Edward Kalanta

Edward (Pops) Kalanta, 87, passed on to an eternal life with God Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Tidewell Hospice House in Port Charlotte, FL. Ed was the only son of the late Cesar and Frances Kalanta. Ed was reared in Bayonne, NJ where he met his wife Lorraine A. (Delaney) Kalanta. They were married for 43 years before Lorraine's passing in 1991 and lived most of their married lives in Colonia, NJ. They had 7 children Maria (now deceased) married to Robert Summers and surviving children Deborah, Kevin and his wife Karen, James and his wife Jeane, Thomas, Joan and her husband Alan LeBeau and Ruth Ellen and her husband Joseph Marino. He also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Ed was a warm-hearted, friendly man whose life centered around his family and the church. A typical fun day for him was watching his kids or grandkids play sports (basketball, baseball, soccer, cheerleading), dancing or acting. He was always there when one needed a coach, a ride to an event, help building something or a steady QB or pitcher in a neighborhood pickup game. He also enjoyed the outdoors especially camping at Pine Haven Campground and reading on the beach in Sea Isle City. He worked for 30+ years at Mobil Chemicals in many different positions. Ed served his country well during WWII. Assigned to the USS Missouri as a quartermaster, he was at the helm when the "Mighty Mo" sailed through the Panama Canal on the way to action in the Pacific as well as when it sailed into Tokyo Bay for the signing of the peace treaty. He was a member of the USS Missouri Association as well as the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society. Funeral Services will take place on Friday, September 6th, 8:30 am from the Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home, 275 West Milton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065, followed by a 9:30 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church, 420 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ. Interment St. Gertrude's Cemetery, Colonia. Friends and family can pay last respects at the Funeral Home on Thursday, September 5th between 5 and 7 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to: Tidewell Hospice of Port Charlotte, 1144 Veronica Street, Port Charlotte FL 33952