- Date Of Death: April 2, 2013
- State: New Jersey
Giacomo Lewis DiRienzo (Jack) passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2013, surrounded by his loving and caring family. Jack was the son of the late Vincenzo and Mariatoinia DiRienzo. Jack would have celebrated his 99th birthday on May 10th of this year.
Jack was predeceased by his daughter Mary Gloria DiRienzo, brother Joseph DiRienzo and sisters Mary Stilson, Antionette DiRienzo, Josephine DiRienzo and Helen Davis. He was also predeceased by his brothers-in-law Nicholas and Robert Filipponi and sisters-in-law Pauline Carugno and Agnes Buonanno.
Jack is survived by his wife of 75 years, Donnie Filipponi DiRienzo, his son and daughter-in-law James and Eileen DiRienzo, daughter and son-in-law Jackie and Tom Murphy and son and daughter-in-law Nicholas and Jackie DiRienzo. He is also survived by grandchildren Colleen and Christopher Ruffini, Joanne and Carl Schloeman, Jennifer and Tom Spivey, Mark and Maddie DiRienzo, Carly and David Merger, Matthew and Christine DiRienzo and Ryan and Domenique Murphy, great-grandchildren Jillian Ruffini, Jacqueline Ruffini, Jordyn Merger, Owen DiRienzo, Evan Merger, Simon DiRienzo, Veronica Spivey and Jack DiRienzo.
Jack is also survived by his sisters Angie DeCecco and Jane Campbell, sisters-in-law Mary Filipponi and Lena Filipponi as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jack was a devoted member of the St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Burlington. He was a Past Grand Knight of Burlington Council Knights of Columbus Council #589, an honorary member of the Amici Della Lingua Italian Club, a former board member of the Yorkshire Alliance, a former Holy Name member, a retired Burlington County Bridge employee, a member of the St. Katharine Drexel Senior Citizen’s Club, Burlington County Bridge Commission Senior Group and the Burlington Elks Lodge. Jack worked at the John A. Roebling Plant, Fleetwings, Kaiser Plant and was a toll collector and bridge operator for the Burlington Bristol Bridge and custodian of the Knights of Columbus Hall for many years. Jack and Donnie’s faith was the most important part of their lives. They have been recognized three years in a row for being the longest-married couple in the State of NJ.
Jack and Donnie were recently honored by Governor Chris Christie and the World Wide Marriage Encounter Organization for the year 2012. Jack and Donnie would have celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on June 12, 2013. Jack and Donnie were ballroom dancers and danced their entire married life. Jack was the perfect gentleman. Jack played the harmonica and was musically inclined, an avid gardener growing beautiful roses. Some of his rose bushes were over 60 years old, but the greatest joys of his life were his family, his wife, children and grandchildren.
