Obituary of Giuseppe Alfano

Joseph (Giuseppe) Alfano, 89, a resident of Ridge Oak in Basking Ridge, formerly of Linden, NJ, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Born in the town of Locri, Italy, which is located in the Reggio Calabria province, on January 11, 1922. He was the only son of Concetta Furfaro and Carmelo Alfano, and raised alongside his two sisters Anna and Maria Carmela. After WWII, Mr. Alfano came to the United States at age 35. He married Clementina Candreva, who had also emigrated from Italy, in the spring of 1958, and settled in the Italian section of Elizabeth, NJ. He opened "The Village Barber Shop" in Roselle, NJ in the early 1960's and moved to Linden, NJ in 1969. Traditional Italian Sunday meals were most important to Giuseppe, and he and Clementina hosted the extended family most every week in the 1960's, '70's and '80's. Mr. Alfano also enjoyed watching soccer matches, playing Italian cards, listening to his favorite Italian music artists, and coin collecting. His beloved wife, Clementina, predeceased him in the spring of 1987. Surviving are his two sons, Francesco Alfano, and his wife, Francesca, of Warren, and Dominick Alfano, and his wife, Nancy, of Bernardsville; his grandson, Marco, and granddaughter, Gianna; his neice, Mariagrazia Esposito and husband, Luigi, of Bologna, Italy and many loved neices and nephews. A Mass in celebration of his life was held at St. James Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, July 30, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Ridge Oak Care Fund, 150 Manchester Drive, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; www.ridgeoak.org. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avnue, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920; www.gcfuneralhome.com.