Obituary of Elio Vecchiarelli

Elio Vecchiarelli, 87, of Jackson Township passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.  Elio was born and raised in Sulmona, Italy and had passion for wood working and began an apprenticeship at age 13.  At the young age of 15, he went by himself to join his uncle and father in Caracas, Venezuela and took the initiative to find work on his own as a wood worker.  His younger cousin Umberto joined him two years later, in which they developed a strong bond that lasted their entire lives.  Several years later, his other cousin, Guido, invited both, him and Umberto to come visit him in America in Poughkeepsie, New York.  They stayed with Guido and his parents and soon fell in love with this area and were able to obtain jobs.  Employers were very impressed with their skills.  Elio did a few jobs for Empire Kitchens and immediately they wanted to sponsor him and hire him full-time.  Shortly after, he met his wife, Lucy, and immediately fell in love. They married in 1964.  He was a cabinet maker at Empire Kitchen working there for over 35 years, retiring in 1999.  Elio was a master craftsman and known for his quality and custom work, even working for celebrities.  A man of faith, he was a former parishioner of St. Martin de Porres in Poughkeepsie.  Always active, Elio enjoyed the games of tennis and bocce and a good walk.   He had a very friendly demeanor and immediately made others feel comfortable.  Elio was upbeat, positive, charismatic, and playful.  He was very proud of his accomplishments in Italy, Venezuela and the United States and especially his family.  Elio had strong values.

Elio was predeceased by his brother, Msgr. Don Panfilo Vecchiarelli; a sister, Paola DiOrio; and his cousin Umberto Vecchiarelli, who was like a brother to him.  He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Lucy Vecchiarelli; two children, Elio Vecchiarelli and his fiancé, Suzanne McGarry-Moore and Deanna McMerty and her husband, Joe; six grandchildren, Joseph McMerty, Matthew Vecchiarelli, Nina McMerty, Tristan McMerty, Jessie Vecchiarelli and Gia McMerty; and his cousin, Elisa Vecchiarelli.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Friday, January 17, 2025 from 9:00 AM until the procession to his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township.  Entombment will follow in  St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.   For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.