Lorenzo Sista

Lorenzo Sista, 88, entered into eternal life on December 24, 2019. Conceived in Italy, he was born in Jersey City, and lived there for his first 75 years before relocating to Rutherford.

Lorenzo made all of his sacraments at Holy Rosary Church in downtown Jersey City and was a devotee of St. Gerard. After an extended courtship, he married Alice Jane Lake, and together they raised three boys on Sherman Place in the Heights.

He graduated from P.S. 5, Ferris High School, Jersey City Junior College, and Montclair State Teachers College, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Lorenzo worked for over 45 years in New Jersey public schools, primarily as a guidance counselor at West Side High School in Newark. He proudly served in the military, and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. As a child during the Depression era, Lorenzo shined shoes at corner saloons and sold bags on Brunswick Street, among other jobs. He cherished time spent with family and eating traditional Italian home-cooked meals.  

Lorenzo was the oldest of five children of the late Bartolomeo Giuseppe and Angelina (nee Ciccone).  He was predeceased by his sister Theresa Elia and husband Edward, brother Vito and wife Grace, and nephew Joseph Vito. He is beloved by his wife Alice Sista, sons Joseph William, Lorenzo Thomas, and Allen Vito and wife Margaret, granddaughters Alice Marie and Jane Catherine, brother Luciano, sister Catherine, brother-in-law Allen Lake and Richard Andrews. Known affectionately as Uncle Larry, he was a major influence in the lives of his nieces and nephews, whom he taught common sense values and took on many memorable adventures.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Co. (For GPS use 14 Stagg Street) Jersey City. (www.RiottoFH.com) 

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend the funeral on Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home.  A Funeral Mass will then be offered at Holy Rosary Church, 344 Sixth St., Jersey City at 12:00 p.m.  Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Holy Rosary Church for fixing the exterior chair lift.