John Gellene age 82 of Wayne New Jersey passed away on Friday, August 3, 2012 with the comfort of his family by his side.
John lived life to the fullest and his accomplishments were many. He was happily married for 59 years to his childhood sweetheart Clare Ryan. They had six children and 19 grandchildren. John graduated from St Peters College with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and served in the Korean War with the US Army Chemical Corps. He founded his own chemicals company J&G Sales. He as an avid sports fan and loved playing golf – typically twice a week. John had a lifelong dedication his Catholic faith. He was a founding parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne and a member of the Holy Name Society at Holy Cross Church in Wayne for many years. At Our Lady of the Valley Church he was a member of the Adoration Society Chapel and committed himself to serving several hours each week. He also dedicated himself to passing on his faith to his six children; all attended Our Lady of the Valley School and DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne.
With all that John did for his family, his career and his Church, he still found time to support charitable efforts to help others. In 1986 he applied to be a volunteer at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly, after which he became a regular visitor. Keeping a handwritten list of birthdays of each of the residents in his desk at home, John would purchase corsages and present each of the residents with them personally on their birthdays.
John Gellene celebrated his accomplished life by caring for his family and for nearly 30 years serving the elderly poor. As St. Jeanne Jugan told us “When you will be near the poor, give yourself wholeheartedly” and “Making the elderly happy – that is what counts.” John touched all of our lives and will be dearly missed.
Remembering John Gellene – Faithful Volunteer since 1986