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DUMONT, N.J. – John A. Gelalia, of Brick and formerly of Dumont, died Tuesday, June 14 at Ocean Medical Center in Brick. He was 86.
He was born in Hoboken to Catherine (Nickolich) and Anthony Gelalia. He resided in Bergenfield prior to relocating to Dumont in 1960. He was a proud U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War and was employed as a bus driver for more than 24 years for New Jersey Transit. He retired in 1986.
He was the father of John A. Gelalia, and Margaret Petrellese and her husband, Joseph; grandfather of Joseph Petrellese; and brother of Michael Gelalia, Lucy Belcheck and Catherine Lofferado.
He was predeceased by his wife, Alice (Darby) Gelalia; his brothers, Nicholas, Anthony and Frank; and his sister, Jean Ferdyn.
Visitation will take place from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the Frech-McKnight Funeral Home, 161 Washington Ave., Dumont. A funeral Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Dumont. Interment, with military honors, will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey, 1347 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831.
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