Obituary of Michael Angelo Del Priore

Michael Angelo Del Priore of Freehold Township passed from this to eternal life on Monday, May 13, 2013, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, of complications of a stroke. Born on August 11th, 1916 to Daniel and Filomena (nee Costello) Del Priore, Michael's mother was carried away by the epidemic of The Spanish Flu in 1918 when he was but two years old. He and his younger brother, Joseph, were raised by their father for a time but thereafter by his maternal grandmother and the rest of the Costello family in their home on North Street in Jersey City. Michael married his wife, Sophie, on April 12, 1942. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II in the 503rd Engineer Light Pontoon Company, 1104th Engineer Comset Group. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6th, 1944 and watched Berlin fall to the Red Army from a hillside forest. On his return to the U.S., Michael attended Rutgers University and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He worked all his life in the manufacturing industry, his last employment being the Premier Die Casting Co., of Avenel, NJ where Michael began in 1965 under the last Chris Cordero and continued until 1985 under Chris' son, Leonard. Mike continued working part-time for Premier on special projects until his death. Michael was predeceased by his wife, Sophie, in 2007; his brother, Joseph, in 1983; and his nephews, Richard in 1993 and Robert in 2009. He is survived by his daughter, Phyllis Del Priore Murray and her husband, Doug Wojtowicz of Brick; his granddaughter, Collette Manning and her husband, Vincent; five great grandchildren, Noelle, Michael, Grace, Vincent and Anthony, all of Freehold; grandson, Neal Murray and his wife, Christine; and three great grandchildren, Sarah, Danielle and Jonathan, all of Port St. Lucie, FL. Michael will be especially mourned by his many nieces and nephews including Joseph and Paul Del Priore, Samantha and Paulie Del Priore, and Mathew Aquina. Michael, known to many as "Mickey", played golf regularly until lately, enjoyed perfect bourbon manhattans and spent many pleasant hours listening to selections from his extensive music collection. He was a role model to all who encountered him, always willing to listen and give advice. He loved family above all and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, May 15th, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, at the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main Street, Freehold. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, May 16th, at 10:00 AM, at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold. Entombment will follow at St. Gabriel's Cemetery, Marlboro. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To share photos, stories or send the family an on-line condolence, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com