John "Jack" Lawless

John “Jack” Lawless of Harrison, NJ died peacefully on September 20, 2022 at the age of 94 surrounded by his loving family.     

Jack, the son of Frank and Mary, was a lifelong resident of Harrison, NJ and parishioner of Holy Cross Church. He graduated from Harrison High School and served in the army during WWII. He is predeceased by his parents, brother Frank, and sister Mary.  Jack had a steadfast bond with his brother, “Uncle Frank”, and the dynamic duo was well known throughout Harrison.  Jack served as Irishmen of the year for Cifelli Association in 1997.  

Jack was a proud Harrison fireman, beginning his 35 year long career in 1957.  He retired as Deputy Chief in 1992, when he gained his lasting nickname “Deputy” by his sons.  As many of you know, the career of a fireman does not end at retirement.  Jack was a member of the FMBA Local 22, Firemen’s Relief and Exempt Association and on the Supervisory Committee for the Harrison Police and Firemen Federal Credit Union.  He spent countless afternoons listening to the fire scanner or driving around in his fire engine red Buick.  

His greatest accomplishment in life, however, was being a cherished husband, dedicated father, dear brother, and doting Poppa.  He was admired and adored by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who he fondly called Poppa’s Crew.  Oftentimes, trading in his Harrison baseball cap for their sports’ teams, he was their biggest fan.  Jack was a timeless family man, spending the summers in Seaside Park, vacationing in South Carolina, driving to Atlantic City, and looking forward to the holidays with family and friends.  He never passed up an outing or ice cold one with friends. 

Jack is predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Ann Lawless, and daughter-in-law, Susan Lawless. Jack is survived by his brother Jay Lawless and wife, Peg; his sister-in-law, Margaret Chiarello; his two sons Jack Lawless and wife, Eileen; and Jimmy Lawless and wife, Lorena; his four grandchildren Jodi Cocchiola and husband, Tom, Meghan Wilkinson and husband, Dave, James Lawless, and John Lawless; his four great-grandchildren Thomas Jack, Paige Elizabeth, Kate Elizabeth, and Delaney Sue; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and cherished friends.    

The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, N.J. 07029, on Saturday September 24th, at 9 a.m.   A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Church in Harrison at 10 a.m. Friends and relatives may call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.  His Entombment will take place at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in loving memory of Jack to:

The New Jersey Firemen’s Home

New Jersey Firemen’s Home

565 Lathrop Ave.

Boonton, NJ 07005

or

VNA Hospice Care

https://vnacarenetwork.ejoinme.org/VNACare

Fund Development Office

199 Rosewood Drive, Suite 180

Danvers, MA 01923

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