John Nicaretta passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, June 23.  John was a lifelong resident of Bayonne.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1951 and served in Korea where he became a mess sergeant. After returning home John joined the Catholic War Veterans Post 1612, an organization that enriched his life and expanded his friendships.  He served as vide-president, president and commander during his tenure.  He was inducted into the Catholic War Veterans Hall of Fame in 1998, was one of the first veterans honored at the Fields of Heroes ceremony in 2016 and received the Four Chaplains Legion Award in 2017.

One of the activities John was known for at the CWV, was leading three blood drives a year that collected thousands of pints of blood for use throughout the communities of our region.  John was honored by the American Red Cross for his commitment and contributions. John was also a member of the Korean War Veterans and the F.A. Mackenzie Post 165.  John proudly served on the Bayonne Memorial Committee for many years, was chairman and was the parades co-marshal in 2011.

John was proud of his Italian heritage and expressed it through his many activities with the Bayonne Chapter of Unico, which honored him as their Man of the Year in 1996 and gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.  The Italian/American Sicilian club chose to honor John as their "Man of the Year" in 2009.  He was also a member of the sons of Italy.  John was a long time parishioner of Our Lady of Assumption Church where he donated his time and talents for the benefit of the community. He was most recently a member of St. Henry's parish.

John was the devoted husband to the late Helen (nee:Draganchuk) his wife of 59 years. He was the loving father to John R. Nicaretta and Catherine Nicaretta-Duffy and husband Paul Duffy and was a beloved grandfather to Sarah and Kate Duffy.  John was the last surviving member of his 13 brothers and sisters.  He is survived by his sister-in-law, Frances Nicaretta and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many dear friends.   Visitation will be Wednesday June 26 ^th from 3-8 PM at Migliaccio Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 851 Kennedy Blvd. (at 33 ^rd St.) in Bayonne. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday June 27 ^th at 10:45 AM at St. Henry's Church, 695 Avenue C in Bayonne with all welcome to gather at the funeral home starting at 9:45 AM.  Interment with full military honors will follow at holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ. In lieu of any flowers the family requests donations be made in John's memory to _ Lustgarten Foundation Pancretic Cancer Research with envelopes provided at the funeral home or with a link found on John's obituary page at www.MigliaccioFuneralHome.com.