Donald R. Grum

Donald R. Grum, 77, of Livingston, passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. His family will receive friends and family at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., on Sunday, 2-7 PM. The Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be offered at St. Philomena’s Church, 386 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston, on Monday at 10 AM followed by the committal service at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38148, would be greatly appreciated.

Don was born in Montclair and had lived in Livingston with his beloved wife, Bette (Foggio) for the past 53 years. He was a self-employed painting contractor, Don Grum and Sons, for 25 years retiring 12 years ago. Prior, he inherited and continued his father’s leather finishing business, Reliable Leather Corp., in Newark for 15 years.

Don was a member of the Livingston Old Guard and Livingston Knights of Columbus and had been a Livingston Little League coach. In his free time, which there was little of, he was an avid Johnny Mathis fan; Don was a very hard worker and a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Matthew (and his son, Marcus), Maria Hellman and husband David (and their children Allison and Michael), Lawrence and wife Elizabeth (and their daughter, Sofia) and Charles and wife Sheri (and their son, Jake); Don is also survived by his sisters, Barbara Poplawski, Bernice Grum and Dorothy Vendetti.