Thomas Mennella

Thomas (Tom) Mennella, age 68 of Montville, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, March 31, 2023. Tom was a resident of Wayne for 27 years before moving to Montville in 2016.

Tom was born in Paterson to Thomas and Evelyn Mennella. He was the baby brother to his older sister Janice. He attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School on Beech Street in Paterson. He then attended Paterson Catholic and William Paterson University.

Tom started working for the family business, Mennella’s Poultry, at the age of 9. He never attended school during Thanksgiving week because the family needed him to help deliver turkeys. His dad taught him to drive at the age of 13 to help move chicken trucks around the parking lot. Mennella’s Poultry was founded by his grandparents and then taken over by his father and 3 brothers. Tom was a part of the third generation along with his 4 cousins. He retired at the end of 2019.

He met the love of his life Barbara at the Getaway in Wayne, wearing his gold chains and saddle shoes. They dated for 3 years when he proposed to her in church on Easter Sunday. They married at St. Joseph’s Church in Lincoln Park on October 2, 1983. They went on to have two children, Tim and Jennifer. Tom loved spending time with his family, especially during their yearly trips to the Jersey Shore. He never left the boardwalk without winning the biggest prizes for his kids.

Tom lived for football Sundays with his son Tim. His favorite team was the New York Giants. They would watch football together from 1pm to midnight.

Just this month, Tom read to his daughter Jennifer’s third grade class for Read Across America. He surprised the whole class with joke books.

Each night he loved to surprise his wife with a homemade gourmet meal. Some of his specialties were Shrimp Francese and Chicken Murphy. He always kept the wine refrigerator fully stocked for her.

Lucy, Tom’s 4 pound Yorkie, was always by his side. They would look out the window and wait for their Amazon deliveries.

Tom is survived by his wife Barbara (maiden name Duderich); two children Tim and Jennifer Mennella; sister Janice Mennella; two nephews Brandon Schweizer Sr. (and wife Sharon) and Eric Schweizer (and

wife Jillian). He is predeceased by his father Thomas in 2010 and mother Evelyn in 2020.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to FOWA (Friends of Wayne Animals) Animal Rescue, PO Box 3701, Wayne, NJ 07470, would be greatly appreciated