- Welcome to Daley Life Celebration Studio, where we Celebrate the Color of Life.
Michael J. Chiaccio
Michael J. Chiaccio, passed away surrounded by his loving family, Sunday, July 12, 2009, in Samaritan Hospice, Virtual Memorial Hospital. He was 68. rnrnBorn and raised in Riverside, Michael graduated Riverside High School in 1959 and attended St. Peter’s Elementary School. As a proud member of the Riverside community he began as an altar boy at St. Peter’s Church. He became a co-founder and member of the Jaycee’s in his early 20’s and supported many businesses and people in the community throughout his life. Born to a line of business owners, he was the oldest child of Joseph and Edna Chiaccio. He managed the family business, Chiaccio Motors, a car/motorcycle dealership in Riverside. He became a certified auctioneer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and performed auctions throughout the Philadelphia Metropolitan area including the S&S Auction, the Dutch Auction, the South Jersey Auto Auction and the Philadelphia Public Auto Auction. As a businessman he wore many hats, his favorite being the “Top Hat”. He was affectionately known as “Ole’ Colonel Mike”. rnWith a love of the Blues, Michael knew every artist from the 50s and 60s. As a result he began selling and trading very rare records at flea markets. It was here that his top hat and energetic charm caught the eye of Maria (nee Zylawyj). Their 30 years of friendship and love were sealed in marriage in 2005. An avid dancer, Mike’s proudest dance was his first official dance as Maria’s husband. At family events, he was never far from the dance floor where he could be found spinning with his wife, granddaughters, nieces, and friends.rnMichael was a showman by nature and was famous for how well he could tell a story. His status as a raconteur is legendary. The stories he told were meant to captivate the listener, to make someone laugh, to teach a life lesson, or to lift spirits. While his narratives mesmerized people, Michael also realized that others had their own stories to tell. One of Michael’s great gifts was to entice people to tell their story. He understood how people felt and nearly everyone he encountered walked away feeling a little better about themselves.rnMichael is survived by three daughters from his first marriage to Joyce Rossi: Rhonda Cardone (Don) of Basking Ridge; Joyce Yeager (Dan) of Delran; and Lila McKeon (John) of Delran; and grandchildren Mitchell, Brittany Cardone, Jessica, Danielle, Michael Yeager, Jacquelyn and Ashley McKeon. His siblings include: Margaret Powell (the late Jerry) of Medford Lakes; Faye Marinelli (Ronald) of Florence; and Gary Chiaccio (Mary) of Delran; as well as his nieces and nephews: Joseph, Margaret, Alisa, Gina, Jamie, Joseph, and Meredith.rnrnHe is survived by his wife Maria who he married in 2005. His stepchildren and stepgrandchildren include: Paul Wituschek (Lois) of Warrington, and their children Heather and Ashley; Rodney Wituschek (Danielle) of Delran and their children Ryan, Sean and RJ and their stepchildren Kyle and Richie; and Mark Wituschek (Lisa) of Swedesboro and their son Mark. Also very significant to his life were Wendy (nee Macchioni) of AL., and Robert Macchioni of Delran, as well as numerous other friends and family members.rn rnCome celebrate 68 charismatic years Friday from 6-9 PM and Saturday 8:30-9:30 AM at the Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30 Am at Sacred Heart Church , Riverton. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery, Riverside. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Dr., Marlton, NJ 08053.rn
11 Comments
My deepest symphathy to the Chiaccio family. My prayers and love will be with your family at this time. I know personally what Mike went through these past years with cancer. Today, July 16, 2009 as I will undergo prostate cancer surgery at Lourdres in Camden. Mike told me he will be there for me at June meeting at the Riverside Historical Society at the Riverside Methodist Church. I know today Mike’s spirit and prayers will be with me during the surgery. Mike was a true Riverside person and he really understood people’s feelings and truly listened to every conversation. He helped me that night (even as sick as he was)to understand cancer and give me hope to fight and conquer this sickness. Even though I can not attend his funeral I will be there in spirit as Mike is with me today during surgery. God Bless and Mike thanks for being there during my time of sickness. The Pattanite/Cannone family knew the Chiccio family for generations in town and sends thier condolences to the family at this time. They also are unable to attend the funeral services. rnrnRichard Pattanite,Jr.rnVice-President Riverside Historical Society
Where do I start with Mike? I have so many fond memories of him. I think the most rememberal was riding by one day, seeing him and Maria out front with their lawn chairs. I went home, walked back to their house and sat with them. There had just been new concrete put out front and they wanted to be sure no one touched it. Mike had the stories! I could sit there for hours listening to him and enjoying the history of the Chiaccio family. Near the end when they were having the house resided, Mike would be outside watching the workers. He was so happy. Other days it would just be Maria and she would say that Mike was inside not feeling well. We would have to leave each other because neither of us could talk. I will never forget you Mike and will have a hard time riding by your home and not seeing you wave or flag me over. My condolences go out to the whole Chiaccio family. You are a very large, loving family. Michael you will be sadly missed. Love ya Mike, Lorraine
To say that Michael was charismatic is just not enough to describe what a great man he was. He was everything the obituary said plus so much more. Good guys like Michael are not around anymore. He was loved by everyone that met him. He was a great friend & boss of mine 26 years ago at Chiaccio Motors. We kept in touch all this time & it will be sad to know a good friend is now gone, but the memories will live on. He meant so much to everyone & will be sadly missed. If you were a friend of Michael, you were a very fortunate person. There are just so many good things you could say about Michael, words cannot describe. He loved all of his family; daughters, grandchildren & especially his wife Maria. God Bless to all the family of Michael Chiaccio, we will all miss him very much.
Michael could brighten up any room he walked into.The fond memories I have of him will be in my heart forever.He was a great friend and boss,which the man treated me like one of the family. He alawys cared about what was going on in your life and what he could help with.Even after Chiaccio Motors closed we still kept in touch all these years. I was there to see him marry his long time sweetheart and it was amazing to be part of that.There needs to be more people in the world like Michael, he was a true story teller, I use to listen to them all the time ,and every one of them had a good meaning to them.I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with him and get to know him as a good friend.I could keep going on and on,but still wouldn’t get all of my thoughts in.Maria ,you and Michael will always be in my heart.My heart goes out to the family of Michael Chiaccio and send you my deepest sympathy. I will miss him very much.God Bless.
MY DEAR FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR , YOU WILL BE SADLEY MISSED. MY FRONT PORCH AND BACK YARD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME . YOU WILL BE MISSED. THE HOLT FAMILY
The way I remember my Uncle Mike is as always being the life of the party. He was always teasing us kids and playing around with us. But the best thing was when he would bring in a box of jewelry that I guess he would pick up at an auction or a flea market and I would get to play dress up with these fake jewels! I loved that as a kid and that’s where i think my love of jewelry began! Thanks Uncle Mike for those times, I wish there were more we could have shared. Will you please say hi to Mimi and Poppop for me? Love you, your niece Gina
As a childhood friend and neighbor, I have many wonderful memories including the dances, held in his Grandfather’s hall. What fun and happy times. Michael, Jody, and Gary, together again! May he rest in peace and God’s loving care.
Mike was the most important person in my life from 1970 until the day he died. My brother and I have 40 years of memories of being raised by the most honest, loving, dependable, and wonderful man in the world. Mike shared with me every important event in my life. I could write a book…actually, I am! rn I will never forget the fun times working at Chiaccio Motors and at The Quaker City Flea Market selling records with Mike. He made such a good impression coming into my classroms over the years to read to my students…inspiring them to read.rn Mike gave me inspiration and direction as a child and courage and compassion as an adult. The values and love that he so graciously shared with me will be forever in my heart.rn So thank you and goodnight my sweet father, my mentor, my friend,rn Love,rn Wendy
Mike got me interested in collecting R&B records. He was a good Godfather to my son, Raymond. There was never a dull moment when Mike was around. I remember our great camping trips with Wendy, Bobby, Joyce, and Lila, and my sister, Dolores. Our fishing trips to Tuckerton are something I’ll never forget! I always had a blast with Mike! I loved spending time with Mike. He was always a straight-up guy. I will surely miss him.rnThank you, Mike, for being a part of my life and for being so good to my niece and nephew, Wendy and Bobby.rnLove,rnRay
Michael is the COOLEST brother of all time. We got to spend nearly everyday of our lives with each other over the last 15 years and we laughed and joked and talked & talked & talked. He always had my back and protected me. He took care to be special to my children and help be like a grandfather to them. No matter what I asked of him, he willing did for his brother. I loved him and admired him. He was my mentor, he was my hero.rnLike his mom used to do when he was little, all you had to do was just pretend to wind him up and he would keep plugging away. Like his dad, he was as honest of a man you could ever know. Like his mom, he helped people whenever they needed him. He was proud of all of his family and his heritage. rnAs much as he loved us all, the love of his life was his Maria. He truly adored Maria and always took care of her. By the way, Michael’s vast music collection included 79 different versions of the song “Marie”.rnHis friends were also his family and they were never far from his heart. Those friends define the meaning of friendship. Peter, Jack, Joe D, Jimmy, George, Dick, Billy, Rosie, Jodie, Joe W, Maryann, Sharon and all the girls are his eternal friends. rnHe?ll be with me everyday the rest of my life. He was a precious man. Thank God for giving him to all of us.
MIKE CAME TO THE CLINIC FREQUENTLY TO RECEIVE TREATMENT. THE SECOND MIKE WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR, THE LAUGHTER WOULD FOLLOW. HE BRIGHTENED THE SPIRIT OF EVERYONE DESPITE HOW HE WAS FEELING. WE LOVED LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF THE FAMOUS RACONTEUR. THE CLINIC WAS DEEPLY SADDENED BY HIS PASSING.ALTHOUGH HIS PHYSICAL PRESENCE HAS LEFT US..THE FOND MEMORIES OF HIM WILL LIVE FOREVER IN OUR IN OUR HEARTS…ESPECIALLY OURS…PCAM 2 INFUSION CENTER