Emil Brandafi, Sr., 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 17, 2017 at his home in Perth Amboy.

Born in Drenje, Croatia, he immigrated to the United States in 1958 and resided in Bucks County, PA. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, he and his bride moved to Woodbridge and then to Perth Amboy 56 years ago. Mr. Brandafi enjoyed family and fishing. He often would take his family on fishing trips where many good memories were made.

Mr. Brandafi was employed with Anaconda Copper Works in Perth Amboy, Mobil Chemical Company in Edison and Volta of Laurence Harbor before his retirement.

He was predeceased by his sister, Anna Pancel, on March 30, 2017.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Katharina Drescher Brandafi; a son, Emil Brandafi, Jr. and his wife, Natalia, of Matawan; two grandsons, Daniel and Alex Brandafi; a niece, Antonia Pancel-Cipric, of Avenel; and a nephew, John Vrtaric, of Woodbridge.

Funeral services will be on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 8:45 a.m. from Costello-Greiner Funeral Home ( www.costello-greiner.com ), 44 Green Street in Woodbridge . A Funeral Liturgy will follow at 9:30 a.m. at the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the Assumption in Perth Amboy. Interment will be in Saint Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Brandafi's memory to Alzheimer's New Jersey (alznj.org), 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 would be greatly appreciated by his family.