William M. Dirienzo

William M. Dirienzo, 98, of Holiday City South section of Berkeley Twp., NJ, passed away on Friday, June 21, 2024. 

Born in Passaic, NJ, he lived in Fairfield, NJ and Manchester, NJ before moving to Berkeley Twp. in 1994.

William was a decorated World War II combat veteran of the 3rd Infantry Division, United States Army, attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant.  After the war he served in the NJ Army National Guard, 5oth Armored Division,  attaining the rank of Master Sergeant and First Sergeant. 

His awards and badges include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal.  For his part in the liberation of France, he was awarded the Legion of Honor and named a Knight Chevalier by the French government.  In addition to these honors, William was very proud of having helped to liberate the Dachau concentration camp.  His combat service and valor is also documented in the book “Italian Americans in World War II”.

He was a graduate of Clifton (NJ) High School and after his wartime service, he graduated from the New York Technical Institute under the G.I. bill.

For many years before his retirement, William was a Quality and Reliability Technician and Supervisor/Foreman for the Bendix Corp. in Teterboro, which later became Allied Signal.  He was very proud of his work on the instrumentation of various components for the NASA space program and numerous military and civilian aircraft.

William was a parishioner of St. Maximilian Kolbe RC Church, Berkeley Twp. and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 3rd Division Association, the U.A.W,  and he was a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Predeceased by his parents, Michael J. Dirienzo and Lucy (Bonanno) Dirienzo and his younger brother Harold Dirienzo

He is survived by his loving wife of 76 years, Gloria (nee Bianchi), three sons Lawrence Dirienzo and his wife Mary of Oakhurst, NJ, William Dirienzo and his wife Tess of Fort Pierce, FL and Michael Dirienzo and his wife Elaine of Toms River, five grandchildren, Guinevere, Jesse, Lawrence Jr., Melissa and Thomas,  and thirteen great grandchildren, Leah, Tristan, Eva, Nathaniel, Ambrose, Raffaella, Benjamin, Claire, Emily, Dean, Reed, Dominic, and Mia Rose, and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, July 1, 2024 4:00pm – 8:00pm at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 145 St. Catherine Blvd., Toms River.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:00am at St. Maximilian Kolbe RC Church, Berkeley Twp.  Burial to follow at the BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital,  the charity of your choice, or the St. Vincent DePaul Society in the parish of your choice. 

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.

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