Joseph Hric

Joseph “Joe” Hric, age 80, of Newfoundland, passed Sunday, January 30, 2022.

He was born to Stephen and Anna Hric and spent his early childhood years in Passaic.  The family moved to Clifton where Joe attended both Junior and Senior High School having graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1959.

During his young years in Passaic, Joe was always looking to make a dollar and shined shoes at the local tavern and had a paper route for a while. In his teenage years, he worked in the kitchen at the Robin Hood Inn in Clifton where he did everything from making salads and deserts to washing dishes. For a time, he was the owner of the butcher shop he named Joe’s Place on Atlantic Street in Paterson. Eventually, he worked for the Bond Bread Company and had a route in Northern New Jersey including some of New York State.  He would recount about the time the “hippies were all over the road” while he was trying to deliver his bread…little did he know he was witness to all heading to Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music Festival was being held. He delivered to several summer camps as well and if he was late with his delivery he would get what he called the “Royal Raspberry” from the kids. In 1979, he bought a Wise Potato Chip route that covered the towns of East Orange, Newark, and Irvington. In 1996, he officially retired when he sold his route. That retirement lasted all of a couple months as his daughter Suzanne; who had followed in his footsteps with her own Wise route, was rear-ended by a stolen car while making her deliveries. Her truck was flipped as she was thrown from the vehicle.  Joe stepped in and took over the route while Suzanne recovered. That lasted for about a year when they sold the route. Joe was also proud to see his son Joseph get his own route as well.

Joe and Annette met during their high school years while attending Grace Church in Clifton. They hit it off great and it was love at first sight.  Joe and Annette started dating and got married shortly after Annette graduated high school on November 21, 1961.  Annette and Joe settled in Clifton and lived there for about four years.  The two then then moved to Lincoln Park.  While in Lincoln Park, Annette and Joe welcomed the births of their three children; Suzanne, Joseph, and Pamela.  Joseph and his family remained in Lincoln Park until 1981 when they moved to Kinnelon.  Annette, Joe, and their children remained there until 1998 when they moved to Newfoundland.  Joe and Annette have been in Newfoundland ever since.
 
Joe will be lovingly remembered for his calm, patient, and kind demeanor.  He was very handy and could fix just about anything.  He loved cooking and was making homemade sausage up until last week. He also made pierogi, stuffed cabbage, and even tried to make Gluten-free foods for his daughter-in-law Franci.  He also loved his vegetable garden and would grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, basil, strawberries, blueberries, and pears.  Joe was also a dog lover and his Doberman Pinscher “Sam” loved him dearly and was always protective of Joe. Joe also loved his grand-dog “Bella.”

Joe was the loving husband of the late Annette Hric (d. June 2021); beloved father of Pamela Hric, Joseph Hric and his wife Franci, and Suzanne Hasten and her husband Jim; he was the cherished grandfather (aka "Poppy") of Denise Meeker and her husband Bobby, Ginnette Hric and her fiancé Jason, Joseph Anthony Hric, and Jack Myles Hric; he was the loved brother of the late John Hric and the late Stephen Hric.