Community Will Gather This Weekend to Remember John Amendola

A day after what would have been his 40^th birthday, friends and family will gather at a funeral home Saturday to remember the life of Hasbrouck Heights native John Amendola, who was

Services will be held at Stellato Funeral Home in Lyndhurst beginning Saturday, Dec. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will take place Monday, Dec. 19 at 10:30 a.m.

The body of Amendola was found Sunday afternoon in his Union Avenue home.

Scott Smith, 33, of Hasbrouck Heights, who police said personally knew Amendola, was charged Monday with first degree murder, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Smith, a former Hasbrouck Heights police officer, will have his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Hasbrouck Heights community continues to mourn Amendola. Hundreds have left messages on Amendola’s Facebook page since Sunday night. Many around town fondly remember him from his days behind the counter at Amendola’s Deli on the Boulevard, which he owned for two years until it closed about two years ago.

Amendola was a graduate of the Class of 1989.