Peter Critelli

Please note: The funeral mass has been MOVED to Our Lady of Good Counsel RC Church, 155 West Parkway, Pompton Plains, NJ.  Dates and times are unchanged.

Peter P. Critelli, 77 of Kinnelon, died on July 4, 2019.  He had been a resident of Kinnelon for forty years.

Pete was the owner and president of Epec Sales, Inc. and was a sales representative for many industrial component manufacturers.  He started Epec Sales in 1968 and has operated the business himself for more than fifty years.

Pete grew up in Jersey City and moved to Lyndhurst at age twelve.  He graduated from Lyndhurst High School with the class of 1959 and has remained close with many of his classmates.  As a young boy, he was intrigued by trains and used to walk down to the rail yard and watch the activity.  This turned into a lifelong passion for Pete, so much so that he purchased his own locomotive and a caboose, which were both installed at his home, right in the yard!  His home was a landmark for many people in the area; “the house with the train in the yard!”   Only recently did he part with them; the locomotive is now in an historic display in Missouri, and the caboose now resides in Haverstraw, NY.  Pete was also a history and military buff.  He and his brother Joe enjoyed a World War II tour through England, France and Germany years ago and they had a great time.

Pete was a down to earth kind of guy who loved cutting his own grass, riding his tractor around, and doing his own home improvement projects. He also traveled quite a bit throughout the Caribbean, to Italy, North Carolina, and California.  He had a fun sense of humor and loved to laugh.  He had convinced his grandsons that he played minor league hockey when he was younger, and they believed him until they were old enough to find no evidence to back it up on Google!  Then he told them that he was really in the CIA, which they would never be able to confirm with Google!  He was known affectionately as “Papa Pete” to all of his grandchildren, and he loved spending time with each of them.  Pete also loved dogs and raised five or six German Shepherds throughout the years.  They were clearly his favorite breed.  A lover of hockey, Pete was a diehard NY RANGERS fan and remained loyal (for the most part) throughout the years.  He was also a very patriotic American who loved his country and the 4th of July was among his favorite holidays to celebrate.  He always had a big fireworks display of his own which he set off in his yard each year.  Coincidentally, he passed away on July 4th, leaving his family and friends with a good reason to remember him and celebrate his life on this date in the years that will follow.

Pete is survived by his wife Nancy Fanning of Kinnelon, his daughter; Lisa Critelli and her husband John Turnage of Ledgewood, NJ, Nancy’s children; Brian Fanning and his wife Lori of Bethlehem, PA, Kevin Fanning and his wife Angie of Surf City, NC, and Jennifer Fanning of Jersey City, NJ, his niece; Alison Earley of Carrboro, NC; and one sister, Christine Critelli-Earley and her husband Dan of North Carolina, and four grandchildren; Matthew, Christopher, Arlene, and Lucile Fanning.
 
For those wishing to make a donation in Pete’s memory, please consider Eva’s Village, 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501, or the NJ Sharing Network, Attn: Foundation, 691 Central Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974, or visit www.njsharingnetwork.org.