Obituary of Leonard J. Colello

Leonard J. Colello of Hopatcong, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville surrounded by his loving family.   He was 76 years old.  Leonard was born on May 9, 1945 in Jersey City, NJ to the late Leonard and the late Josephine (Esposito) Colello.

Lenny resided in Hopatcong for the past 46 years and prior to that he lived in Gutenberg, NJ.  Mr. Colello was a Vietnam Veteran and proudly served his country in the United States Navy.  Lenny received a bachelor’s degree from St. Peter’s University and was employed as a dispatcher at 3M Business Products for many years before retiring.  He was an active parishioner of St. Jude RC Church since 1946.  Lenny was a history buff and he loved watching war movies but most importantly he cherished his time with his devoted family.

Lenny is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Lillian (nee DiGangi), his 3 sons, Lenny Colello and his wife Nicole, Christopher Colello and his wife, Krystina and Danny Colello, his daughter, AnnMarie Plaut and her husband, Adam, his 12 cherished grandchildren, Nicholas Colello and his wife, Jessie, Noelle Colello, Christopher Colello, Jr., Sophia Colello, Kristen Colello, Cassandra Colello, Hope Colello, Lucas Plaut, Nora Plaut, Charles Plaut, Paisley Colello and Brady Colello and his great-grandson, Colson Charles Colello.  Additional survivors include his brothers, Angelo Colello and Joseph Colello and his sister, Joanne Colello-Harrington.

Lenny’s Life Celebration Services will include a Memorial Mass on Friday, February 4^th, at 11:00 am at St. Jude RC Church, 40 Maxim Drive, Hopatcong, NJ.  Family and friends are invited to meet directly at the church on Friday morning.  All services are entrusted to the Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home of Landing, NJ.   For memorial donations in honor of Lenny, please consider The National Kidney Foundation www.kidney.org  or  The Wounded Warrior Project  www.woundedwarriorproject.org

**Update**:      There will be a Graveside Prayer Service officiated by Father Peter Wierzbicki on Friday, August 19th at 10:30 am at Stanhope Union Cemetery in Mt. Olive Twp., NJ.  Family and friends are invited to meet directly at the cemetery on Friday morning.