while surrounded by his family, after a long battle with cancer. John was born December 12, 1952 to the late John & Norma (Valla) Marello in Queens, NY. Growing up in the Wakefield section of the Bronx, John moved to Yonkers in 1964 where he was educated in the public school system and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1972. On July 31, 1976 John married Karen Dugan in St. Bartholomew’s Church. Immediately following their marriage John opened Ben Mar Auto Repair, a well known Yonkers repair shop specializing in electrical and air conditioning repairs, which he fully operated up until the time he passed away. For a short period of time he helped operate his fathers business, J. Marello Tile & Terrazzo, where they served Bronxville and the surrounding communities. When not working John enjoyed his time in the kitchen; cooking Sunday dinners for his family and the countless get togethers he held “down the shop” were what brought him joy. Spring and summer he could be found tending to his vegetable gardens he so meticulously maintained while every weekend in the fall he would be at his cousin’s infamous hunting cabin, known to all as “The Fly Trap”, in Roxbury, NY. Predeceased by his parents; John & Norma, his brother; James, his brother in-law and good friend; Thomas Kubicek and Mother & Father in-law; Tom & Edith Dugan, John is survived by his loving wife of 42 years Karen, his children; John (Stacey), Thomas (Jillian) & Michael (Fiancé; Rachel), 5 granddaughters; Kaitlyn, Madison, Stephanie, Sarah & Julianne, his sisters; Paula Kubicek & Tina (Frank) Smith and many nieces & nephews. John was one of a kind and a friend to all; he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. The family would like to thank John’s close friends who, over the last two weeks, were with him, both physically and in prayer, and gave him the strength to fight right to the end; their loyalty and support was greatly appreciated and will be remembered forever. Visiting hours will be in the Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Tuesday January 8th from 3pm to 8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be in Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday January 9th at 9:30am. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Whalen & Ball Funeral Home
168 Park Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10703
(914)965-5488
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