Obituary of Mario Riccardelli

Mario Riccardelli, 85, of Freehold passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Maranola, Italy and came to the United States in 1951.  Mario had lived in Brooklyn and the Ocean Breeze section of Staten Island prior to settling in Freehold in 2006.  He worked for the Laborers Union Local 731 in New York, retiring in 1980.  Mario was a former member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1694 at Church of the Assumption and a former parishioner of the and St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Staten Island. He proudly orchestrated the St. Anthony Mass at the St. Rose of Lima Church in Brooklyn for 50 years.  Mario was an active parishioner and was a daily Mass attendee at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold Township.  He loved to tend to his garden of vegetables which included cucuzza, tomatoes, peaches, and even fig trees.  

Mario was predeceased by his brothers, Angelo and Luigi Riccardelli.  He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maria Riccardelli of Freehold; three children, Michael Riccardelli and his wife, Maryann of Staten Island, Anthony Riccardelli and his wife, Gina of Howell, and Geraldine Stracquadanio and her husband, John of Marlboro; six grandchildren, Lauren, Michael, Christina, Victoria, Julia, and John; two brothers, Rocco and Anthony Riccardelli; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and dear friends. 

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Staten Island. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mario’s memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For information, directions or to leave condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.