Philip H. Thiele

Philip H. Thiele, 90, our beloved “Cappy”, passed away suddenly but peacefully, the way he had always hoped, on Sunday evening, September 25, 2022, in the Job Haines Home, Bloomfield, NJ.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ on Thursday, September 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, 663 Kearny Avenue, Kearny on Friday, September 30 at 11:00 a.m. Cremation will be private. Copestone-Ophir Lodge No. 108 F. & A. M. service Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Born in the family home at 247 Belgrove Drive on December 27, 1931, he lived in Kearny until moving to North Arlington, NJ in 1965.

Philip graduated from Kearny High School in 1949. On Memorial Day, in 1951, he rang the doorbell at the John D. Crane & Sons Funeral Home at 241 Kearny Avenue.  He was hired as an apprentice, and this was the beginning of a 70-year career in funeral service. He was drafted in 1952 and served his country in the U.S. Army. After being honorably discharged in 1954, he returned to Crane Funeral Home.  Upon completion of his apprenticeship, he enrolled at McAllister School of Embalming in New York City and graduated on June 20, 1957.  Shortly after, he earned his New Jersey Practitioner of Mortuary Science License (No. 2383).

On December 23, 1966, the Crane family sold the funeral business to Philip and Joan Thiele where they continued to operate the funeral home for the next 42 years.   On December 5, 2008, his son, Steven and daughter-in-law, Helen acquired the Edward T. Reid Home for Funerals at 585 Belgrove Drive. It is here where the Crane, Thiele, and Reid funeral homes currently operate as the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home.

Philip was a member of the Essex, Union & West Hudson Funeral Directors Association and the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. Mr. Thiele was an active member of the Kearny Optimist Club, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Copestone-Ophir Lodge No. 108 F. & A.M. and the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, all of Kearny.  Phil was also a member of the Ocean Grove Fishing Club, and the Crystal Point Yacht Club, Brick, NJ.  It was at Crystal Point, where he docked his beloved Chris Craft named the “Wake Maker”.

 In his later years, Phil enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, trips to the Jersey shore and watching his favorite sports teams. Every boat or marina we see, every Giant, Yankee, or Ranger game we watch, every perfectly prepared VO Manhattan on the rocks we drink are just a few things that will remind us of our beloved “Cappy”.  A heartfelt thank you to the entire staff at the Job Haines Home, your care and compassion is second to none.

He is survived by three children, David P. Thiele and his wife, Patricia Wieland of Nanuet, NY, Gaye S. McLaughlin and her husband, Richard of Livingston, NJ and Steven R. Thiele and his wife Helen of Kearny. He was the grandfather of Jessie Thiele, Sarah and Matthew McLaughlin, and Brendan, Jonathan, Ryan and Jeremy Thiele.

Phil was predeceased by his wife, Joan Thiele (nee Adams) and his brother, Alfred E. and his wife, Elaine S. (Schweighardt) Thiele.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in his name to the Remembrance Fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, Kearny.

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