Ronald Julian Callus

Born September 26, 1933, in Sliema, Malta to Charles and Maryanne (Saliba); brother to Reginald and Robert, all whom he will join in heaven.

The Callus family immigrated to America in 1935 where they settled in Astoria, New York. Ron graduated from Long Island City HS and served in the US Army from September 1954 to September 1956. He was lucky in love and recently celebrated 58 years of marriage to wife Margaret (Leone). Their love grew through their daughters, Amanda (Alonzo) Breaux and Pamela (Stephen) Mulhearn. They moved from New York to New Jersey where they raised their daughters and he was active with Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, coached soccer, and enjoyed gathering with friends and family.

He was always an entertainer – loved to make everyone laugh – but was serious when it came to loving and protecting his family. He loved to cook for others, listen to Big Band era music, and laugh at old shows like the Peter Sellers’ Pink Panther series or skits from the old Carol Burnett show. He was known in the family for wearing shirts with stains, as a master of flatulence and giving everyone candy/ice cream/treats (a trait that did not appear until after his daughters were grown).

A printer by trade, he was a hard worker and owned a print shop in Haledon, NJ – M&R Printers, with his wife for several years. They retired and followed their daughters (let’s face it, their grandchildren), first to Lafayette, Louisiana and ultimately to Mesa, Arizona. Their grandchildren Derek (Taylor) Breaux; Taylor (Christian) Breaux-Smith, Nicole (Daniel Backus) Mulhearn & Gabriella Mulhearn were his everything and he had such special bonds with each one.

He was also the unofficial Grandpa of his neighborhood – he loved to sit out in front of their house and chat with/wave at everyone that passed – he touched the lives of so many and each of those people brought extra light into his life. He was looking forward to having his great-granddaughters, Aria and Jane live close by. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, all who were dear to his heart.

A funeral mass will take place on Friday, April 8th 2022 at 10:00am at All Saints Catholic Church in Mesa, followed by inurnment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery where he will be interred as requested near his granddaughter Christina Mulhearn.

While flowers are welcome, the family also asks for contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fight the disease that has touched the lives of many of our loved ones.