Elio Lorenzo DeCristofaro, 86, passed away surrounded by his adoring family on June 22, 2024. He was born in Bagnara, a province of Benevento, Italy, on July 30, 1937 and traveled by boat with his mother when he was nine years old to America to meet and live with his father in Madison, and then later in Elizabeth, NJ. He graduated from Thomas A. Edison Vocational & Tech High School in 1956 and then attended Newark College of Engineering. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army and was Honorably Discharged in 1960. He started working at Esso (Exxon) at the age of 20 and retired from there after a fulfilling 41-year career as a Project Planner. There, he also met the love of his life, Mary, and they were married for nearly 64 amazing years. It was unknown to them at the time they met, but fate had already made plans for their life - Elio’s father, while living in America alone, had boarded with Mary’s grandparents in Madison, NJ, before he moved to welcome his family arriving from Italy, so the families were already connected before Elio and Mary ever met. Elio and Mary were married on September 10, 1960 and eventually moved to Colonia, NJ where they lived for almost 40 years. They were blessed with two children and created extraordinary memories in their life together. In 2003, after retiring, they moved to the Renaissance in Manchester, NJ, and continued to enjoy and treasure time there and at their beautiful summer home in Beach Haven West, NJ, with their family and many friends, both old and new.
Elio’s priority was always his family and he was the most gracious and generous person. His dedication to his family was unwavering and it was these moments with his family that he cherished the most. He was always available to help with anything asked, support whenever needed and wanting to share in any moment he could. The memories created are endless and will be forever cherished by those lucky enough to have shared them with him. He had a wonderful sense of humor, often a joke to share, and a contagious smile and just truly enjoyed whatever he was doing.
Elio did not like to sit still and enjoyed keeping busy. He loved golfing and bowling with his friends, had workshops in his houses with endless nuts and bolts and enjoyed devising creative ways to fix things. He enjoyed investing and reading espionage novels. He was extraordinarily organized and could give directions to almost any place you needed to go. He loved traveling with his wife and his family and shared amazing experiences. His favorite spot was Italy, traveling there six times, but thoroughly enjoyed the many states, islands and other countries he drove and flew to. Two of his most meaningful favorites were driving 2,000 miles through Yellowstone and the Wild West and bringing his family back to his childhood home in Bagnara, Italy, where he introduced them to his Italian family and shared many, many childhood memories. Elio and Mary also traveled to many states cheering on their grandchildren who played in travel and college softball.
Elio is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Vitale, dearly loved children Laura DeCristofaro and her partner Ted Schaible, and Angela Barnes and husband Donald, and cherished grandchildren Marissa and Haylie Barnes, and many loving nieces and nephews.
Elio is predeceased by his parents Lorenzo and Angelina, brother Cosimo and his wife Carmela, brother Joe and his wife Maryann, and sister Anna.
His family always told him how much they loved him, and his response was always “I love you more.” They would let him believe that, but they think they had him beat. They will always love him more.
Services will be held on Wednesday, June 26th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home in Manchester, NJ. A religious ceremony will follow on Thursday, June 27th at 10:00 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church in Lakehurst, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Padre Pio Foundation at www.padrepio.com or St. Jude’s Children Hospital at www.stjude.org.
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