Obituary for Benito Joseph "Ben" Mele
Franklin, NJ: Benito “Ben” Joseph Mele, 90 years old, died after a brief illness at Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice, Fredon Twp., NJ on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Born to Guiseppe and Guisippina Mele in San Stefano Del Solo, Avellino Province of Italy, he came to the United States in 1930 settling in Paterson, NJ. He moved to Franklin, NJ in 1960 and was a snowbird in Leesburg, FL. for 30 years from 1986.
Ben served with the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and then became a New Jersey State Trooper in 1953, retiring in 1980 as Lieutenant and Executive Officer of Troop B in Morristown, NJ. Ben was a member of the Franklin American Legion, served as a Board Member for the Wallkill Valley Country Club, was a former member of the Franklin Zoning Board and served as public safety director for Parsippany/Troy Hills and Mount Olive. Ben was an avid golfer for over 50 years and enjoyed many of his retirement years golfing in Leesburg, FL. He was also an accomplished vegetable gardener who shared his crops of tomatoes, zucchini, garlic and basil as well as many others with all of his friends. Ben enjoyed cars, buying and visiting the area car shows and auctions.
Ben is predeceased by his wife, Jean F. Mele(2012), a son in law, Lou Stahl and his siblings, Dominic Mele, Matteo Mele, Rita Sanseverino, Anthony Mele, Grace Vingo, Philomena Ruta, Rose Roberto and Frank Mele and was the devoted father, and survived by, Scott Mele and his wife, Veronica of Langhorne, PA, Dawn Stahl of Franklin, NJ, Cindy Barton and her husband, Pat of Franklin, NJ and Pam Mele of Franklin, NJ. Loving grandfather of Bryanna, Patrick and his wife, Jess, Kyla and her husband, Matt, Elizabeth, Adam and his wife, Cara and Eric and his wife, Kayla. Great Grandfather of Braydon, Tanner and Warren. Dear brother in law of Joan Giordano of Rutherford, NJ. Cherished by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The family will receive their friends at F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main Street, Franklin, NJ on Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral from the funeral home on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 9:30 AM. Funeral service at Immaculate Conception RC Church, Franklin, NJ at 10:30 AM. Interment to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Hardyston Twp., NJ. Memorial gifts to Karen Ann Quinlan memorial Foundation, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860 or Association of the Former NJ State Troopers Heritage Foundation at www.gofundme.com/NJFTAheritage-Foundation would be appreciated.
Ben served with the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and then became a New Jersey State Trooper in 1953, retiring in 1980 as Lieutenant and Executive Officer of Troop B in Morristown, NJ. Ben was a member of the Franklin American Legion, served as a Board Member for the Wallkill Valley Country Club, was a former member of the Franklin Zoning Board and served as public safety director for Parsippany/Troy Hills and Mount Olive. Ben was an avid golfer for over 50 years and enjoyed many of his retirement years golfing in Leesburg, FL. He was also an accomplished vegetable gardener who shared his crops of tomatoes, zucchini, garlic and basil as well as many others with all of his friends. Ben enjoyed cars, buying and visiting the area car shows and auctions.
Ben is predeceased by his wife, Jean F. Mele(2012), a son in law, Lou Stahl and his siblings, Dominic Mele, Matteo Mele, Rita Sanseverino, Anthony Mele, Grace Vingo, Philomena Ruta, Rose Roberto and Frank Mele and was the devoted father, and survived by, Scott Mele and his wife, Veronica of Langhorne, PA, Dawn Stahl of Franklin, NJ, Cindy Barton and her husband, Pat of Franklin, NJ and Pam Mele of Franklin, NJ. Loving grandfather of Bryanna, Patrick and his wife, Jess, Kyla and her husband, Matt, Elizabeth, Adam and his wife, Cara and Eric and his wife, Kayla. Great Grandfather of Braydon, Tanner and Warren. Dear brother in law of Joan Giordano of Rutherford, NJ. Cherished by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The family will receive their friends at F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main Street, Franklin, NJ on Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral from the funeral home on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 9:30 AM. Funeral service at Immaculate Conception RC Church, Franklin, NJ at 10:30 AM. Interment to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Hardyston Twp., NJ. Memorial gifts to Karen Ann Quinlan memorial Foundation, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860 or Association of the Former NJ State Troopers Heritage Foundation at www.gofundme.com/NJFTAheritage-Foundation would be appreciated.