Lawrence R. Greco Jr.

Lawrence R. Greco, Jr., of Wayne, formerly a longtime resident of Clifton, died Saturday, June 3, 2023. He was 81.
Born in Passaic, Lawrence was the son of Lawrence R. Greco Sr. and Anna (nee Mardonia) Greco. Raised in Clifton, he was a 1959 graduate of Clifton High School.
Following high school, Lawrence enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, and served his country for a few years before continuing his education at Rutgers University. Throughout those years, he worked at "Poppy's Food & Milk Bar" in Clifton, where he was lucky enough to meet the love of his life, Maureen Woods.
Lawrence and Maureen wed at St. Philip's Church in Clifton in 1962 and immediately settled in their hometown of Clifton, New Jersey. They welcomed the births of five children, and happily raised them in their own hometown.
Lawrence supported his family by working for the Ford Motor Credit Company as a Leasing Specialist. He traveled the East Coast for many years, educating dealers on the benefits of Ford's new car-leasing program. He was so good at capturing an audience and motivating the dealerships on Ford's new programs. His dedication and work ethic was well recognized with many Awards at Ford. He happily retired in 1996 after a long rewarding career with the company.
As the son of a photographer, Lawrence always had a keen eye for beauty and greatly appreciated it. He could always be found with a camera around his neck and documented every family event throughout the years. He also had a great appreciation for the natural world and was a very talented gardener. In retirement, he became a certified "Master Gardener", and was recognized by the City of Clifton for the beautiful landscaping he created in his own yard.
Lawrence and Maureen loved their vacation home on the North Shore of Long Island, where he enjoyed gardening as well. They were a very adventurous couple. They loved to escape on the weekend to a county getaway, or a week away to visit friends and family. You never knew where they were off to. They found their heritage in Italy and went on many cruises and Mexico too. The beautiful countryside of Puerto Rico was one of their favorite places to get away for a month in the heart of winter. They explored the island, made friends along the way, and enjoyed their retirement. The Grecos loved to "fly by the seat of their pants," taking off without having too many plans, and just seeing where the wind would take them.
Above all, Lawrence held a deep love for his family. He delighted in his children and more so his grandchildren. He wanted nothing more than to spend time with them. He was a great, funny guy, and will be dearly missed.
Lawrence was predeceased by his beloved wife, Maureen, his son, John K. Greco, and his brother, Carl. He is lovingly survived by his children, Lawrence J. Greco and his wife Janice, Patricia Greco, AnnMarie Ferrante and her husband Tom, and Thomas Greco and his wife Lisa; his sisters, Patricia DeCasto and Marilyn Greco; and his beloved grandchildren, Alicia, Nicolette, Jonathan, Jacqueline, Jack, Tommy, and Matthew. And special gratitude to his caregiver of eight years Evett Stone who cared for and love him dearly.
Visiting hours will be Friday from 4-8 pm at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be held 9 am Saturday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Pompton Plains. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.