Richard B. Searls

Rich was born in Jersey City, NJ to Richard and Mary Jayne Searls on November 26, 1945. He grew up in Kearny, NJ with his two younger brothers and two younger sisters. He married Joann Cocozza on November 7, 1970 in Belleville, NJ and later moved to Bloomfield, NJ to raise his family.

Rich worked in Quality Control with multiple companies for over 40 years. He joined the Air Force in 1964 and was stationed in Bangor, Maine before being Honorably Discharged.

In 2002, he found his calling and was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. In 2008, he and his wife moved to Fair Oaks, CA before moving to Powder Springs, GA in 2010.

Soon after, he began his service as a Deacon in St. John Vianney in Lithia Springs, GA before moving to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna, GA.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 294, as well as the Sons of the American Legion Post 294.

He loved to play bingo and eat Swedish Fish, and enjoyed time on the golf course. But most of all he loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Rich is preceded in death by his father, Richard and his mother, Mary Jayne; his brothers-in-law Frank Cocozza and Ralph Cetrulo.

He is survived by his wife, Joann, three sons Richard and wife Lisa, Michael and wife Sandy; and David and wife Giovanna; three brothers Ron and Brian and their wives Eileen and Cindy; two sisters Colleen and Lisa and their husbands Mike and Roger; his sisters-in-law Lucille and Marie; seven grandchildren Gianna, Jake, Haidyn, Jordyn, Callie, Dominic and Joslyn; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at the LaMonica Memorial Home 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, on Thursday, August 9, 2018 from 6-8 pm. The Memorial Mass will be offered at 2 pm on Friday, August 10, 2018 in St. Anthony’s Church in Belleville.

Rich’s family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and caregivers at Kennestone Hospital, Signature of Marietta, and Tranquility at Cobb.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Legion Post 294 in Rich’s honor.