Leonard A. Falkowski

Leonard A. Falkowski died in his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, November 4, 2010. He was 88. Visitation will be Thursday, November 11, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., at Gray's Funeral Home, 12 Spriengfield Ave., in Cranford. A Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, November 12, at St. Michael Church in Cranford. Entombment is in St. Gertrude's Cemetery, in Colonia. Leonard lived in Jersey City before moving to Cranford in 1972. He worked for the Central Railroad of New Jersey and for Conrail for a total of 39 years. Leonard was Superintendent of Locomotive Maintenance while with the Central RR, and Diesel Shop Manager for Conrail in Elizabethport. He was past president of the Veteran's Employees Association of the CNJ Railroad. Leonard was an active member and Eucharistic Minister at St. Michael's Church and also a member of the Secular Franciscan Order at St. John the Baptist Friary in New York City. He served as a radio operator aboard Army troop ships in the Pacific during WW II, and was a military police officer, stationed in his beloved city of San Francisco. Leonard also served as an instructor at Fort Eustice, VA during the Korean War. He was a member of the VFW Post 335 in Cranford. Leonard was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 62 years, Adele (2/16/10). He is survived by five children: Diane Aimone and her husband Victor; Glenn and his wife Annette; Lenore Flanagan and her husband Thomas; Jonathan and his wife Nancy; and Arlene Weichert and her husband, David, 13 grandchildren, Michael Cleary, Eileen DiPrima, Jamie Di Fabrizio, Jolie Falkowski, Paul Falkowski, Allyson Aimone, Jennifer Aimone, Thomas Flanagan, Daniel Falkowski, Rebecca Flanagan, Kelsey Falkowski, David Weichert, and Scott Weichert, and three great-grandchildren, Dylan Cleary, Joseph DiFabrizio and Michael DiFabrizio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Center for Hope Hospice, 1900 Raritan Rd. Scotch Plains, NJ 07076.