Rocco Joseph Palestina, Jr.

Rocco Joseph Palestina, Jr., age 55 years, of Clinton Township, NJ, died on Thursday, January 12, 2012 in the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born in Newark, NJ, January 31, 1956, son of Gloria Ruggerio Palestina of Nutley, NJ and the late Rocco Joseph Palestina, Sr., he had resided in Clinton Township for the past three years, having formerly lived in Denville, East Hanover and Nutley, NJ.

A graduate of the University of California at Fullerton with a degree in Communications, Rocco was currently a Claims Investigator with Plymouth Rock Insurance Co., Berkeley Heights, NJ, formerly known as Palisades Insurance Co. He had formerly been employed with Ohio Casualty and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.

He was a Communicant of Immaculate Conception Church, Annandale, NJ and was very supportive of charity work, especially the St. John's Soup Kitchen in Newark, NJ.

An AVID New York Giants, New York Yankees and New York Rangers fan, Rocco's true passion was his family. The phrases of devoted father, loving husband, cherished son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend can not even begin to capture Rocco's true spirit of love and sense of humor.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of seven years, Jill Damiano Palestina; his daughter, Julianna Maria Palestina; his son, Rocco Joseph Palestina III; his brother and sister-in-law, Michael Anthony and Daria Palestina of Mendham, NJ; his niece, Adrianna Palestina; his mother-in-law, Karen Damiano of Toms River, NJ; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11:00 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, 316 Old Allerton Road, Annandale, NJ under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Inurnment will be in Immaculate Conception Mausoleum, located on the Church grounds. Calling hours will be Sunday from 1:00-3:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. as well as Monday from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Soup Kitchen, PO Box 200147, Newark, NJ 07102.