Obituary of Edward J. Cumella

Edward J. Cumella, Sr. passed away on Saturday July 28, 2018 at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was 91 years-old. Mr. Cumella was born and raised in New York City. He later lived in Brooklyn before moving to Citrus Springs, FL. He also lived in Staten Island, NY and has resided in Concordia, Monroe Twp., since 2011. He served in the US Army during WWII and worked as a roofer his entire career. He was a union member of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers Local 8 in Brooklyn. He was a member of the American Legion Post 155 in Florida. Edward enthusiastically enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and filled his home with houseplants. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and enjoyed coin collecting. Edward loved to cook Sicilian specialties learned from his mother and father, who immigrated to the USA from Porto Empedocle, Sicily. Edward was a talented handyman and craftsman who could fix anything. He created wooden birdhouses, colorful yard ornaments, and crucifixes. He was a Roman Catholic and was a member of the Nativity of Our Lord RC Church, Monroe Twp. Edward was deeply loved by his family, loved by his neighbors, and will be greatly missed by those who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Amelia M. (Zarrella) Cumella of Concordia, Monroe Twp.; three children, Charles Cumella of Mesa, AZ, Michele Tardo and her husband Joseph of Monroe Twp., and Edward J. Cumella, Jr. and his wife Sherrill of Wickenburg, AZ; two sisters, Helen Napoli of Staten Island, and Maria Ragusa and her husband Carl of Great Neck, NY; three grandchildren, Seth Montes and his wife Casey, Louis Tardo and his fiancée Katie Bredesen, and Thomas Tardo; and many other extended family members. A private cremation took place under the direction of the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, 205 Rhode Hall Road, Monroe Twp., NJ 08831. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00am on Saturday August 4, 2018 at St. James the Less RC Church, 36 Lincoln Ave., Jamesburg, NJ 08831. In lieu of flowers and for those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.