Brendan McAlea, 85 of Kearny passed away on July 20, 2018.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Church in Kearny on Thursday at 10 AM. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation is at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr. Kearny on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.
Born in Northern Ireland, Brendan has lived in Kearny since 1960. He worked for Engelhard Precious Metals, and later for Wallace & Tiernan as a tool and die maker for many years before retiring. A longtime member of the Pioneer's Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart, Brendan had a passion for cycling and for music; and was an avid runner and an exceptionally talented carpenter. He also loved going on a yearly retreat to the Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, and always put his family first. A devout Catholic, he was a longtime communicant at St. Cecilia's Church, as well as an extremely loyal choir member there and at St. Stephen's Church in Kearny.
Brendan was the beloved husband of the late Claire (nee McCarthy); loving father of Una McAlea, Kevin McAlea, Margaret Carpen and her husband Mitch, Mary Frech and her husband Gerard, and Deirdre Tonero and her husband John; dear grandfather of Robert, Rachel, Kieran, Patrick and Aidan. He was also the brother of Kathleen McAlea, Anne Creed, Tony McAlea, and the late Moya and Patrick McAlea.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Cecilia Church in his memory.