Joseph T. Skelley, Esq.

Skelley, Joseph T. Esq., 87, of Fort Lee, NJ on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Joseph was lucky to have two great women in his life Eileen Skelley, his wife for over 30 years, and the late Agnes Skelley who died in 1976 after 25 years of marriage. Loving father of Joseph T. Skelley, Jr. & his wife Laurie, Maureen Phelps, Cathleen Eacuvetto, Mary Dunleavy & her husband James, Premajyothi "Patricia" Devi & her husband John DeLuca, Teresa Skelley, Michael Skelley & his wife Susan, Matthew Skelley & his wife Dawn, Greg Skelley & his wife Cathy, Stacie Skelley, Claire Marrazzo & her husband Brandon, Daniel Skelley & his wife Simone, John Skelley & his wife Dawn, Maribeth Lindberg & her husband Steven, and the late Greg Hafley. Adored father-in-law of Ellise Hafley and the late Dean McKnight. Cherished grandfather of Thomas, Daniel, Brian, Kevin, Angela, Alex, Kaitlyn, Ryan, Kyle, Cara-Joy, Michaela, Simone, Jacquee, Dillon, Erin, Brian, Jeffrey, Robyn, Benjamin, Melissa, Michael, Dana, Lenny, Meghan, Tara, Christopher, Laura, Brandon, Sean, Eric, Marc, Paul, Christine, and the late John and six great-grandchildren. Dear brother of Thomas Skelley, Victorine Martins, Loretta Bukowski, and the late Consuela Lewandowski, James & David Skelley. He was also survived by many loving nieces & nephews. Mr. Skelley served in the US Army 36th infantry from 1943-1945 during WWII where he toured Africa, Italy, and France and receiveded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. He was a graduate of Fort Lee High School and received his LLB from the John Marshall Law School in 1949. Joseph worked as an attorney for over 50 years at his law firm in Fort Lee, NJ. He was a member of the Fort Lee Board of Education from 1952-1955. He was the school board attorney from 1956-1986 and a charter member of the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys. As a member of the Fort Lee Housing Authority he was instrumental in the Harry Holtje House for seniors and families being erected, and was the Executive Director from 1989-1994 initiating the family self-sufficiency program. Mr Skelley was a member of the Cairola Barber Post VFW, Fort Lee Memorial Post American Legion, & the Fort Lee Historic Society. He was a trustee for the Church of the Madonna and was given the St. Michael's award from the Church of the Good Shepherd for services to the community. In 1988 he was awarded the Jubilee Medal Pro Meritis for distinguished service from the Archdioceses of Newark and was inducted into the Fort Lee High School Graduate's Hall of Fame. Joe was the Greater Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce's person of the year in 2005. Funeral Thursday at 9AM from the Hunt Stellato Funeral Home, 1601 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ. Funeral Mass Thursday 10AM Madonna Church, Whiteman St.. Interment Madonna Cemetery. Friends will be received Tuesday & Wednesday 3-8PM. Donations may be made to The Church of the Madonna, 345 Whiteman St., Fort Lee, NJ 07024.