Joseph Mellace

Joseph Mellace, 94, of Belleville, New Jersey, passed away at Sunrise Senior Living in Randolph, New Jersey on August 15, 2014. Joseph was born on August 15, 1920 in Satriano (Provincia Calabria), Italy. He left his beautiful mountaintop village at the age of 16 and settled in the NY/NJ metro area. He graduated high school and began working in construction. During WW II he assembled war planes for General Motors. Using his carpentry, electrical and plumbing skills, he then worked for Dumont Television for 17 years and later retired from Wallace & Tiernan Co. after 25 years of service. Joseph raised his family and spent the last 60 years in his Belleville home. He loved Buicks, driving 3 of them over a span of 62 years. His hobbies included wine making, vegetable gardening and tinkering with his cars. Joseph is survived by his beloved wife, Marianna Josephine, of 65 years, his sons Dominick, Robert and Joseph A., their spouses JoAnne, Michelle and Anna Marie and five grandchildren, Steven, Matthew, Lisa, Jessica and Michael. He is also survived by his sister, Rose Ranieri and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Monday 9 AM from the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 7 Two Bridges Road, Fairfield. Funeral Mass 10 AM St. Thomas More R.C. Church. Entombment Hollywood Memorial Park, Union. Relatives and friends will be received Sunday 2-6 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Joseph's name to Colon Cancer Alliance, 1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 1066, Washington DC 20005 or at www.ccalliance.org.