Obituary of Joseph G. Valenza

Joseph G. Valenza, 89, died peacefully on Saturday, July 21, 2012, at the Reformed Church Home in Old Bridge, N.J. Joseph was born in New York City and resided in East New York, Brooklyn, N.Y., before moving to New Hyde Park, N.Y., where he resided for 47 years. In 2001 Joseph moved to Rossmoor, Monroe Township, N.J. He was employed as a pattern grader for 50 years in women's fashion, retiring in 1991. Joseph was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, and was a Boy Scout leader. He was also the founder of the New Hyde Park Little League. Joseph proudly served as an altar server from the time he was a young boy up until a few years ago, when he last served at Nativity of Our Lord R.C. Church, Monroe. Joseph was predeceased by his loving wife, Rachela D. Valenza (2011), and a sister, Gabriella Riggio. Joseph is survived by a son, Joseph J. Valenza and his wife, Deborah A. Lamb, of Biddeford, Maine; a daughter, Maria Weiss (late husband, Colonel Michael J. Weiss) of Old Bridge, N.J., and two grandsons, Christian M. Weiss and his wife, Jennifer, of Chatham, N.J., and Carl M. Weiss and his fiancee, Jody Ginsburg, of Sayerville, N.J.; three great-grandchildren, Grace Ann, Carly Rae, and Cate Else, and a niece, Jeanette Benedetto, and her husband, Mario, of Andover, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph's memory can be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Dioceses of Rockville Center, 249 Broadway Bethpage, N.Y. 11714, or online www.svdprvc.org .Published in Star-Ledger on July 23, 2012