Gerard V. Leary

It is with these words that we share of the passing of Gerard Leary, of Sparta, on June 4, 2025, aged 87 years.

Born in 1937 to George and Helen Leary of Jersey City, he has one surviving sibling, Eugene Leary of North Carolina.

After honorably serving in the US Army, he spent most of his career in municipal government in a variety of roles, as well as serving on community organizations and boards too numerous to mention.

Throughout his life, he was a loyal servant of Christ. Whether with the Knights of Columbus or as Director of the Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless, he always cared for those in need or in suffering. As a member of the first class of Permanent Deacons, ordained in 1975, he served the Church and her people for nearly 40 years. He lived God’s grace through his prayer and counseling with those suffering under the yoke of addiction. He also had the honor of performing weddings and baptisms for many friends and family members.

In 1960, he proposed to the love of his life, Patricia Sheridan, and they were married the following year. He and Pat shared a love that grew in richness and depth over the decades. Not only did he adore her, but he knew of her love for him, and asked only to have her by his side every day of his life.

He was father to six children and was always ready with words of advice as they grew to adulthood, or just a comforting embrace when there were no words. He profoundly enjoyed seeing his grown children in each other’s company, sharing stories and laughing around his table.

In his later years, he took on the role of Papa to his 14 grandchildren. Along with Nana, he would bask in the sunshine of their love and affection, always greeting them with a smile, a warm hug, and just a little sparkle in his eye. They were his faith and promise that life would go on.

He is survived by Pat, his loving wife of 64 years; his daughter Christine, her husband Jimmy and their two children, Olivia and James; his daughter Katy, her husband Paul and their two children, Quinn and Ryan; his son Gerry, his wife Aimee and their two children, Griffin and Brendan; his daughter Meghan, her husband Steve, and their two children, Colin and Sarah; his son Daniel, his wife Kim and their three children, Cameron, Owen and Brady; his daughter Elizabeth, her husband Frank and their three children, Juliette, Talia and Maya-along with numerous nieces and nephews.

It gives our family great comfort to know that the love he gave us will live on in the love we share with one another.

A public Vigil will be held on Wednesday, July 2nd at 5:30PM - 7:30PM at Our Lady of the Lake, in Sparta, NJ. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, July 3rd at 10:00AM, also at Our Lady of the Lake.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation in his name to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, whose staff treated him with such kindness and dignity in his final days. You can donate by clicking the link below.