Obituary of Denis J. Finnegan

Denis J. Finnegan South Plainfield, NJ - Denis J. Finnegan, 92, died on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at his home. Born in England to his late parents Nicholas and Margaret (Mackin) Finnegan, he moved to the United States when he was three years old. Denis was raised in Bayonne and has been a resident of South Plainfield since 1955. Denis met his sweetheart at the VJ-Day on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and they married on November 16, 1946. Denis was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army as a radio dispatcher, having the rank of Corporal. He received a Purple Heart for battle wounds he sustained in Rome, Italy as part of the 1st Armored Division. He served under General Patton in Italy, Africa and England. After forty-three years with the American Can Company of Jersey City, Denis retired at the age of fifty-five as a cost accountant. He enjoyed volunteering at Muhlenberg Medical Center in Plainfield and was a member of the VFW Post #6763 of South Plainfield. He was a skilled carpenter and liked spending time gardening. Denis could often be found sailing his boat "At Last" and his favorite thing he enjoyed was chewing on toothpicks.. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his two brothers and two sisters. Denis leaves behind his wife of sixty-four years Mary (Boyle) and their children; Denis and his wife Gail of Stanton, VA, Maureen Davis and her husband William of Linden, Kevin Finnegan of South Plainfield and Kathleen and Michael Downes also of South Plainfield. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2011 beginning 9:15 AM in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 followed by a 10:00 AM funeral mass at Sacred Heart RC Church in South Plainfield. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Sunday, August 7, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM and on Monday from 9:00 AM until the service time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Haven Hospice, C/O JFK Medical Center, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820