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Services
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9:15 AM on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will be in Laurel Grove Mausoleum, Totowa.
Thomas S. Maione, age 85, of Toms River, formerly a forty-four year resident of Wayne, NJ, passed peacefully on Saturday, July 9, 2016.
Tom was born and raised in Newark having lived on Parker Street, Mount Prospect Avenue, and 3rd Street in the city. From the age of twelve Tom took an interest in playing the saxophone. He was very talented and during his high school years the famous Louie Prima asked Tom to travel with his band. However, Tom was focused on getting an education and turned down the offer. He played in bands for several years and even cut a record with the Velvet Tones. Tom gave up playing the saxophone because in his mind’s eye the life of a musician was not an occupation that lent itself to marriage and family. After many years of not playing he picked up his old sax and played at his sister-in-law Lucy's party. Tom’s children were mesmerized as they had no idea their dad possessed this talent. Tom’s saxophone was drowned in seawater during hurricane Sandy, but with many hours of work he got it back to playing shape.
Tom graduated from Central High School in Newark with the Class of 1949. Just out of school Tom found work as a Tool and Die maker for the Robert Battistta Company in West Orange. He worked there until he was inducted into the United States Army on January 6, 1953. He served in Korea and was honorably discharged as a PFC (T) on January 5, 1955 having received the National Defense Service Medal. After his service Tom enrolled in the Newark College of Engineering and graduated as a Tool & Die Designer with the Class of 1960. He worked for the Industrial Retaining Ring Corporation in Irvington for over forty years before retiring in 1995.
Tom loved life and loved to be around people! He was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. He enjoyed a good party and could talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything. He was an avid bow hunter, and loved fishing, crabbing, swimming, the beach, and boating on the ocean at the Jersey Shore. He was very mechanical minded and could fix just about anything. If he didn’t know how to fix something he would soon figure it out. He loved telling jokes and one of his favorite holidays was April Fools Day. Tom was especially proud of the outdoor shower he built on the house in Toms River. Upon exiting the shower he would ask you “nice shower…huh” and “nice shower head…huh?” He even talked to the nurses caring for him about wanting to go home and take a shower in his outdoor shower. It was truly his pride and joy! Speaking of Tom's loves, he adored his wife Esther. Heaven forbid Esther left the room. If she did Tom was soon asking "where's Est." Tom also took tremendous pride in the accomplishment of his children and grandchildren.
During Tom’s service in the Army he met up with another soldier named Ralph Mazzuca. Because their last names both started with “M” they were often paired together. Tom and Ralph eventually became close friends, especially after realizing that they only lived blocks apart in Newark. After being discharged from the service Ralph invited Tom to his house saying “make my home you’re home.” Tom took him quite literally and after the first visit he said to Ralph “I’m going to marry your sister.” Their first date was to the Paramount Theatre in Newark to see Frank Sinatra. The venue was so crowded Tom and Esther had to sit on a step during the show. Tom approached Esther’s oldest brother John and asked for her hand in marriage as her father had passed away. Tom asked John if he would “give his sister away and walk her down the isle?” John, half-joking, responded “I would rather give you away!” Tom and Esther married on a rainy May 11, 1958 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark. They honeymooned at The Castaways Hotel in Miami, Florida. This was Esther’s first time on an airplane and she was a bit scared. She kept waking Tom to tell him “I think the wing is broken” and “the motor is smoking and on fire.” They eventually made it to Miami and Esther called her mother crying and homesick. Tom hung in there through all the initial drama and they have had a loving, caring, and adoring marriage of fifty eight years.
Through their years of marriage Tom and Esther were blessed with a daughter Linda Bongiovanni and her husband Anthony of Egg Harbor Township, a daughter Janet Fiumefreddo and her husband Mike of Wayne, and a daughter Lisa Mulligan of Totowa. Through their children they have been additionally blessed with eight grandchildren Tommy, Raymond, Brendan, Amanda, Angelina, Christina, Kieran and Julianna.
Tom was predeceased by his father Sam in 1979, by his mother Rose in 1993, and by his brother Nunzio in 1989.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the People’s Pantry, 1700 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753 would be greatly appreciated.
A Facebook note posted by Tom’s grandson Raymond Fiumefreddo:
“A Husband, a Father (of 3), a Grandfather (of 8), a Musician (sax), A U.S. Military Veteran (Korean War), a Pioneer in the Tool & Die Manufacturing Industry (Industrial Ring Retaining Co.), A Sportsman (fisherman/hunter), and above all, a devoted and beloved Family Man. To say we lost a legend today is an understatement.
Grandpa Tom, thank you. Thank you for some of my best childhood memories. Thank you for teaching me how to fish. Thank you for sharing your epically hysterical stories of when you were young. Thank you for your positive influence to succeed in anything I want to achieve. In your 85 years on this earth, you have accumulated invaluable wisdom & I am so grateful you were able to share it with me.
I am truly going to miss watching old “pictures”, playing cards, catching fish/crabs, eating Grandma’s food, and hanging out with you… You made a damn good run Pop. Even on your way out, you were happy, joking around with the nurses, and fighting like a champ. I love you, and I’ll miss you. Rest In Peace Grandpa Tom Maione”
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9:15 AM on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will be in Laurel Grove Mausoleum, Totowa.
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 PM on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9:15 AM on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will be in Laurel Grove Mausoleum, Totowa.
Thomas S. Maione, age 85, of Toms River, formerly a forty-four year resident of Wayne, NJ, passed peacefully on Saturday, July 9, 2016.
Tom was born and raised in Newark having lived on Parker Street, Mount Prospect Avenue, and 3rd Street in the city. From the age of twelve Tom took an interest in playing the saxophone. He was very talented and during his high school years the famous Louie Prima asked Tom to travel with his band. However, Tom was focused on getting an education and turned down the offer. He played in bands for several years and even cut a record with the Velvet Tones. Tom gave up playing the saxophone because in his mind’s eye the life of a musician was not an occupation that lent itself to marriage and family. After many years of not playing he picked up his old sax and played at his sister-in-law Lucy's party. Tom’s children were mesmerized as they had no idea their dad possessed this talent. Tom’s saxophone was drowned in seawater during hurricane Sandy, but with many hours of work he got it back to playing shape.
Tom graduated from Central High School in Newark with the Class of 1949. Just out of school Tom found work as a Tool and Die maker for the Robert Battistta Company in West Orange. He worked there until he was inducted into the United States Army on January 6, 1953. He served in Korea and was honorably discharged as a PFC (T) on January 5, 1955 having received the National Defense Service Medal. After his service Tom enrolled in the Newark College of Engineering and graduated as a Tool & Die Designer with the Class of 1960. He worked for the Industrial Retaining Ring Corporation in Irvington for over forty years before retiring in 1995.
Tom loved life and loved to be around people! He was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. He enjoyed a good party and could talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything. He was an avid bow hunter, and loved fishing, crabbing, swimming, the beach, and boating on the ocean at the Jersey Shore. He was very mechanical minded and could fix just about anything. If he didn’t know how to fix something he would soon figure it out. He loved telling jokes and one of his favorite holidays was April Fools Day. Tom was especially proud of the outdoor shower he built on the house in Toms River. Upon exiting the shower he would ask you “nice shower…huh” and “nice shower head…huh?” He even talked to the nurses caring for him about wanting to go home and take a shower in his outdoor shower. It was truly his pride and joy! Speaking of Tom's loves, he adored his wife Esther. Heaven forbid Esther left the room. If she did Tom was soon asking "where's Est." Tom also took tremendous pride in the accomplishment of his children and grandchildren.
During Tom’s service in the Army he met up with another soldier named Ralph Mazzuca. Because their last names both started with “M” they were often paired together. Tom and Ralph eventually became close friends, especially after realizing that they only lived blocks apart in Newark. After being discharged from the service Ralph invited Tom to his house saying “make my home you’re home.” Tom took him quite literally and after the first visit he said to Ralph “I’m going to marry your sister.” Their first date was to the Paramount Theatre in Newark to see Frank Sinatra. The venue was so crowded Tom and Esther had to sit on a step during the show. Tom approached Esther’s oldest brother John and asked for her hand in marriage as her father had passed away. Tom asked John if he would “give his sister away and walk her down the isle?” John, half-joking, responded “I would rather give you away!” Tom and Esther married on a rainy May 11, 1958 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark. They honeymooned at The Castaways Hotel in Miami, Florida. This was Esther’s first time on an airplane and she was a bit scared. She kept waking Tom to tell him “I think the wing is broken” and “the motor is smoking and on fire.” They eventually made it to Miami and Esther called her mother crying and homesick. Tom hung in there through all the initial drama and they have had a loving, caring, and adoring marriage of fifty eight years.
Through their years of marriage Tom and Esther were blessed with a daughter Linda Bongiovanni and her husband Anthony of Egg Harbor Township, a daughter Janet Fiumefreddo and her husband Mike of Wayne, and a daughter Lisa Mulligan of Totowa. Through their children they have been additionally blessed with eight grandchildren Tommy, Raymond, Brendan, Amanda, Angelina, Christina, Kieran and Julianna.
Tom was predeceased by his father Sam in 1979, by his mother Rose in 1993, and by his brother Nunzio in 1989.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the People’s Pantry, 1700 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753 would be greatly appreciated.
A Facebook note posted by Tom’s grandson Raymond Fiumefreddo:
“A Husband, a Father (of 3), a Grandfather (of 8), a Musician (sax), A U.S. Military Veteran (Korean War), a Pioneer in the Tool & Die Manufacturing Industry (Industrial Ring Retaining Co.), A Sportsman (fisherman/hunter), and above all, a devoted and beloved Family Man. To say we lost a legend today is an understatement.
Grandpa Tom, thank you. Thank you for some of my best childhood memories. Thank you for teaching me how to fish. Thank you for sharing your epically hysterical stories of when you were young. Thank you for your positive influence to succeed in anything I want to achieve. In your 85 years on this earth, you have accumulated invaluable wisdom & I am so grateful you were able to share it with me.
I am truly going to miss watching old “pictures”, playing cards, catching fish/crabs, eating Grandma’s food, and hanging out with you… You made a damn good run Pop. Even on your way out, you were happy, joking around with the nurses, and fighting like a champ. I love you, and I’ll miss you. Rest In Peace Grandpa Tom Maione”
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