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January 18, 2010
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from 10 to 11 AM. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM at the funeral home, immediately following the visiting hours.
Joseph Riggi, age 87 of Wayne, and formerly of West Paterson, died on January 18, 2010. Joe was born and raised in Garfield, NJ and attended Garfield High School.
Joe was one of seven children and at the age of fifteen he left school to help support his family. He took his first job at the American Clothing Co. in Clifton where he was a sewing machine operator, making men’s suit jackets and overcoats.
In 1942, Joe entered the US Army and proudly served throughout the European Theatre, including the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. He was a skilled radio operator and fluent in Morse Code. His experience in Europe included liberating a concentration camp and those memories and images haunted him for the rest of his life. After the war, Joe remained active with the Catholic War Veterans in Garfield for many years.
After being discharged, Joe returned home to find his sweetheart still waiting for him. Emma and Joe had met while working together at the American Clothing Company before he joined the Army. They were married in 1946 and enjoyed sixty years together before Emma passed away in 2006. She had stood by his side, through thick and thin, supporting him and working together throughout their marriage. In the early 1960’s they started a business together; Emma Sportswear, manufacturing clothing in Paterson. Later, Joe started J&H Fashions in Jersey City. He ran that company until his retirement in 1977.
Joe was very handy and during his retirement he loved to do woodworking projects and home improvements. His family believes he missed his calling because his work was so good. Projects ranged from simple birdhouses to furniture and on one occasion, his family surprised him with a table saw, which he had been wanting for a long time. The plan, of course, was for that table saw to help him craft even better projects. But the table saw had different plans and soon took off one of his fingers. With that lesson behind him, he continued to turn out handcrafted treasures for his friends and family throughout his retirement.
Joe is survived by his loving daughter, Judy Poultney and her husband Jim of Wayne, one granddaughter; Michele Poultney of Wayne, and his dear niece Arlene MacAllen and her husband Thomas of Ringwood. He was predeceased by his devoted bride of sixty years; Emma and all six of his brothers and sisters.
As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
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 Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from 10 to 11 AM. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM at the funeral home, immediately following the visiting hours.
January 18, 2010
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from 10 to 11 AM. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM at the funeral home, immediately following the visiting hours.
Joseph Riggi, age 87 of Wayne, and formerly of West Paterson, died on January 18, 2010. Joe was born and raised in Garfield, NJ and attended Garfield High School.
Joe was one of seven children and at the age of fifteen he left school to help support his family. He took his first job at the American Clothing Co. in Clifton where he was a sewing machine operator, making men’s suit jackets and overcoats.
In 1942, Joe entered the US Army and proudly served throughout the European Theatre, including the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. He was a skilled radio operator and fluent in Morse Code. His experience in Europe included liberating a concentration camp and those memories and images haunted him for the rest of his life. After the war, Joe remained active with the Catholic War Veterans in Garfield for many years.
After being discharged, Joe returned home to find his sweetheart still waiting for him. Emma and Joe had met while working together at the American Clothing Company before he joined the Army. They were married in 1946 and enjoyed sixty years together before Emma passed away in 2006. She had stood by his side, through thick and thin, supporting him and working together throughout their marriage. In the early 1960’s they started a business together; Emma Sportswear, manufacturing clothing in Paterson. Later, Joe started J&H Fashions in Jersey City. He ran that company until his retirement in 1977.
Joe was very handy and during his retirement he loved to do woodworking projects and home improvements. His family believes he missed his calling because his work was so good. Projects ranged from simple birdhouses to furniture and on one occasion, his family surprised him with a table saw, which he had been wanting for a long time. The plan, of course, was for that table saw to help him craft even better projects. But the table saw had different plans and soon took off one of his fingers. With that lesson behind him, he continued to turn out handcrafted treasures for his friends and family throughout his retirement.
Joe is survived by his loving daughter, Judy Poultney and her husband Jim of Wayne, one granddaughter; Michele Poultney of Wayne, and his dear niece Arlene MacAllen and her husband Thomas of Ringwood. He was predeceased by his devoted bride of sixty years; Emma and all six of his brothers and sisters.
As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
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