RAYMOND "RAY" HIRSCH

MEMORIAL DONATIONS MAY BE MADE IN RAY'S NAME TO: THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION 55 W. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1150 CHICAGO, IL 60601. VISITATION: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 4PM TO 8PM STICKLE-SOLTESZ FUNERAL HOME FUNERAL MASS: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2020 10AM ST. JOHN VIANNEY RC CHURCH 2823 ROUTE 23 SOUTH STOCKHOLM, NJ 07460 INTERMENT: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2020 FOLLOWING FUNERAL MASS ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CEMETERY BERKSHIRE VALLEY ROAD OAK RIDGE, NJ 07438 OBITUARY FOR RAYMOND HIRSCH 1937-2020 Ray was born in the Bronx on December 17, 1937 and served in the Navy from 1953-1957. He moved to New Jersey in 1973 where he has resided ever since. He was a member of Local #1 International Union of Elevator Constructors for 35 years until he retired in 1997. Throughout his life, he enjoyed cooking and entertaining (everyone loved his breakfasts!!), having a house full of people, traveling, boating, camping, gardening, woodcarving and construction. In fact, he installed a bathroom, a tiled kitchen counter, brick walkway, and extensive fencing around his property; he also did plumbing and electrical work, all the maintenance on his cars and built several decks, a shed and a two car addition on his home entirely by himself. When his sons Christopher and Stephen were working on their Eagle Scout projects in 2010, he pitched in to help both of them with ground preparation, installation of bricks, and construction of steps using railroad ties. Ray was a devout Catholic and attended mass regularly. His love of holidays was evident when he would elaborately decorate his house with lights, soldiers, Santa and more. It attracted many cars of people who would stop and marvel at the lavish decorations. Ray loved his family dearly and was loyal and committed to his closest friends, Aldo and Steve. His generosity and helpful nature surfaced whenever anyone was in need, whether it was to install windows, mow someone’s lawn or repair a neighbor’s car. Those who knew him remember his love of country music and his penchant for western wear, including cowboy boots, western shirts, bolos and hats. He loved animals, evident through his ownership of dogs, cats, rabbits, a parrot, a gerbil, a ferret, and even a snake and was especially attached to his last two dogs Charlie and Amber. Ray was predeceased by his parents, Gottlob and Helen (Schmidt) Hirsch, his great-nephew Matthew Lombardo, his son Christopher, his brother Gottlieb, and his dog Amber. He is survived by his wife Joanne (nee Urbanczyk); five children: Lynn Simons (husband Stephen), Stephen Hirsch (girlfriend Jessica Denzler), Michael Hirsch (wife Stephanie), Liz Hirsch, and Lori Conklin; nine grandchildren: three great grandchildren; two nieces: Ann Marie Lombardo (husband Nick), Christine Luce (husband Bill) and one nephew, William Hirsch; three great nephews, four great-great nephews, four great-great nieces and his dog Charlie (17 years old). The family will receive visitors on Friday, February 14, 2020 from 4pm to 8pm at the Stickle-Soltesz Funeral Home, 187 La Rue Road, Newfoundland, NJ. 07435 (For GPS use 1 Post Place). The Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 10am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Rt 23 South, Stockholm, NJ. Following the funeral mass Ray will be interred beside his son Christopher at St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery, Oak Ridge, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ray’s name to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601. Log onto www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com tribute wall to personally post your condolences, memories, photos, and videos, as well as driving directions to the funeral home.

RAYMOND "RAY" HIRSCH

December 17, 1937 - February 8, 2020