Obituary: ​John E. DeFeo 59, Formerly Of Orange

Information and photo via Porto Funeral Home,

John E. DeFeo 59, of Kinnelon, NJ and formerly of Orange, CT passed away peacefully on October 22, 2018 at his home. John was born in New Haven on October 18, 1959 beloved son of Robert and Judith Dacunte DeFeo of Orange.

He studied for his law degree while living in New York City, where he met his wife, Margaret and later settled in Kinnelon, where they have lived since 2001. John was a lifelong goofball and loved being the life of the party. Whether joking with old friends, embellishing long stories with new, or telling the same jokes to his family, he could always be counted on to make you laugh.

John also had a lifelong passion for politics. He studied political science in undergrad at Fordham University, attending national conventions, and was later involved in local politics at various times in his life. Later in life he ended up spending most evenings catching up on the day’s events, and could often be found debating good naturedly with friends and family.

He was also an avid traveler, and loved exploring new places, visiting all 50 states over the course of his life. He also loved sharing this passion with his family, planning trips all over the U.S. as well as to visit his wife’s family in Ireland most summers.

John is survived by his devoted family; wife, Margaret and children; Ellen, Paul and Tim; his parents; his siblings, Robert DeFeo (Dawn), Susan Simone, David DeFeo (Laura), Mark DeFeo (Aileen) and Steven DeFeo (Pam). His mother in-law, Susan Finnerty; his nieces and nephews, Kevin Simone (Becka) and their son Jaxon, Jessica Simone, Brian, Sarah and Daniel DeFeo, Christopher and Robert DeFeo, Will DeFeo, Aoife, Anna, Hugh, and Emily Broderick, Mark, Andrew, and Lucy Finnerty, Catherine and Patrick Finnerty, Hannah and Rosie O'Brien; and his brothers and sisters in-law, Patricia (Tony) Broderick, Enda (Mary) Finnerty, Cormac (Rachael) Finnerty and Susan (J.P.) O’Brien. John was predeceased by his father in-law, Patrick Finnerty and brother-in-law Sandy Simone.

On October 26, 2018 A Funeral Mass was offered at Our Lady of the Magnificat RC Church in Kinnelon.Please join our family for a Celebration of his Life at the Holy Infant Parish Center located in the Lower Level of the SCHOOL, 456 Racebrook Road, Orange, CT. from 1-4:30 PM on SATURDAY November 24, 2018 with an opportunity to share your memories of John starting at 1:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made in John's memory to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.