Joseph N. Lenza, Jr., age 83 years, of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born at home on January 1, 1937 in Lyndhurst, NJ, son of the late Jessie Spagnuolo Lenza and Joseph N. Lenza, Sr., he was raised in Lyndhurst and had lived there his entire life prior to moving to Hunterdon County twenty-six years ago.

Growing up in a town where most people knew each other, Joe was particularly well-known as his father owned and operated the famous Joe’s Barber Shop on Stuyvesant Avenue. Joe Jr. would work with his father and younger brother, Anthony, for several years after high school where the three would share many laughs and bring many smiles to the properly coiffed heads of Lyndhurst and the surrounding area.

Anthony would stay on to run the shop, which he still does today, but Joe Jr. decided that he needed to follow his own passions and ventured into the construction business. With a keen eye and natural ability to create, construction came very easily to Joe. He would open Joe Lenza Construction, and was a well regarded general contractor known for both his residential and commercial projects. Everything he did was built to perfection, as Joe never cut corners and ensured that his clients always understood exactly what he and his team were doing.

Joe’s story in Lyndhurst is not complete without remembering the most important part: that in high school, he would meet and fall in love with his best friend, Ms. Marilyn Scara. It was in those hallowed halls of Lyndhurst High, where the two would meet for the first time, and fall in love instantly. Marilyn fondly recalls that Joe was a true gentleman from the beginning. They proverbially knocked each other off their feet, and Marilyn lovingly said that Joe simply had no faults. He was perfect in all ways as he strove to find the good in people. He was respectful to her at every turn, and his love for his family was paramount. The two were married on June 2, 1957 at Sacred Heart Church in Lyndhurst and recently celebrated sixty-three years of marriage.

Their love would yield three daughters, who mentioned how safe they felt because of their Dad. Always having their backs in any situation, he was a source of not only inspiration, but also was always there to listen and give solid and sage advice on any topic. His daughters and sons-in-law would make him a ‘Grandpa’ or ‘Buddy’ as he was lovingly referred, and the title of ‘Great Grandpa’ would come along several years later. Joe was certainly the doting Grandpa, being there for each of his grandchildren as a role model, and as a friend. He had an uncanny ability to sense and understand them, and made certain he stayed available for each of them, always inspiring them to do their best.

A devout catholic, he was a longtime member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Lyndhurst, NJ, as well as St. Catherine of Siena Church, Pittstown, NJ. His faith steadied him in all of life’s situations and allowed him focus on ensuring he saw and appreciated each person as they were: created in God’s own image.

Joe had many hobbies, but hunting and appreciating nature was at the top of the list. In fact, it was this love of nature that lead him to Hunterdon County where he built his own home. Hunting was also a chance for he and his family to spend quality time together appreciating all of God’s wonders.

Cooking was also in his blood, and Joe spent many hours in the kitchen with his grandchildren teaching them to cook and bake; his meatloaf, chili, lasagna, and Italian cookies will not soon be forgotten.

Able to fix absolutely anything, driving and restoring cars also had a special part in Joe’s life. From his 1949 Ford convertible to a corvette, he loved them all.

Though he battled with health struggles the last few years, his faith never wavered and his family, whom Joe was always there for, happily stepped up to help him navigate that new path. Joe’s wife and daughters would like to thank all those who assisted Joe during his time of medical need.

Joe’s love does not end with his death. If you met Joe, your heart was undoubtedly changed for the better and that is the way his love will continue on for generations to come. He lived by the words professed by St. Francis, who loved nature and animals:

Given the current pandemic situation, visitation in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822 is private.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Chester Zalubski will also be private at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 2 White Bridge Road, Pittstown, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford.

Burial will take place at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Annandale, NJ.

Please visit Joseph’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia via the donation platform ‘In Memory of’. Please click HERE to be taken to his personal and secure donation page. For those who wish to mail in a contribution, please do so by making a check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘Joseph Lenza’ in the memo, and mailing to: In Memory Of, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

____________________________

Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”