Obituary of Charles William Weiss, Jr.

Charles Weiss, Jr. passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at his home in Bridgewater. After a valiant but laborious struggle, he succumbed to cancer. Born and raised in East Paterson, Charlie moved to Bridgewater in 1986. He was the proprietor of Generoso's Pizza in Bridgewater, but lived by the philosophy of working to live, not living to work. He was a man defined by his passions, first of which was his family. He worked his entire life to provide for them, always making sure their needs were met before his own. Even near the end of his life, during some of his most painful and difficult hours, Charlie scraped together enough energy to mow the lawn for his wife as a Mother's Day gift. And because of his selfless, tireless dedication, his children are able to live the life that he never quite got to. When he wasn't working or spending time with loved ones, he could be found scouring the Jersey coast for the best fishing of the day, or crafting wood in his garage. Charlie was also an avid cook, mentored by the late-Chef Eddie Jedamczick, one-time chef at New York's Waldorf Astoria. He enjoyed preparing everything from fresh pasta to fresh-caught striped bass. Charlie is survived by his wife of 33 years Kathleen Matthews Weiss ; his sons, Christopher Weiss and his wife Jill, Gregory Weiss and Timothy Weiss; and his parents, Charles Weiss, Sr. and Virginia Hemmer Weiss. He was predeceased by his sister Pamela Weiss Albano in 1982. Thanks to an infectious personality, exuberant spirit and caring heart, Charlie touched the lives of many beyond his immediate family, turning customers and employees into extended family members. Though he was pulled from them too suddenly, he's probably already made a few new friends (and possibly enemies) in heaven. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, followed by a 10:00 a.m. funeral mass at Blessed Sacrament Church. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetary in Basking Ridge. Visitation will be on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association www.ecaware.org (800) 601-0613.