DIVINCENT, ANTHONY D. SR.

A funeral mass was offered Feb. 2 at Our Lady of Fatima R.C. Church, North Bergen, for former North Bergen mayor Anthony D. DiVincent, Sr., 90, of Green Township. He died peacefully with family by his side on Jan. 29, at Newton Medical Center, Newton. Anthony was born in Guttenberg, to parents Josephine and Salvatore DiVincenzo. He grew up in Hudson County and was the youngest of seven children. He graduated from Memorial High School and went into the Navy to serve his country during World War II. Returning from service, he began working in embroidery, where he met his wife, Lillian Maset of West Virginia. They were married in 1946, celebrating 68 years of marriage together. They were inseparable until her passing in 2015. They had three sons: Thomas, Robert and Anthony Jr.
After working in the family floor covering business with his brothers, Anthony and Lillian opened their own floor covering store, which they had for many years, on Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen. After the birth of their third child, the family took permanent residence in North Bergen. Anthony and Lillian became active in politics, and in 1979, they became mayor and first lady of North Bergen. Anthony was also a Hudson County freeholder and served as chairman of that board for a period in his tenure. He also served on the New Jersey State Cemetery Board for many years, as well as many other Civic Associations.
Anthony and Lillian founded the Flower Hill Grave Owners’ Association, which led to the formation of the First Cooperative Cemetery in the state of New Jersey. They served as president and secretary for the past 40 years. After Anthony’s retirement from politics, they built their dream home in Green Township, and lived the remainder of their life together in Sussex County. Anthony’s main purpose in life was to love his wife and ensure the happiness of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is survived by his three sons: Thomas, Robert and Anthony Jr., four daughter-in-laws: Annamarie, Sandra, Susan and the late Eileen(2008) grandfather of six grandchildren, Thomas Jr., Jessica, Melissa, Jared, Danielle and Anthony III., and great grandfather of seven great grandchildren, Thomas III., Tristan, Sabrina, Lila, Dylan, Prysilla, and Michael, as well as many other extended family and friends.
Services arranged by the Vainieri Funeral Home, North Bergen.