Nicholas Verrone

Nicholas Verrone, age 80 of Wayne, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.  He has lived in Wayne since 1973.

Nick had been a mechanic with Leschell Buick in Paterson for many years before joining ETD Tire, retiring many years ago.

Nick grew up in Casa del Conte, Italy and came to America when he was just fifteen years old, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean with his mother. His father and brothers had arrived to America about a year earlier to secure work and prepare a home. Nick went on to graduate from Paterson Tech High School where he learned to be an auto mechanic. He began working at a gas station in Clifton, where he had the good fortune to meet Joan Saurmilch and their romance blossomed. Before long though, the U.S. Army decided they had other plans for him, and he was drafted into the Army. He ended up being sent to serve in Alaska, which was a far cry from anything he had experienced in Italy or New Jersey. Joan kept herself busy at home knitting warm garments for him and she would send regular care packages to Alaska, along with an exchange of love notes to each other. Upon his return from the Army, Nick wasted no time proposing to Joan and then were married on September 18, 1966. A memorable honeymoon to Bermuda followed, and they settled down in Paterson.  In 1973, they bought a home in Wayne and began to raise their family. They enjoyed nearly fifty years together before Joan passed away in 2015. Nick has missed her terribly ever since.

Nick especially enjoyed gardening and always had a bumper-crop of tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini, just to name a few. He was very proud of the produce he pulled from his garden, and he often shared his excess. He also enjoyed playing poker, playing the lottery, and watching soccer. He was also a loyal fan to the NY METS. Nick was a family man at heart and took his family on regular summer vacations to the Jersey Shore, skiing at Hunter Mountain in Upstate New York, and his idea of ‘educational vacations’ to places like Colonial Williamsburg. They all made wonderful memories together on those trips. Later in life, Nick was happiest when spending time with his grandchildren. They are his pride and joy and he loves them all dearly. They will all miss him very much.

Nick is survived by his two children; Linda Bonilla and her husbnd Adam of Wayne, Mark Verrone and his wife Christine of Kennesaw, Georgia, four grandchildren; Cayla Verrone and her husband Paul DeMerritt, Jenna Verrone, Nicholas Bonilla and A.J. Bonilla, one brother; Anthony Verrone of Randolph, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife Joan in 2015, by his brother Emilio in 2018.

Donations in Nick’s memory would be appreciated to the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474.