A mass of Christian burial was celebrated March 10 for the Reverend Benedict P. Militello, 78, of Northvale, formerly of Jersey City. He passed away March 6. After attending Seton Hall University, Fr. went to Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, and then received a Master’s in Divinity. Ordained on May 25, 1957, his first assignment was at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church, Northvale, then Assumption Church, Bayonne, St. Joseph Church, Jersey City, St. Anne’s Jersey City. He was pastor for 12 years at Mt. Carmel in Jersey City, pastor at Madonna Church in Ft. Lee, and pastor at Most Holy Name in Garfield. After retiring from Holy Name, Fr. Militello returned to St. Anthony’s Church in Northvale. Fr. Ben was a very successful fund raiser and very beloved to ‘his’ people. He enjoyed telling his ‘knee slapping jokes’ to everyone. He made many lifelong friends wherever he served. He was the son of the late Salvatore and Josephine; brother and brother-in-law of Mary and Pete Ilvento of Wayne; uncle of Maria and Dr. Alexander Zolli of Elyria, Ohio; Dr. Joseph Ilvento and Dr. Judy Dean of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Chrissy and Jim Tiedemann of North Arlington. Fr. Militello is also survived by great nieces and nephews, Juliana, Christina, and Luisa Ilvento, Alessia and Jason Lloyd, Luciana and Tom Herman, Matthew and Kristen Tiedemann, as well as a great-great nephew, Alexander Lloyd. He was also predeceased by his friend, The Most Reverend James T. McHugh. Services arranged by the Anthony R. Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale.