Scillieri Funeral Home
Our Founder
Stephen J. Scillieri,
Funeral Director
Born and raised in Paterson, Mr. Scillieri was a lifelong city resident. A graduate of Eastside High School, The Renouard Training School for Embalmers and the American Academy of Embalming, both in New York City, he entered the funeral business in 1941 as an apprentice at Scanlan Funeral Home.
“He and my father were very close,” said Charlie Scanlan, son of Martin, who then co-owned the funeral home in Paterson. “He was always a wonderful man.”
In the 1960s, Mr. Scillieri started his own funeral home. He became a member of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and served as president of the Passaic County Funeral Directors Association.
He was appointed to the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science under Govs. James J. Florio and Thomas H. Kean Sr., and in 1988 and 1989, he served as its president.
“He handled each death with dignity and made each family feel like they were special, because they were,” Pascrell said. “When Mayor (Frank) Graves died, he handled the funeral.”
Mr. Scillieri was involved in the city of Paterson. He was a former member of the Chamber of Commerce and its Executive Committee, and he was a member of the Rotary Club, All Wags Athletic Club, and Old Timers Athletic Association. He served as commissioner of the city’s Parking Authority and Redevelopment Agency.
“He really loved Paterson,” Pascrell said. “This is where he lived all his life. We worked together on many projects in the neighborhood.”
Because of his community involvement, Mr. Scillieri received the John J. & Anthony J. Pasquale Memorial Award for the public service to the youth of the city, the Ed Bastady Memorial Award for years of service, PICO’s Outstanding Senior Citizen Award, and Paterson Firefighters Association Honor Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Public Service.
Mr. Scillieri was also a fourth knight of Knights of Columbus Paterson Council 240, Monsignor Stein General Assembly and Alhambra Caravan; and he was a parishioner, Eucharistic minister and church trustee of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, receiving its Man of the Year Award in 1996.
According to Pascrell, who met Mr. Scillieri at the church 35 years ago, “He was always at the center of the parish, and the parish was the center of the neighborhood.”
Mr. Scillieri was a member of the Elks Lodge 60 in Elmwood Park, and the Riverside Veterans Association and San Guiseppe Santa Croce Society, both in Hawthorne.
“He’s going to be tremendously missed. He touched so many people,” Pascrell said.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John, and a sister, Josephine Culmone.
Surviving are his wife, the former Jane P. Dwyer; a son, Stephen A. of Paterson; a daughter, Ellen Cox of Florida; four grandchildren; and a great grandchild.