Obituary of Roy Thomas Vandenbree

Vandenbree, Roy Thomas age 68 of Totowa at rest in Wayne on February 8, 2015. Beloved husband of Patricia (nee De Ritter) of Totowa. Loving Father of Roy T. Vandenbree II of Haskell, Thomas J. Vandenbree of Totowa, Robert A. Vandenbree of Totowa, and Donna Tortoriello & her husband Frank of Toms River. Devoted grandfather of Briana Lyn, Frank Michael, Kaelyn Nicole, Ashlyn Marie, and Amanda Catherine. Dear son of the late Roy William and the late Irma H. (nee Wester) Vandenbree. Dear brother of John Vandenbree of Wayne and Carol Gargia of Arizona. Roy is preceded in death by a nephew, Denis Din. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. Roy was born and raised in Paterson. In 1971 he was married and moved to Totowa, where he has lived ever since. He was a Building Maintenance Supervisor for the County of Passaic on Hamilton Street, Paterson, before retiring. Roy attended Eastside High School and Montclair State College. He served in the US Army in Germany and Vietnam. Between being active in the US Army and the National Guard, he spent 26 years in military service retiring as Sergeant 1st Class E7. He was active in the community and served as a Committeeman for Cub Pack #26. He was on the Board of Recreation for 5 years. He was Chairman of the Totowa Pool Commission for 5 years. Roy was on the Totowa Board of Education for 18 years, and was currently on the Totowa Planning Board. He was a baseball coach with the Totowa PAL for 15 years. Roy was a member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post #227, a member of the Disabled American Veterans Passaic Chapter #1, a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post #15031, and a member of the Vietnam Veterans Association. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Thursday at 8:45 am. Funeral Mass to follow at St. James RC Church, Totowa at 9:30 AM. Interment at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa. Friends may visit Wednesday 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warrior Project would be appreciated. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.