Thomas A. Reilly, Sr.

Thomas A. "Bucky" Reilly, Sr., 85, of Lyndhurst, NJ was called into the company of the Lord on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Beloved husband of the late Ann Murphy Reilly. Loving father of Thomas A. Reilly, Jr., Karen & her husband Raymond Floriani, Patricia & her husband Patrick Purcell, Yvonne Reilly & her husband John Albanese, and Cheryl Reilly & her husband John L. Buckheit. Dear brother of Robert "Cookie" Reilly & his wife Jane, Joseph "Baby Huey" Reilly & his former wife Marion Spezzana and dear sister the late Lillian Kingeter. Cherished grandfather of Tricia Purcell, Melissa Purcell-Channing, Patrick Purcell, Jr. and his fiancee Diana Lopez, and Nina Purcell. Adored great-grandfather of Michael Channing, Jr., and Melanie Channing. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, family members, friends and his loving companion Helen Weidele. Mr. Reilly worked for many years as an iron worker in Local 45. He worked on the Statue of Liberty restoration project and was a member of AOPA, EAA, Fort Lee Gun Club, Forge Blacksmiths Club, Mid-Atlantic Parachute Club and was a founding member of the Skydivers Club. "Bucky" lived an adventurous life. He was also a private pilot, stunt pilot, skydiver, scuba diver, blacksmith, accomplished marksman, an original "American Picker", an avid book reader and collector. "Bucky" made one of the first sport parachute water jumps in off shore international waters and was a WW II Army veteran. Funeral Saturday at 9 AM from the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 425 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst. Funeral Mass 10 AM St. Michael's R.C. Church. Entombment Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum. Friends will be received Friday 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105 OR St. Michael's Parish, 624 Page Avenue, Lyndhurst NJ 07071.