, followed by the loss of his brother at age twelve. He was certainly no stranger to heartache, but along with his sister Catherine, they persevered through all those desperate times and he developed a positive attitude that not only allowed him to survive those challenges, but he went on to thrive.
He founded MSO Furniture and North Carolina Direct, which eventually had stores in Fairfield and Wayne. Jim built the business up from the bottom and ran it for more than twenty five years. He taught his sons to treat every customer right because they are all friends and neighbors in the community. This attitude towards his customers helped him to succeed. He also had a charismatic manner that endeared him to many. He made everyone around him feel special, was generous to a fault, and helped anyone who asked.
Although his dedication to his business kept him at the office day and night, he always found time to visit the ponies at the Meadowlands Pegasus race track, always bringing friends and family. He enjoyed celebrity status and everyone knew him well. He liked being the center of attention, wherever he went. He had a humorous personality, and was also good hearted, which all added up to make for a very likable guy. Lucy Cannon sure thought so, and they married on August 19, 1962 and have enjoyed fifty four years together, with rarely a dull moment. On just two occasions, Jim took a vacation! Of course, they were not ordinary vacations. He loved his family so much that he took them all with him! And flying was not an option for him either, so he rented a luxury bus to Virginia Beach in 1999, and then to Disney World in 2002. These trips made for some of the most wonderful memories with Jim that his family will cherish for years and years.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Lucy (Cannon) of Wayne, six children; Michele Sotelo and her husband Tim of Brick, NJ, James De Lisa, Jr. of Wayne, NJ, Christopher De Lisa and his wife Fiorella of Wayne, NJ, John De Lisa of Staten Island, NY, Valentina De Lisa of Staten Island, NY, Kathryn Medinets her husband David of Virginia, seventeen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters; Diane D’Aries and Christina Duess, as well as his sister Catherine Iosue.
Donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.com
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, October 30, 2016 from 2-6 PM.
A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery, Paramus.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, October 30, 2016 from 2-6 PM.
A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery, Paramus.
James De Lisa, Sr., age 89 of Wayne, died Thursday, October 27, 2016.
Jim grew up on Staten Island where he was raised by his grandmother. Growing up in the aftermath of the Great Depression made for some hard times and as if that wasn’t enough, Jim lost his father when he was just four years old, followed by the loss of his brother at age twelve. He was certainly no stranger to heartache, but along with his sister Catherine, they persevered through all those desperate times and he developed a positive attitude that not only allowed him to survive those challenges, but he went on to thrive.
He founded MSO Furniture and North Carolina Direct, which eventually had stores in Fairfield and Wayne. Jim built the business up from the bottom and ran it for more than twenty five years. He taught his sons to treat every customer right because they are all friends and neighbors in the community. This attitude towards his customers helped him to succeed. He also had a charismatic manner that endeared him to many. He made everyone around him feel special, was generous to a fault, and helped anyone who asked.
Although his dedication to his business kept him at the office day and night, he always found time to visit the ponies at the Meadowlands Pegasus race track, always bringing friends and family. He enjoyed celebrity status and everyone knew him well. He liked being the center of attention, wherever he went. He had a humorous personality, and was also good hearted, which all added up to make for a very likable guy. Lucy Cannon sure thought so, and they married on August 19, 1962 and have enjoyed fifty four years together, with rarely a dull moment. On just two occasions, Jim took a vacation! Of course, they were not ordinary vacations. He loved his family so much that he took them all with him! And flying was not an option for him either, so he rented a luxury bus to Virginia Beach in 1999, and then to Disney World in 2002. These trips made for some of the most wonderful memories with Jim that his family will cherish for years and years.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Lucy (Cannon) of Wayne, six children; Michele Sotelo and her husband Tim of Brick, NJ, James De Lisa, Jr. of Wayne, NJ, Christopher De Lisa and his wife Fiorella of Wayne, NJ, John De Lisa of Staten Island, NY, Valentina De Lisa of Staten Island, NY, Kathryn Medinets her husband David of Virginia, seventeen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters; Diane D’Aries and Christina Duess, as well as his sister Catherine Iosue.
Donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.com
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