Obituary of Vijaiyanand Prasad

Plainfield - Vijaiyanand Prasad, 65, died suddenly on Monday, March 17, 2014 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. Born in Grove, East Bank, Demerara, Guyana, Vijaiyanand moved to the United States in 1968. He joined the U.S. Army in 1970 and was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge in 1972. After 35 years of dedicated service with Verizon, Vijaiyanand focused on helping others by becoming very active with the American Red Cross, Toastmasters, and PSG (Professional Services Group). With the American Red Cross, he traveled around the country to set up disaster shelters and provide aid to those in need. With the PSG, he helped others write resumes, practice public speaking and perform practice interviewing. Surviving are his: wife Chitra of Plainfield; daughter, Sumantha Prasad of Maryland; son, Vijay "Andy" Prasad of California; one grandchild; five brothers and four sisters. Funeral services will begin at 12PM on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield NJ 07080 followed by cremation in Rosehill Crematory, 792 US Highway 1 N, Linden NJ 07036. Family and friends may attend visitation on Thursday, March 20, 2014 and Friday, March 21, 2014 from 6-9PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations have been requested to the American Red Cross in Vijaiyanand's memory.