45°
ORADELL, N.J. -- John Joseph Verrier enjoyed every minute of his time on Earth.
Born to Frances Scanlon Verrier and Clifton Joseph Verrier in 1935, and raised in the Bronx, he was a lifelong New York Yankees and Giants fan.
He met his wife Jo-Ann Heilferty at Visitation Parish and they married in 1957.
Verrier graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. He soaked up every experience his beloved Iona College had to offer. He was on the student government and was awarded the Sullivan Award at graduation.
He began his highly successful career in the food packaging industry with Solo Cup Company. He moved to Mobil Chemical, where he became his division's top salesman. During the oil crisis in the 1970s, Verrier exercised his entrepreneurial spirit to start his own company, J.A. Heilferty Co./Primepak.
He and Jo-Ann moved from the Bronx to Rockland County with four children, and then to Bergen County with the full complement of seven in 1979.
In retirement, he wrote music, including a fight song for Iona, and several tunes from a musical work-in-progress, including "Every Night's A Good Night in Galway."
He was active in his parish communities at St. Gregory Barbarigo in Garnerville, N.Y. and St. Joseph's in Oradell. He enjoyed spending time at the Elks' Club and the Oak Ale House as much as he enjoyed an evening at the Pops, the ballet or the Waldorf.
His commitment to Iona continued with his service as a trustee and as honorary chair of the Class of 1957.
He was predeceased by Jo-Ann; son-in-law Charlie; and grandson Jeff.
He is survived by his sister Barbara Verrier Kemple; in-laws Henry, Rosemary and Lyn Heilferty and Julie and Michael Mullin; children Jo-Ann and Mark, Jeanne and John, Judy, Ellen and Tim, Michele and Tony, John and Sue, and Kristen and Leon; grandchildren Danielle, Lauren and Michael, Jaclyn, Jillian and Dave, John, Mikayla, Samantha, Mick, John, Nicole, Daniel, Michael, Isaiah, Michelle, John, Cassidy, Elijah, Logan, Rhia, Grayson, Fallon and Kai; seven great-grandchildren, Jaden, Angelina, Charles, Sydney, Stella, Jackson and Jack; and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Verrier Deserving Student Scholarship Fund at Iona College, 715 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY, 10801.
Family and friends are welcome to celebrate his life between 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 268 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St Joseph's Church in Oradell. Interment to follow at Ascension Cemetery in Monsey, N.Y.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Paramus and receive free news updates.
