James D. "Pop" Castello

(Asbury Park Press)

JAMES D. "POP" CASTELLO
AGE: 76 EATONTOWN
James D. "Pop" Castello, 76, of Eatontown passed away Saturday, Dec. 6. Pop was born in Barnsville, Ohio and served in the Army during the Korean War before moving to Eatontown. He was a truck driver for Georgia Pacific for 22 years and was a self-taught carpenter. James, better known as Jimmy was a man who persevered all through life. He was orphaned at a very young age and grew up in foster care with very loving families. He dropped out of school in tenth grade and made his way into the Army. After the service, he made his way to Long Branch where he met the love of his life, Jeanette Donato, who became his wife for 53 years. He then became a truck driver and a self-taught carpenter. He loved making many things: counter tops to sheds and teaching his kids along the way. Later in life, he became an avid camper taking many trips out west and down south. He loved spending many trips with his granddaughters who were his life. He was their Pop. Jimmy was a man that never let life or health pull him down. He was a man many knew was always there for them without hesitation and for this he will be sorely missed by all.
James was predeceased by his parents, and several brothers and sisters, his mother-in-law Mildred Donato, in 2006 and a daughter, Donna Jean Roberts in 1998. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jeanette Castello; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Hazel Castello, of Howell and a daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Lou Venezia, of Howell; a sister LuLu Mae Bennett; grandchildren, Ashleigh and Caitlin Venezia, Jessica and Nicole Roberts, Jeannie Paulin, Edward J. Castello and Jason Griffin and by great-grandchildren, Dylan Griffin and Seth M. Castello; nieces, Sandy Cattelona, Pamela Bennett and nephew Bobby Bennett and many friends from camping and his computer friends and many more family and friends.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, at Braun Funeral Home, 106 Broad Street, Eatontown. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Dorothea's R.C. Church, Eatontown. Burial will follow at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Heart Association, 1 Union Street Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 or the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad Street, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702. Letters of condolence can be emailed via the funeral home's website at www.sidun.com.