Obituary for Roman J Madej
Roman (Raymond) Madej, age 99 Upper Montclair, NJ died peacefully in his sleep at his home on October 26. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, he was the son of Frank & Anna Madej who emigrated from Poland in 1910. Along with his siblings, Estelle, Vera, and Edward, he grew up in western Massachusetts, graduating from Holyoke HS in 1940. He then moved with his family to Jersey City in 1941. There he met his future wife, Helen Mandra.
On December 7, 1941, he was at New YorkÕs Polo Grounds, where the announcer interrupted the game to tell the fans that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Navy where he served his country throughout WW II in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. During that time, he served in the medical corp in new Guinea and then was stationed out of Australia. After leaving the service he married the love of his life in September 1946.
His professional career started at Allied Chemical Corporation, accounting department, in Downtown NYC. He worked for Allied through its final iteration into Honeywell Corporation until his retirement in 1983.
He spent the next 25 years volunteering for the Jersey City Downtown Soup Kitchen and St. PeterÕs Church.
During his 67 years living in Jersey City, he was active in the St. Peter and Paul Holy Name Society, serving as president, and the Paulus Hook chapter of the Knights of Columbus where he was a Grand Knight.
In 2008 he and his wife left their Jersey City downtown brownstone and moved to Upper Montclair to be closer to their family. There he lived at the Belaire House spending his days greeting residents and talking about sports with the doormen until his passing.
He was known for his kindness and generosity for anyone who needed a helping hand. He never turned anyone away. He was a true Christian gentleman.
He loved his NY Giants, Mets, Knicks, and NJ Devils. He was a devoted fan. He believed his longevity was partially due to his love of donuts, liverwurst sandwiches and hotdogs.
Ray was predeceased by his wife, Helen, his parents, all his siblings and his daughter-in-law, Patricia Vanora-Madej. Surviving are his son David and his wife Nancy and their children Sarah and Mark, and his son Dennis and his wife Deborah Day and their children Brielle, Josh, Seth,
and Caroline. He is also survived by 9 great grandchildren, Sydney, Ella, Ben, Louisa, Jack, Sophie, Lydia, Eliza, and Emerson Ray.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Monday, November 8, 2021, from 4 Ð 6 p.m. at Caggiano Memorial-Home, 62 Grove St, Montclair, NJ. A funeral mass will be held at St. Cassian's Church, 187 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ on Tuesday, November 9 at 10 a.m. With entombment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
In lieu of flowers please donate in his name to the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair NJ. humanneedsfoodpantry.org
On December 7, 1941, he was at New YorkÕs Polo Grounds, where the announcer interrupted the game to tell the fans that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Navy where he served his country throughout WW II in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. During that time, he served in the medical corp in new Guinea and then was stationed out of Australia. After leaving the service he married the love of his life in September 1946.
His professional career started at Allied Chemical Corporation, accounting department, in Downtown NYC. He worked for Allied through its final iteration into Honeywell Corporation until his retirement in 1983.
He spent the next 25 years volunteering for the Jersey City Downtown Soup Kitchen and St. PeterÕs Church.
During his 67 years living in Jersey City, he was active in the St. Peter and Paul Holy Name Society, serving as president, and the Paulus Hook chapter of the Knights of Columbus where he was a Grand Knight.
In 2008 he and his wife left their Jersey City downtown brownstone and moved to Upper Montclair to be closer to their family. There he lived at the Belaire House spending his days greeting residents and talking about sports with the doormen until his passing.
He was known for his kindness and generosity for anyone who needed a helping hand. He never turned anyone away. He was a true Christian gentleman.
He loved his NY Giants, Mets, Knicks, and NJ Devils. He was a devoted fan. He believed his longevity was partially due to his love of donuts, liverwurst sandwiches and hotdogs.
Ray was predeceased by his wife, Helen, his parents, all his siblings and his daughter-in-law, Patricia Vanora-Madej. Surviving are his son David and his wife Nancy and their children Sarah and Mark, and his son Dennis and his wife Deborah Day and their children Brielle, Josh, Seth,
and Caroline. He is also survived by 9 great grandchildren, Sydney, Ella, Ben, Louisa, Jack, Sophie, Lydia, Eliza, and Emerson Ray.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Monday, November 8, 2021, from 4 Ð 6 p.m. at Caggiano Memorial-Home, 62 Grove St, Montclair, NJ. A funeral mass will be held at St. Cassian's Church, 187 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ on Tuesday, November 9 at 10 a.m. With entombment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
In lieu of flowers please donate in his name to the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair NJ. humanneedsfoodpantry.org