JOHN ORRICO

John J. Orrico Army/Navy veteran and Cranford K of C grand knight who retired from PSE&G and made friends wherever he went, 82 John J. Orrico, 82, of Brick, N.J., passed away peacefully on Dec. 31, 2014, at Ocean Medical Center, Brick, surrounded by his family. Friends and relatives may gather for visitation Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2428 Church Rd., Toms River, N.J., www.silvertonmemorial.com. Funeral Mass is on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke R.C. Church, Toms River. Everyone can arrive at funeral home at 9:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River. Born in Jersey City, N.J., in 1932 to Louis and Viola Orrico, John was a graduate of Dickinson High School and Lincoln Tech and attended Union College in Cranford, N.J. After leaving Jersey City, he moved to Cranford, N.J., and then Brick. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army; a founder and past grand knight of the Cranford Council 6226 Knights of Columbus; minister of hospitality and member of the parish council at St.. Michael's R.C. Church, Cranford; first president of the Pavilion Homeowners' Association, and retired from the PSE&G gas distribution division after 34 years. John always had a smile and a friendly greeting for everyone he knew and met. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and made numerous friends wherever he went. His family and friends will dearly miss his presence and gentle spirit. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light in his life. John is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Eileen (Skelly) Orrico; their six children, Kathleen Alamorian; John G. Orrico and wife Lisa; MaryPat Arena and husband Fred; Susan Sumner and husband Hunter; Judy Romeo and husband Peter, and Eileen Hauptvogel and husband Bob. Also surviving are his 13 grandchildren, Michael Jr., Brian and Christopher Alamorian, Jennifer Becht, Bill and Krystin Orrico, Heather and Anthony Arena, Hunter and Ian Sumner, Shannon Wisniewski, Jacquelyn Romeo, Emily Hauptvogel, and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Raphael's Life House, P.O. Box 491, Cranford, N.J. 07016.