Edward A. Reilly Jr.

Edward A Reilly Jr, 74, of Verona, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, May 14th at home surrounded by family. He was born in Newark, NJ. He was predeceased by his parents Edward and Viola and siblings Michael and Katherine.
He grew up in Bloomfield, spending summers in Silver Beach surfing with his brother and cousin Charlie, listening to The Beach Boys. He met his beloved wife of 53 years, Judy "down the shore". He was never happier than when he was by the ocean with family and friends. Every year was the year he was going to get back on the surfboard.
"Big Ed" just celebrated his 50th year as a member of the Carpenter's Union. He loved his work and was still talking about his next job until the end. He was a skilled woodworker. Anytime you needed help fixing something Ed was there. He would explain every single step to repair something (ad nauseam). If he couldn't fix it, he always "knew a guy". If you needed a job, he would go the extra mile to help you find one. Mom always joked that he had an employment agency on the side. He was blessed to have many co-workers that were also friends.
He was known for kindness, work ethic, big heart, "slow run" and his Tom Selleck mustache. Many will remember the time he hit a softball on the roof of F.N. Brown and almost didn't make it around the bases in time. A lifelong New York Yankees fan, Ed was rarely seen without his Yankees jacket or baseball hat. He is still waiting on those Jets to get it together.
Ed was a devoted husband and father. Family was the most important thing to him and he was so proud of all of us. He adored his Judy. He was generous and loved to take care of people. He loved to spoil his kids. You were never fast enough to pay a dinner bill when Dad was around. He took the greatest joy in being a grandfather to Benjamin. Pop loved to slip Benjamin a $20 bill every chance he got. He loved spending time with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Art, "his brother from another mother."
He is survived by his wife Judy, son Kevin, daughter Kellie, son in law Jason, beloved grandson Benjamin, sisters-in-law Nancy and Meryl, brothers-in-law Art and Mike, his nieces and nephews and too many amazing friends to list.
The family will receive relatives and friends Sunday, May 18, 2024, 3 - 7 p.m. at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 19, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, 22 Lakeside Avenue, Verona, NJ. Interment will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Caldwell.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to https://www.jajf.org/ or hospice.
Memories and condolences may be shared at shookscedargrove.com.