Angelo Mirabella Jr., age 89, passed away peacefully at home April 13, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Born April 5, 1937, in Taunton, Massachusetts, Angelo was the son of the late Angelo Sr. and Cecelia Mirabella. He was raised in Newark and later moved to Iselin, where he built the foundation of a life marked by hard work, devotion and deep family ties.
After enlisting in the Navy, he returned and lived most of his life in New Jersey before retiring to New England and then Toms River with his beloved wife. After her passing, in his later years, Angelo moved to Belford to live with his granddaughter and her family, where he was surrounded by love and care.
Angelo proudly served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1958, a period of service that reflected his sense of duty and commitment to others. Upon returning to New Jersey, he began a long career with American Airlines, where he worked for 35 years and retired as a crew chief. He was respected for his reliability, his strong work ethic, and the steady, capable way he approached every responsibility with a smile. Those who knew Angelo knew that he was a man who could fix just about anything and who took pride in doing things the right way.
Angelo loved being outdoors and found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and tinkering on cars and around the house; he was never one to sit still for long.
After moving to Belford, he could often be found at the Middletown Senior Center shooting pool with the friends he made there. He valued companionship, conversation, and laughter, and he had a way of making people feel welcome and loved. Kind and handy, Angelo was the sort of person others could always count on.
Above all else, family was the center of Angelo’s life. He loved spending time with family and friends and had a special gift for making everyone feel as though they were part of his own family. He seemed to become everyone’s grandpa, offering warmth, humor, and steady support to those around him. His presence brought comfort and joy, and his love for his family was evident in all that he did.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Lillian, in 2019, and by their daughter, Pamela DeSena, in 1986. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Eugene, Donald and his wife Adeline, and Elaine and her husband Hikmet Kose.
Angelo is survived by his son, Mark; his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Patricia Mirabella; his sisters-in-law, Jean Mirabella, Laura Traynor and Maria Almeida; his adored grandchildren, Nicole and Gregg Uhl, Alyson and Kyle LeBaron, and John DeSena III; his six great-grandchildren, Dharma, Ryleigh, Isabelle, Amelia, Brody and Maxwell; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Angelo Mirabella Jr. will be remembered for his kindness, his practical nature, his devotion to family, and the quiet strength with which he lived his life. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched, the memories he created, and the love he gave so freely.
Friends and family paid their respects April 18 at Scott & Keds Home for Funerals. A service concluded the afternoon and a private cremation followed.
The article originally appeared in the April 30 – May 6, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
