Obituary of Michael Strelec
Michael “Sonny” Strelec passed away on September 27th, 2019 at University Hospital in Newark, NJ. Mike was born at home in Boonton, NJ to parents Andrew and Anna Strelec, and was raised in Morristown, NJ. He moved to East Hanover, Madison, then Basking Ridge, before settling down finally in Hillsborough, where he resided for the past 21 years.
Mike got his start as a carpenter and grew his passion for woodworking into a thriving business. As the business grew, Mike enjoyed working side by side with his brother, Stephen, his son, Michael and others, passing on the skills, knowledge and passion for fine craftsmanship that had come to define Mike’s way of doing construction.
Mike’s life could hardly be defined solely by the stewardship of his business, however. He was an active man outside of work, playing and coaching softball for years, playing cards with family, and spending time tending to his garden. In his spare time, you could always find Mike watching his favorite sports, professional baseball and football along with college basketball. Mike was also an accomplished fisherman and enjoyed making wooden crafts for himself, friends and family, and had recently set his sights on becoming quite the cook.
Mike is pre-deceased by his son, Daniel Strelec; by his brothers, Anthony, Andy, John, and Deidrich.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years Sheila Strelec, his daughter June Castelli and husband Sal, his son Michael Strelec and wife Patti; his granddaughter Rebecca Englebrecht and husband Jackson, his granddaughter Teresa Castelli, and his granddaughter Michele Castelli; great grandchildren, Laura Goodspeed, Chelsie Fincher, Elisha Engelbrecht, Miranda Fincher, McKenzie Aluise, Caidynce Aluise, and step-granddaughter, Christine Danuck
He is also survived by Sheila’s children and family, Tim and wife Robin, Collen and husband Lou, Tracey and husband Todd, Danny, and Kerry and husband Chris.
Mike is survived by his siblings Jean, Catherine, George, Margaret, Barbara, Bobby, Frankie, Stephen, Rose Marie, Freddy, Patti, and Tina.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ 07069, followed by a graveside service at 11:00 am at St. Vincent De Paul Cemetery 159 North Ave, Stirling, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution can be made in Michaels name to the Dementia Society of America at https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate
