John Chirichella

John J. Chirichella, age 92, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 8, 2019 while receiving the loving care of his family and caregivers.

John was born and raised in Hoboken, NJ and was one of two children to Anthony and Margaret Chirichella.  John attended Hoboken High School where he was a talented member of the Roller Skating Club.  Following his graduation from high school with the class of 1944, John attended Pace University in New York for a few semesters.  John put his education on hold and was offered a position as a Union Truck Driver with Cochran Trucking located in Hoboken.  John remained as a truck driver working for two other companies over the next 40 years before retiring in 1986.  During his trucking career he was a member of the Teamsters Union Local 560.
Still able, willing, and eager to work, John then took a position with the Waldwick Board of Education where he worked in the custodial department.  John held this position until finally retiring in 1996.  

When John was just out of high school and while attending night classes at Pace, he took a job at Hostess Cupcakes.  While employed at Hostess Cupcakes, John met an attractive young woman, who was his co-worker, named Catherine Vangelakos.  John and Catherine hit it off great and dated for a few years.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on September 1, 1951.  After getting married, the couple settled in Hoboken where they welcomed the birth of the one and only child Katina.  A couple of years after Katina was born, the family moved to Wayne.  John and Catherine remained in Wayne and called it their home for the next fifty-nine years.  John and Catherine cherished an amazing sixty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage.

John was dedicated to his Catholic Faith.  He and Catherine were parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne for many years.  John was a kind and compassionate man who loved gardening, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and other various vegetables.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and was the kind of person you couldn’t help but like.  Aside from all of John’s interests and hobbies, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to John than providing for and spending time with his family.  John touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

John is survived by his wife Catherine (nee Vangelakos) of Wayne, one daughter Katina Britton of Lincoln Park, one grandson Michael Britton of Lincoln Park and many nieces and nephews.  John was predeceased by his sister Jessie Alfano.