Joseph J. Brancato

Joseph J. Brancato, 84, of Lakewood, N.J., passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2011. Funeral services will be on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. from Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Ave., Clifton, N.J., and 11 a.m. from St. Andrew the Apostle R.C. Church, 400 Mount Prospect Ave., Clifton. Private cremation to follow. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m. Please visit www.bizub.com for online condolences and driving directions. Born in Garfield, N.J., Mr. Brancato lived most of his life in Clifton and retired to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He spent his summers in Chadwick Beach, N.J., with his family. Mr. Brancato retired in 1986 as the executive vice president of AGL Welding, Clifton. He was currently a parishioner of St. Luke R.C. Church, Toms River, N.J., and was a former longtime parishioner of St. Andrew the Apostle R.C. Church, Clifton. Mr. Brancato was a member of the Upper Montclair Country Club of Clifton, and the Knights of Columbus Seaside Chapter, Seaside Heights, N.J. He served as a former director of the Clifton Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Destroyer Escort Association (DESA), the Clifton Sag-A-Bits, the American Welding Society, and the National Welding Supply Association. Mr. Brancato was a World War II United States Navy veteran. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Regina E. Fenelon, and one daughter, Regina Brancato. Survivors include six loving sons, Kevin Brancato and his wife, Christine, of Parsippany, N.J., Joseph M. Brancato and his wife, Deborah, of Manahawkin, N.J., James A. Brancato and his wife, Maribeth, of Lake Mohawk, N.J., Christopher Brancato and his wife, Kimberly, of Ashburn, Va., William Brancato and his wife, Amy, of Cedar Grove, N.J., and Dennis Brancato and his wife, Regina, of Lake Villa, Ill.; three loving daughters, Stephanie Panzarino and her husband, Michael, of Toms River, N.J., Veronica (Ronnie) Sokerka and her husband, Albert, of Clifton, and Mia Celluro and her husband, Leonard Jr., of Bloomfield, N.J.; one brother, John Brancato of Clifton; 20 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105, or Deborah Hospital Foundation, Seaside Chapter, 20 Pine Mills Rd., Browns Mills, N.J. 08015.