Obituary of Joseph A. Ruggiero, Jr.

Joseph A. Ruggiero, Jr., 79, of Whiting passed away peacefully on Monday, October 1, 2018 at home.  He was born in Brooklyn and had lived in Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, the Eltingville section of Staten Island and Bayville before settling in Whiting.  Joe worked for GM in Linden as a lineman and heavy repairman and then joined the Teamsters Union where he worked as an over the road driver for Carretta Transportation.  He then worked for Island Transportation, Mystic Tank Lines and Grocery Haulers until his retirement. 

He enjoyed woodworking and was everybody’s mechanic.  In his spare time, Joe enjoyed watching television, especially Judge Judy.  Poppa, as he was known to his grandchildren, was the biggest fan of his grandkids and cherished watching his grandson play football and his granddaughter sing.

He was predeceased by his brother, Robert Ruggiero.  Joe is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Kathryn Ruggiero; son, Joseph Ruggiero, III of Howell; daughters, Valerie Spano and her husband, Christopher of Howell and Christine Carpini of Hampton; three grandchildren, Dominick, Samantha, and Kayla; his “other daughter”, Karen Davi; three sisters, Tina, Rosemary and Toni; and his canine companion, Cheyenne.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 11:00 AM Funeral Mass on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 31 Asbury Road, Farmingdale.  Interment will be private.  For those who desire, memorial donations in Joe’s name may be made to Wounded Warriors Foundation, Post Office Box 758, Topeka, KS 66675.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com