Joseph Gilfedder passed away on Monday, October 29 at his home in Kearny, NJ after a long illness. Mr. Gilfedder was born in Glasgow, Scotland and settled in Kearny in 1964. He was the son of the late Patrick Joseph McKenzie Gilfedder and Agnes (nee Downie) Gilfedder. He leaves his wife of 48 years, Harriet (nee Hughes) Gilfedder, his son, Brian Gilfedder and his wife, Brenda, of Rockaway Township, his daughter, Maureen O’Callaghan and her husband, Fred, also of Kearny and four grandchildren, Brian Joseph and Thomas Gilfedder and Brianne and Owen O’Callaghan. He also leaves three sisters, Margaret Campbell (late Patrick), Agnes Kelman (late Ronald), Molly McDonald (late James), a brother Robert Gilfedder and his wife Sandra (nee McKinley), thirteen nieces and nephews, and many grandnieces and nephews, all of Scotland. In addition, he leaves his brother in law, Robert Hughes and his wife, Nancy and their children of Sammamish, Washington.
Mr. Gilfedder served in the British Army, 1st Battalion The Cameronians Scottish Rifles, from 1955-1957. He was a first class and experimental machinist for Rolls Royce Ltd. Aero Engine in Glasgow, Walter Kidde Corp. in Belleville and ITT Defense Communications and Avionics in Nutley. After retiring in 2002, he started a second career as a landscaper/groundskeeper at Kean University, Union retiring from there in 2012. He was a former member of the Irish American Assoc. and Glasgow Celtic Supporters, both of Kearny.
Family and friends are welcome to attend the visitation at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home 585 Belgrove Dr., Kearny on Friday, November 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. and the funeral from the funeral home on Saturday, November 3 at 10 a.m. then to St. Stephen's RC Church, 676 Kearny Ave.,Kearny, for the funeral mass at 11 a.m. A service and entombment will follow at Holy Cross Mausoleum and Chapel, 340 Ridge Rd., North Arlington.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Joseph Gilfedder, please visit our floral store.