Albert P. Spence Sr.
Businessman, Army veteran, bred canaries, of South Plainfield
Albert P. Spence, Sr., 83, died Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Brakeley Park Center in Phillipsburg, N.J.
Born in Newark, N.J., Albert had resided there until the age of 18, when he moved to Union before settling in South Plainfield, N.J., in 1973. Albert was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a specialist during peacetime from 1958 to 1960.
Owner and operator of Al Spence Flooring, he worked as a linoleum mechanic for most of his life. An animal lover and breeder of canaries, Albert also enjoyed woodworking.
Predeceased by his beloved son, Al Spence Jr., he is survived by his wife, Phyllis; three daughters, Donna Cantarella and her husband, Pat, of South Plainfield; Debbie Peters and her husband, Scott of Wall, N.J., and Hannah Stria of Washington, N.J.
He will also be missed by his five grandchildren, Pat and Paul Cantarella, Jordyn and Jake Stria and Dakoda Peters and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 16, beginning at 8:15 a.m. in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, followed by a 9 a.m. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, South Plainfield.
Entombment will follow in Hollywood Memorial Park Mausoleum, Union.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.
Donations can be made to Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, chop.edu. For additional information please visit mccriskinfuneralhome.com.