Thomas E. Carley

HOPATCONG - After a brief illness, Thomas E. Carley, a 38-year resident of Hopatcong, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville. He was 84.

Born in Bronx, N.Y., Thomas was the eldest son of Thomas and Linda Carley. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School and attended Manhattan College until he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He enjoyed a lifelong career as a chemist with Allied Signal, now Honeywell, until he retired in 1991.

Thomas was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and a loyal member of American Legion, Musconetcong Post 278, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Lake Hopatcong Lodge No. 782, where he could be found on most Friday nights.

Thomas was predeceased by his beloved wife, Lillian F. (McGarrah) Carley. He is survived by his brother, John P. Carley, of New Rochelle, N.Y.; his sister, Kathleen Gill, of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; his son-in-law, Scott T. Kearney and his only daughter, Patricia R. Carley, both of Sparta; as well as several nieces and nephews.

The viewing will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the William J. Leber Funeral Home on Route 206 in Chester, where family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church on Espanog Road, Lake Hopatcong. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Elks National Foundation, c/o the Lake Hopatcong Lodge, 201 Howard Blvd., Mount Arlington, NJ 07856; or to the Knights of Columbus No. 9914, 40 Maxim Drive, Hopatcong, NJ 07843.