Peter F. Blair

Peter F. Blair, 73 died on Wednesday April 23, 2014. The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. A funeral mass will be offered in St. Stephen's Church, Kearny at 10:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ. Visiting will be on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. Peter was born in Kearny and raised in North Arlington. He later returned to Kearny where he has lived for the last 45 years. Mr. Blair was a graduate of Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington and later served honorably as an infantry sergeant in the New Jersey National Guard. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, Springfield, NJ and was employed as an operations manager for St. Johnsbury for 30 years. He later worked for Waste Management before retiring in 2000. Mr. Blair was a proud member and former Vice President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 7, Hudson County as well as being named their "Irishman of the Year" in 2004. He also served as the Hibernian delegate to the United Irish Associations of West Hudson and was also secretary to the United Irish. Pete was also a member of the B.P.O.E. No. 1992, North Arlington and was named their "Elk of the Year" in 2013. Peter will be remembered as a devout Roman Catholic who attended Mass every day at St. Stephen's Church. He thoroughly enjoyed helping clean the sanctuary. He was a lifelong and devoted fan the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. On more than one occasion Mr. Blair would personally call and speak to Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor and ask for a special prayer for a "Saturday afternoon win." Pete is survived by his beloved wife Mary Anne (nee Abate) Blair; his children Sharyne Blevins (Bill), Gregg Blair, and Peter Blair (Nancy); brother Raymond Blair; and grandchildren Billy, Gregg, and Blair Blevins and Nicholas, Erica, Anthony and Gina Blair. The Blair family is extremely thnkful for their deep friendship with Fr. Sal DeStefano. He was predeceased by his parents Raymond Sr., and Lillian Blair; two children Gerard and Darlene Blair and three sisters Mary VanVolkenburg, Edna Guenther and Ann Blair.