Aversa, Edward Ralph, age 87, of Leonia, NJ, on Monday, December 28, 2020.

Born in Union City and raised in Cliffside Park, Ed was a US Navy Veteran (1952-56), a butcher for many years, and the owner of Edward Aversa Provisions in North Bergen.

Ed was a friend to many and had a wide range of interests, including golfing, painting, building models and dollhouses, boating, and birdwatching. He was also an avid collector of model trains, miniature soldiers, and antique cars—he and his cars appeared in the films "Pollock" and "Sweet and Lowdown."

He was also actively involved in his community, as a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, a member of the American Legion, and a devoted and involved parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Leonia.

Ed is survived by a loving and tight-knit family, including his beloved wife of 65 years, Teresa (née Gargiulo); his three children: Jean Marie Ustorf and her husband Bernd Ustorf; Lisa Marie Ehlers; and Dr. Edward Francis Aversa; and his 8 grandchildren: Kristen Ehlers and her husband Brian Torpey; Daniel Ehlers; Julia Aversa; Elena Aversa; Thomas Ehlers; Katharine Ustorf; Nina Aversa; John Ustorf; and their significant others. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mary (née Pollio) Aversa; siblings Madeline, Anthony, Rachel, and Mario; and his daughter-in-law, Mari Martin-Aversa.

The Aversa family will receive those closest on Sunday from 2-6pm at the Frank Patti Funeral Home (327 Main Street, Fort Lee), and a funeral mass will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (470 Broad Ave, Leonia) on Monday at 10:30am, followed by a private interment at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made in Edward Aversa's memory to the St. Jude Shrine at 512 West Saratoga St, Baltimore, MD 21201. For condolences, directions, or information please contact the Frank Patti Funeral Home at (201) 944-0100 or www.frankpatti.com.