Michele DeRosa

Michele “Mike” DeRosa, 83, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023 surrounded by his family at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick.

Born and raised in Sorrento, Naples, Italy, Mike came to the United States in 1966 and lived in Coney Island, New York. He then married the love of his life in 1971 and raised his family in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Before his retirement, Mike worked for more than 50 years as a chef and baker for his family’s business, Gargiulo’s Restaurant, also in Coney Island, where he was lovingly known as "Mike the Bake". After his retirement he spent his days with his children and grandchildren before moving to East Brunswick in 2021.

Our father was an amazing selfless man to his family and everyone he encountered. His greatest joy in  life was to feed everyone and watch them enjoy his cooking and his delicious Italian pastries. He loved the trips to the racetrack with his family and friends. He came to America with nothing in his pockets and created a beautiful life for his family. He was extremely blessed to do what he loved for so many years and we hold close to our hearts the many great memories we have of this wonderful man. He was so simple and wanted for nothing.

Predeceased by his parents, his siblings and, his loving wife, Lorraine, in June 2012, Mike is survived by his daughters, Anna Spinale and her husband Paul and Michelle Lanzillotti and her husband Marc; his grandchildren, Gabriella and Giuliana Spinale and Isabella, Lorenzo and Bianca Lanzillotti, and; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will begin with a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial from Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood, on Thursday, December 28th, followed by interment in Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island, New York. The family will receive family and friends on Tuesday, December 26th and Wednesday, December 27th, from 2:00 to 4:00 Pm and 7:00 to 9:00 PM each day at Spotswood Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Spotswood.

In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Mike’s memory should be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

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