John P. Smith, Jr.

John P. Smith Jr.
Navy veteran, devoted family man who lived in Elizabeth and Cranford, 81

John P. Smith, Jr. of Cranford, N.J., passed away at the age of 81 on Dec. 17, 2019, in the presence of family at his home.

Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, N.J. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, 541 Washington St., Kenilworth, N.J., on Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by interment at St. Gertrude's in Colonia, N.J.

Born in Elizabeth, N.J., to Mary (nee Judge) and John P. Smith Sr., John graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Elizabeth, N.J. He proudly served in the Navy aboard the USS Leyte (CV32) for two years. He later worked as an iron worker for nine years before spending many years as a facilities manager at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J.

He met the woman of his dreams while attending high school and they would eventually settle down and share 62 fabulous years together. John and Flora lived in Elizabeth, N.J., for 31 years and resided in Cranford the past 31 years.

Among his many hobbies, John enjoyed music, traveling, researching his ancestry, wine tasting and rooting for the New York Yankees and New York Giants.

John is survived by his devoted wife, Flora (nee Tripoli); three loving children, Donna Sukovich (Joe), John Smith 3d (Patty) and Joanne Morreale (Mike); eight beautiful grandchildren, Jill, Jonathan, Judy, Jeffrey, Michelle, Dana, Erica and Katelin; one great-granddaughter Alexandra; sister Janet (Tom Hyslop) and brother Philip (Diane).

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Atlantic Health Hospice https://overlookfoundation.org/online-donations/

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