Obituary of Thomas J. Carchia Jr.

Thomas J. Carchia Jr., 50, of West Orange, N.J., died suddenly on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at home in West Orange. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at St. Joseph's Church, 767 Prospect St., Maplewood, N.J., on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. The family will be receiving friends at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information or to send condolences, please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com Born in Summit, N.J., Thomas lived in Maplewood, N.J., before moving to West Orange, N.J., 11 years ago. Mr. Carchia was a limousine driver with the Livingston Taxi Company since 1997. Thomas graduated from Columbia High School in 1979 and Upsala College in 1985 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He also attended the University of Kentucky. He was the beloved son of Betty Gaven Cosgrove and Thomas J. Carchia Sr.; devoted brother of David Carchia and his wife, Susan, Catherine Phillips and her husband, Stephen; dear longtime companion of Ellen Kain; loving uncle of Casey, Danny and Abby Phillips and Julia Carchia, and stepson of James Cosgrove. Mr. Carchia's hobbies included spending time at the beach and collecting vintage records and he will be remembered for his love of music and the family requests, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to his favorite radio station WFMU. Make donations to "WFMU" to P.O. Box 2011, Jersey City, N.J. 07303-2011. or WFMU.org would be appreciated.