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October 24, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, October 29, 2017 from 2-5pm. At 5pm, eulogies will be offered and friends will be invited to share their memories of Vincent as well. A Mass for Vincent will be celebrated at 10:30am on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, NJ 07470.
Vincent Della Valle, 75, of Wayne, formerly of Newark, passed away at exactly 11:29pm on October 24 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson, NY. It was a warm and rainy night surrounded by his wife and kids as he transitioned peacefully into pure love and light.
Vincent, called Jason by many, and Ice Poppy (because of his ability to create spontaneous and hilarious freestyle raps) by some, was born on August 21, 1942 and raised in Newark. Born to the late Nicholas & Eleanor Della Valle, he graduated from Barringer High School in 1960 before graduating from Upsala College. During this time, he became a black belt in karate and played music in various bands, including The Plurals, The Bachelors 5 and then finally The Jason Craig Band, of whom he was the band leader for over 25 years.
To many people, he was known as Jason Craig, the namesake of his company for many years, Jason Craig Entertainment. During his over 50 year career as an Entertainer and musician in New Jersey/New York, he sang for tens of thousands of people, always bringing his light and exuberant energy to every event which he felt privileged to attend. For the past 5 years, he sang at countless nursing homes and elder facilities, bringing his voice and sense of humor to people of all ages until the very end of his life. A true entertainer never retires.
In 1977, Vincent met his wife of 39 years, Jacqueline Winand. They met when Jacque attended a family friend's wedding that Jason was singing at. The rest is history. They honeymooned in Lake George and had their first child, Jason, 9 months later in 1979. They moved from Jacque's home town of East Rutherford to Packanack Lake in Wayne, where they continued to grow their family. Five and seven years later they brought their daughters Jocelyn and Jolie into the world.
Vincent had many hobbies and was known to throw himself whole heartedly into his sports and passion projects, excelling at everything he put his mind to. He was a long time skier and golfer, and he had a passion for practicing his Italian & Spanish. He enjoyed going to Hunter Mountain and Killington to ski and learning his lyrics for his upcoming events. Over the years, he became an EMT and even a member of the Hidden Valley Ski Patrol. He skied so much and always wore loud and colorful outfits made by the brand Spyder, which earned him the nickname Spyderman at Hunter Mountain. He went to the gym almost every day and was on a first name and friendly basis with virtually everyone who crossed his path.
But most of all his accomplishments, Vincent was a dedicated and beloved husband to Jacqueline. Father to Jason, Jocelyn, Jolie, and his chihuahua Tito. Brother to Nicholas, Annie, & Stephen. Grandfather to Sloane, Kai, Georgie, & Maréa. Beloved Uncle, Nephew, and a friend to so many. An inspiration to all who knew him. A generous spirit and a tender soul who appreciated life and lived it graciously, with dignity, color, and style.
His favorite movie was Summer of 42. His favorite TV show was Curb Your Enthusiasm. His favorite singer was Johnny Mathis. His favorite word was Gobagool.
We will all miss his presence, his sense of humor, his vitality, his enthusiasm for life. He will be surely celebrated by all who knew him.
Vincent's gift to the world was his spirit and his energy. Music was his vehicle and he used it to bring entertainment, peace, and healing to other souls. Therefore, because there will be no burial and In lieu of flowers, we ask that any contributions or donations be made in Vincent's name to Ukulele Kids Club (www.theukc.org), a nationally recognized non-for-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of music by gifting ukuleles to sick children in cancer hospitals and other medical facilities though their music therapy teams. Online donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/ukulele-kids-club-house-concerts Any checks can be made out to: Ukulele Kids Club and mailed to PO Box 1564, Wayne, NJ 07474.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, October 29, 2017 from 2-5pm. At 5pm, eulogies will be offered and friends will be invited to share their memories of Vincent as well. A Mass for Vincent will be celebrated at 10:30am on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, NJ 07470.
October 24, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, October 29, 2017 from 2-5pm. At 5pm, eulogies will be offered and friends will be invited to share their memories of Vincent as well. A Mass for Vincent will be celebrated at 10:30am on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, NJ 07470.
Vincent Della Valle, 75, of Wayne, formerly of Newark, passed away at exactly 11:29pm on October 24 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson, NY. It was a warm and rainy night surrounded by his wife and kids as he transitioned peacefully into pure love and light.
Vincent, called Jason by many, and Ice Poppy (because of his ability to create spontaneous and hilarious freestyle raps) by some, was born on August 21, 1942 and raised in Newark. Born to the late Nicholas & Eleanor Della Valle, he graduated from Barringer High School in 1960 before graduating from Upsala College. During this time, he became a black belt in karate and played music in various bands, including The Plurals, The Bachelors 5 and then finally The Jason Craig Band, of whom he was the band leader for over 25 years.
To many people, he was known as Jason Craig, the namesake of his company for many years, Jason Craig Entertainment. During his over 50 year career as an Entertainer and musician in New Jersey/New York, he sang for tens of thousands of people, always bringing his light and exuberant energy to every event which he felt privileged to attend. For the past 5 years, he sang at countless nursing homes and elder facilities, bringing his voice and sense of humor to people of all ages until the very end of his life. A true entertainer never retires.
In 1977, Vincent met his wife of 39 years, Jacqueline Winand. They met when Jacque attended a family friend's wedding that Jason was singing at. The rest is history. They honeymooned in Lake George and had their first child, Jason, 9 months later in 1979. They moved from Jacque's home town of East Rutherford to Packanack Lake in Wayne, where they continued to grow their family. Five and seven years later they brought their daughters Jocelyn and Jolie into the world.
Vincent had many hobbies and was known to throw himself whole heartedly into his sports and passion projects, excelling at everything he put his mind to. He was a long time skier and golfer, and he had a passion for practicing his Italian & Spanish. He enjoyed going to Hunter Mountain and Killington to ski and learning his lyrics for his upcoming events. Over the years, he became an EMT and even a member of the Hidden Valley Ski Patrol. He skied so much and always wore loud and colorful outfits made by the brand Spyder, which earned him the nickname Spyderman at Hunter Mountain. He went to the gym almost every day and was on a first name and friendly basis with virtually everyone who crossed his path.
But most of all his accomplishments, Vincent was a dedicated and beloved husband to Jacqueline. Father to Jason, Jocelyn, Jolie, and his chihuahua Tito. Brother to Nicholas, Annie, & Stephen. Grandfather to Sloane, Kai, Georgie, & Maréa. Beloved Uncle, Nephew, and a friend to so many. An inspiration to all who knew him. A generous spirit and a tender soul who appreciated life and lived it graciously, with dignity, color, and style.
His favorite movie was Summer of 42. His favorite TV show was Curb Your Enthusiasm. His favorite singer was Johnny Mathis. His favorite word was Gobagool.
We will all miss his presence, his sense of humor, his vitality, his enthusiasm for life. He will be surely celebrated by all who knew him.
Vincent's gift to the world was his spirit and his energy. Music was his vehicle and he used it to bring entertainment, peace, and healing to other souls. Therefore, because there will be no burial and In lieu of flowers, we ask that any contributions or donations be made in Vincent's name to Ukulele Kids Club (www.theukc.org), a nationally recognized non-for-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of music by gifting ukuleles to sick children in cancer hospitals and other medical facilities though their music therapy teams. Online donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/ukulele-kids-club-house-concerts Any checks can be made out to: Ukulele Kids Club and mailed to PO Box 1564, Wayne, NJ 07474.
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