Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
February 7, 2012
Services
Friends and loved ones may visit with the Family at the VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ on Friday February 10 from 4-8PM and Sunday February 12 from 12-1PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday 1PM at the Funeral Home following the visiting hours.
Robert De Maria
Born March 9, 1947 to Emily and John De Maria he lived in Paterson for 37 years before moving to Clifton. From a young age Robert was involved in Drum Corps and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Drum and Bugle Corps. From 1964 to 1968, Robert served in the US Air Force in Vietnam and Thailand, reaching the rank of sergeant. He was a member of the VFW. He worked for Public Service Electric and Gas Company for 33 years before retiring in 2006. Robert - also called Bob, Bobby or Bubba - was best known for being a great husband, good friend, pet rescuer and for his love of sports, especially golf which he played whenever he could. When it came to bowling he had the rare distinction of rolling a perfect, ABC sanctioned, 300 game not once, twice, but 3 times. He also had an 800 series.
After Robert was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2008, he became a warrior and took this disease on. He did not let it define him and fought it on his own terms not those of the medical community. Despite this serious illness, he continued to travel extensively with his wife, driving cross country numerous times, attending 2 Kentucky Derby’s and several Rutgers University bowl games across the continent. He hiked in Yosemite and Arches National Parks. They made extended stays in California visiting his niece Michele, her husband Brad, his great niece Skylar and great nephew Bret Robert.
Scheduling his treatment and tee times around their travels, they wandered the rainforests of Costa Rica and, drove 1500 miles touring England and Scotland, hiking through the moors of Bronte country and touring the castles of Scotland and finally playing golf at the famous St. Andrew’s course. Those who knew him well knew that Las Vegas was his second home. He visited there just 2 weeks ago where he renewed his marriage vows.
He is survived by his loving wife Vanessa Van Orden -De Maria, his brothers John Michael De Maria and his wife Elaine of Totowa, Ed De Maria and his wife Geraldine of Jupiter, FL, 4 nieces, 2 nephews, 6 great nephews and 3 great nieces. In lieu of flowers it was Robert’s wish that a small fund be established to assist seriously ill individuals in caring for their pets. In response to this his, wife has begun Bobby’s Buddies to provide volunteer pet care for seriously ill humans.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends and loved ones may visit with the Family at the VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ on Friday February 10 from 4-8PM and Sunday February 12 from 12-1PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday 1PM at the Funeral Home following the visiting hours.
February 7, 2012
Services
Friends and loved ones may visit with the Family at the VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ on Friday February 10 from 4-8PM and Sunday February 12 from 12-1PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday 1PM at the Funeral Home following the visiting hours.
Robert De Maria
Born March 9, 1947 to Emily and John De Maria he lived in Paterson for 37 years before moving to Clifton. From a young age Robert was involved in Drum Corps and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Drum and Bugle Corps. From 1964 to 1968, Robert served in the US Air Force in Vietnam and Thailand, reaching the rank of sergeant. He was a member of the VFW. He worked for Public Service Electric and Gas Company for 33 years before retiring in 2006. Robert - also called Bob, Bobby or Bubba - was best known for being a great husband, good friend, pet rescuer and for his love of sports, especially golf which he played whenever he could. When it came to bowling he had the rare distinction of rolling a perfect, ABC sanctioned, 300 game not once, twice, but 3 times. He also had an 800 series.
After Robert was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2008, he became a warrior and took this disease on. He did not let it define him and fought it on his own terms not those of the medical community. Despite this serious illness, he continued to travel extensively with his wife, driving cross country numerous times, attending 2 Kentucky Derby’s and several Rutgers University bowl games across the continent. He hiked in Yosemite and Arches National Parks. They made extended stays in California visiting his niece Michele, her husband Brad, his great niece Skylar and great nephew Bret Robert.
Scheduling his treatment and tee times around their travels, they wandered the rainforests of Costa Rica and, drove 1500 miles touring England and Scotland, hiking through the moors of Bronte country and touring the castles of Scotland and finally playing golf at the famous St. Andrew’s course. Those who knew him well knew that Las Vegas was his second home. He visited there just 2 weeks ago where he renewed his marriage vows.
He is survived by his loving wife Vanessa Van Orden -De Maria, his brothers John Michael De Maria and his wife Elaine of Totowa, Ed De Maria and his wife Geraldine of Jupiter, FL, 4 nieces, 2 nephews, 6 great nephews and 3 great nieces. In lieu of flowers it was Robert’s wish that a small fund be established to assist seriously ill individuals in caring for their pets. In response to this his, wife has begun Bobby’s Buddies to provide volunteer pet care for seriously ill humans.
Guestbook