Michael J. DeFelice of Highland Mills passed away on Friday, July 2, 2021, at Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh. He was 77 years old.
The son of Anthony and Rose Giangrande DeFelice, he was born on May 23, 1944, in Brooklyn.
Michael proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
After his honorable discharge in 1970 he started his career and rose to a 2-Star Chief and Boro Commissioner with the Department of Sanitation, ending his 32-year career as the Director of the Fresh Kills Land Fill in Staten Island. Mike was a past President of the DSNY Holy Name Society and a member of the DSNY Colombian and Emerald Society’s and the DSNY Uniformed Chiefs Association
Survivors include his loving wife Helen Valdez DeFelice at home; his children: Anthony DeFelice and his wife, Lisa of New Windsor, and Nicole DeFelice of West Milford, N.J.; his siblings: Andrew DeFelice and his wife, Valarie of Highland Mills and Rosemarie Barnak and her husband, John of Bedminster, N.J.; his beloved grandchildren: Ava, Michael, Liliana and Nicholas; and by several nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held July 8 at Smith, Seaman and Quackenbush Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated July 9 at St. Patrick’s Church in Highland Mills.
Interment followed at Cemetery of The Highlands in Highland Mills.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements by Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home (845-782-8185 or www.ssqfuneralhome.com).