A funeral mass took place Feb. 10 at St. Joseph Church, Jersey City, for Alphonse J. Cancro, 86, of Springfield, formerly of Jersey City. He passed away at home surrounded by his family on Feb. 6. Al was born and raised in Jersey City, the son of John and May and one of seven siblings. Al volunteered in the U.S. Navy twice proudly serving during WWII and the Korean War. After service, he met his wife Jane and raised their four sons in the Greenville section of Jersey City in the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows. They later moved to the small Hilltop Section of Jersey City known as the Island in the St. Joseph Parish Community.
A general contractor and proprietor of Croal Construction, Al built many homes throughout Jersey City including Alan Terr. dedicated in his son Alan’s name, who is a builder, developer and president of Callico Construction, Jersey City. Al had a love and passion for horses and riding as a young man would paddock his horses at the former Jersey City Police stables on Rt. 440, then later in Holmdel. This passion he shared with his four sons early on in their lives. He also enjoyed working on his boat docked by Roosevelt Stadium.
After retirement, Al loved traveling with Jane and close friends. He was also involved in charity work with both the Boys Club and under privilege children from Jersey City and Newark. Alphonse was the husband for 61 years to Jane; father of four boys, Gary and wife Joanne, Gerard, Alan, Robert and wife Katie; grandfather of Chris, Greg, Allison, Gary, Olivia, Madilyn, Geoff, Robert, Katherine and Daniel Cancro: great-grandfather of Jack Cancro. Services arranged by the Riotto Funeral Home, Jersey City.