James Mortellaro

James Mortellaro, aged 96, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2025. 

Jim was a United States Army Veteran of the Korean War and received the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal from the Korean government. He was an alumnus of Columbia University and proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Franklin Lakes Post 5702.

Jim retired in 1994 after 30 years with Burns & Roe Enterprises in Oradell, New Jersey where he was employed as the Human Resources Manager. He relocated to Florida in 2016 and has spent the last 8 years surrounded by family and dear friends while residing at the Good Samaritan Society Kissimmee Village. 

He is survived by his sister, Rhoda Smith; his nieces, Christine Saure and Karen O’Keefe; his nephew, Stephen Smith; his grandchildren, Sean and Nicholas Lyons and eight great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Joan (nee Head) and daughter, Tricia D. Lyons and granddaughter Courtney Lyons.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 8:30a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ.  

A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Friday, February 7th at 10:30 a.m. at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home.  

Interment will follow at Christ the King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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