Obituaries for July 2026

Let us pray for our dearly departed clergy and religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in July.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Deacon Alexander A. Ferrauiola

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 27 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly, New Jersey for Deacon Alexander A. Ferrauiola. He died on July 21 at the age of 79.

Deacon Ferrauiola married his wife Wanda in 1968. Ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Newark in 1992, he served Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Tenafly, NJ as a pastoral minister and spiritual director for more than 29 years. Deacon Ferrauiola also ministered as a hospital chaplain in Behavioral Health, serving those who suffer from emotional and psychiatric pain and addiction.

He held a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and was a graduate of the Haden Institute for Spiritual Direction in Niagara Falls, Canada. After his graduation in 2012, he served on the faculty of the Institute.

Deacon Ferrauiola, known as “Deacon Lex” to parishioners, published four books on Catholic spirituality: Just to Follow My Friend: Experiencing God’s Presence in Everyday Life, The Gospel of You, The Gospel of Me: Making Christ Present in Everyday Life, Synchronicity as the Work of the Holy Spirit: Jungian Insights for Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Ministry, and All Shall Be Well: Finding God Among the Pots and the Pans. He also published a blog of spiritual reflections and homilies (www.deaconlex.blogspot.com) that had readers in over 42 countries.

He retired from his position as a vice president at a major academic medical center in the Northeast in 2011 where his responsibilities included executive leadership of information technology, pastoral care and volunteer services.

Deacon Ferrauiola is survived by his wife, Wanda, children Danny, David, Julie, and Meg, son-in-law Mike, and three grandchildren.

Sister Dolores Lew, SC

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey on July 29 for Sister Dolores Lew. She died on July 24 at Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ. Sister Dolores was 84.

She was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on November 24, 1941, the daughter of Robert Lew and Nellie Pang Lai. Sister Dolores entered the Sisters of Charity on August 15, 1979, and was a dedicated member for 46 years.

Sister Dolores began her ministry of service as a Sister of Saint Dominic of Caldwell in Caldwell, NJ. Her decision to enter the Sisters of Charity was in response to a call she felt to serve God’s people in a medical setting.

After graduating from Caldwell College (University) with a B. S. degree in biology, she attended Villanova University in Villanova, PA with an M. S. degree in biology. Sister Dolores received certification in medical technology from the School of Medical Technology at Saint Joseph Hospital, Paterson, NJ, and she received a blood bank certificate from the American Red Cross in Baltimore, MD.

Her continued call to serve sick and suffering people led her to study and receive licensing as a physician’s assistant, earning a B.S. and M.S. at UMDNJ/Rutgers. She became the first Sister of Charity to enter this profession.

Sister Dolores served as a laboratory technologist and as Chief of the Blood Bank at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital (Trinitas), Elizabeth, NJ. She was the first physician assistant (PA) to join the staff of Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ. Sister Dolores served as a PA in the Emergency Department of Saint Joseph’s for 24 years until her retirement in 2019.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Shirley Calderone. Sister Dolores is survived by her nieces Christine Velarde, Michele Cavallaro and Toni Anne Caracappa, her nephew Joseph Calderone, her brothers Robert, John, David, Peter, and Joseph and her sisters Kammoy King and Joanne Chin, along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Abbott Melvin J. Valvano, OSB

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 7 in Saint Mary’s Church, Newark Abbey, in Newark, New Jersey, for Abbott Melvin J. Valvano, OSB. He died peacefully on June 28. Abbott Melvin was 87.

A native of Linden, N.J. and the son of Joseph and Ella (Bologh) Valvano, Joseph Andrew Valvano was born on November 15, 1938. He was a 1956 graduate of St. Benedict’s Prep and then went on to enter the novitiate for St. Mary’s Abbey, Newark and made profession in the Abbey Church on September 12, 1959. Following his monastic profession, he went on to attend St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., where he received his B.A. in philosophy. He was ordained a priest on May 29, 1965, and served as Prior of Newark Abbey beginning in January 1969. During this time, he pursued graduate studies, completing an M.A. in French and education at Seton Hall University, and served as a chaplain at the V.A. Hospital in East Orange, N.J.

Abbott Melvin made history as both the youngest and longest-serving abbot of Newark Abbey. His leadership during a critical period, along with his enduring influence as a teacher and spiritual guide, shaped generations within the Abbey and the St. Benedict’s Preparatory School community.

Upon the resignation of his predecessor, Abbott Melvin was elected at the age of 35 as the second Abbot of Newark Abbey on September 8, 1973. At just 35 years old, he was the youngest abbot in the history of the monastery and the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictines. Re-elected continuously throughout his tenure as Abbot, he served the community for nearly 49 years until his retirement in 2022, making him the longest-serving abbot in the history of the Congregation.

In service to the wider Church, Abbot Melvin also served as Abbot President of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Abbeys from 1989 to 2001.

Prior to his election, the monks had decided to reopen St. Benedict’s Prep, and the abbatial election was scheduled for just two days before the first day of fall classes in the re-opened school. Under his wise leadership and guidance, the enthusiasm and energy surrounding the reopening of St. Benedict’s Prep was balanced by his emphasis on the observance of monastic life in the monastery.

“Our brother Melvin lived a life of unwavering faith, service and commitment to the monastery, the School and the City of Newark,” said Rt. Rev. Augustine Curley, O.S.B. ’74, Abbot of Newark Abbey. “He offered wisdom without judgement, guidance without pride and love without condition. His legacy endures in the lives he touched, the unity he fostered and the vision of stability and permanence he helped bring to fruition.”

Abbott Melvin is survived by two brothers, Victor and Michael.