CHRISTOPHER J. HIRSCH

Christopher J. Hirsch, 25 years, of Oak Ridge, NJ passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 1, 2017. He was born on December 4, 1991 in Krakow, Poland. He attended St. Peter the Apostle grammar school in Parsippany, NJ and graduated from Morris Catholic High School in 2010 where he was on the fencing team. He also attended The County College of Morris where he took several classes. Chris was an active member of the Boy Scouts in Troop 49 in Jefferson Township. He attained Brotherhood Rank in the Order of the Arrow in 2009 and in 2010 he was awarded Eagle Scout rank. On campouts, all of the scouts wanted to be in his patrol so they could enjoy his culinary creations and observe and learn his creative pyrotechnic techniques. It was during this time that he also earned his Black Belt in karate. Chris worked at Casa Bianca in Oak Ridge from 2010 to 2015 as a banquet server and food preparer. Most recently he worked as a landscaper for Fairview Landscaping in Wayne, NJ and at Ochs Orchard in Warwick, New York. He will best be remembered for his love of the outdoors, especially hiking and camping, his impressive culinary talent in preparing creative, delicious gourmet dishes, his natural artistic ability in acrylic painting and drawing, his astounding creative imagination in constructing intricate designs with Legos, his love of family, his attachment to his Polish heritage, making homemade kielbasy with his brother Stephen and “Uncle” Jerry, and his patience and loving kindness to young children and his contagious smile and laugh. Chris was predeceased by his maternal grandparents Josephine L. and Joseph J. Urbanczyk; and his paternal grandparents Helen and Gottlieb Hirsch. He is survived by his beloved parents Raymond and Joanne (Urbanczyk) Hirsch; his loving twin brother Stephen and his girlfriend Jessica Denzler; his girlfriend Jessie and her daughter Tessa; his maternal aunt and godmother Lynn Ennis and her husband Barry; his uncle and godfather Joseph Urbanczyk; his Uncle Dennis Voelkel and his Aunt Susan; his “Granny June” Urbanczyk of South Carolina; and his paternal Uncle Sonny Hirsch; his maternal first cousins Sophie Voelkel, Chelsea Simon and her husband Zach, and Barry J. Ennis; his paternal first cousins Ann Marie Lombardo and her husband Nick, Christine Luce and her husband Bill; his godfather Billy Hirsch; step-brother Michael and his step-sisters Lynn, Lizzie, and Lori; many second cousins and extended family; as well as his dogs Amber and Charley,his cat Calico, and his ferret Nux. Chris was a member of St. John Vianney parish and served as an altar boy and Eucharistic minister. He was very involved in Antioch and served as a team leader for several retreats. In addition, he was an active member of the Franciscan Mystery Players for several years and played various roles, including that of Jesus Christ. The family will receive visitors on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 3pm to 7pm at the Stickle-Soltesz Funeral Home, 187 La Rue Road, Newfoundland, NJ 07435 (for GPS use 1 Post Place). A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 10am at St. John Vianney RC Church, 2823 Route 23 South, Stockholm, NJ 07460. The interment will follow at St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery in Oak Ridge, NJ. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Christopher’s name to: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 120 Wall Street, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10005 or to The Conservation Fund, 1655 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22209. Log onto www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com tribute wall to personally post your condolences, memories, photos, and videos, as well as obtaining driving directions to the funeral home.

CHRISTOPHER J. HIRSCH

December 4, 1991 - April 1, 2017