Carmen V. Pagliuca "Champ" of the Port Reading section of Woodbridge Township passed away on Saturday February 17, 2018 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. He was 86 years old.

Born September 3, 1931 in Jersey City, NJ; He has resided in Port Reading for the past 60 years.

He was a Communicant of St. Anthony's R.C. Church in Port Reading.

Mr. Pagliuca was a United States Army Veteran serving in the Korean War as a Sergeant.

He was a meat cutter the majority of his life starting at Pierro's Meat Market in Jersey City that his family owned and retiring from Pathmark in East Brunswick in 1997.

Carmen was hard-working, quick-witted and had a colorful vocabulary. He loved word puzzles, reading, history and movies. He was an expert in home repair, a creative woodworker and a determined gardener who loved swimming, fishing, and bicycling. He passed down his family history through stories and by teaching his grandchildren to make homemade pasta.

Mr. Pagliuca was predeceased by his parents Catherine and Vito Pagliuca.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Eleanor Wyville Pagliuca; five loving children Michael Pagliuca and his wife Maureen, Marie Pagliuca, John Pagliuca and his wife Holly, Jeffrey Pagliuca and his wife Nancy, and James Pagliuca and his wife Cathy; his grandchildren Michael and his wife Corinne, Jennifer Alson and her husband Davin, Vanessa Viscusi and her husband David, Nicholas, Danielle, Anthony, Joseph, Nicole, and Allison; five great-grandchildren Brianna, Lainee, Harry, Marissa, and Matteo; a sister Annette Cellini and her husband Rudy; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral will take place Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 9:15 a.m. from Costello-Greiner Funeral Home ( www.Costello-greiner.com ) 44 Green Street at Barron Ave., Woodbridge at 10:00 a.m. funeral liturgy will take place at St. Anthony's R.C. Church, Port Reading. Entombment will be at St. Gertrude's Cemetery, Colonia.

Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Anthony of Padua Church building fund.