Obituary of William M. Giakas
Penns Grove, NJ – William M. Giakas, 87, known to many as Bill, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 17, 2023, at Cadia Healthcare – Pike Creek – in Wilmington, DE. After waiting 17 years, Bill has gone home to be reunited with his wife Elena.
Bill was born in Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, NY in 1936 to Michael and Gertrude (Rudolph) Giakas. He graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School before joining the National Guard. It was while living in New Jersey that he met and married the love of his life, Antionette “Elena” (Carnavale) Giakas. Together, they built a business, while they were also building their family. Along with Bill’s brother, George, they founded three dry cleaning stores. Giakas Cleaners remains a family operated business in South Plainfield.
Bill lived in South Plainfield for 38 years before retiring to Penns Grove, NJ in 1997. Once there, he became an active member of First Assembly of God, Carney’s Point, NJ. A lifelong musician, Bill was a talented classical clarinet performer and accomplished saxophone player. Bill volunteered his talents weekly, playing and providing music for the Church. When he wasn’t recruited to read bedtime stories, he spent many hours composing them; although poetry soon became his chosen genre. Most recently, Bill enjoyed socializing at Delaware Park.
Bill was predeceased by his beautiful wife, Elena, and their darling twin daughters, Stacy and Tracy. He also was predeceased by his siblings: Walter, Livinia, Mildred (Cerafesi), John and Anna (Chilemmi); and brother-in-law, Dominic Bottone.
Bill is survived by his two sons and seven grandchildren: William and Denise (DeAndrea) of Rockford, IL and their 4 children: Andreas, Sebastian, Julian, and Sophia (Yusouf Ayesh); Robert and Kristin (Kline) of Newark, DE and their three children: Alec, Kyra, and Kristina (“Nina”).
He leaves behind his brother, George (Eileen) and Nicolina Bottone of Middlesex and Gemma Rozich (Alan) of Exton, PA and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A viewing will be held at McCriskin – Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 10 AM to 12 PM.
A funeral service will be held at the funeral home beginning at 12 PM.
Entombment will follow at Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Cemetery Rd, Woodbridge Township, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the Giakas family has asked that donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation, in Bill’s name.