John V. Swider Sr.

JOHN SWIDER, age 86, long time resident of Little Falls passed away on Tuesday. Born on Nov 20, 1924 in Dupont, PA, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941 working Montana and Washington St. as a lumberjack building fire roads. He proudly served during WWII as Petty Officer 2nd Class aboard the USS LST 269 and USS O'Hare Destroyer 889, participating in eight invasions including the Hollandia, Marianas, and Leyte Operations. During the Leyte invasion, his ship suffered mortar damage from shore based fire. John earned four (4) Bronze Battle Stars during his service. Upon returning to the States after the war, he briefly sailed the Great Lakes aboard the Captain John Roen ore carrier. He married the love of his life, Verna Kutzer, on May 6, 1961. John was formerly employed by Ford Motor Co and AT&T Bell Labs as a Gold Seal Stationary Engineer. He was a member of the Holy Cross Church, Woodland Park; Charter Member of the VFW Post 4909, Dupont, PA; Little Falls Jolly Seniors; and a Distinguished Brother of the Little Falls Lodge #263, F&AM. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. John was always there for his family and friends, always ready to lend a helping hand. A beloved husband, loving father and grandfather, and a proud America, John will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Verna, daughter Gaylene and her husband James Ambrosini, son John Jr and wife Robyn and grandchildren John III and Paige, his sister, Lee Studwell, and a niece and three nephews. He is predeceased by a sister Adele Novak. Funeral Services will be 8:30 am Friday from Bizub-Parker Funeral Home, 47 Main St, Little Falls and 9:00 am at Holy Cross Church, 220 Browertown Rd, Woodland Park. Interment will follow at Holy Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Dupont, PA. Visitation on Thursday from 4-8 pm with a Wake Service at 5:30 pm and Little Falls Lodge #263 Masonic Funeral Service at 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Holy Cross Church and the Little Falls Masonic Temple, 14 Lincoln Ave., Little Falls, NJ 07424. Visit www.bizub.com for driving directions/ online condolences.