OBITUARIES

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state of New Jersey.

In tourney action, the team reached the quarterfinals in this yearʼs Bergen County Tournament — and the semifinals in sectional tournament play, where they lost to River Dell, 1-0.

Pulling it all together with grace and good cheer was firsttime varsity head coach Leah Jerome, who emerged as Big North National Coach of the Year.

In 2019 Jerome, a history teacher, was named Bergen County Teacher of the Year.

She told Pascack Press on Dec. 8, “I always said every game is a league championship. We went 9-1 in our conference and beat every team: We lost to Old Tappan once and came back and beat them on our home turf, which was a 2-0 victory against a really quality team, so that was a huge victory for us.”

She said of the teamʼs growth and performance, “Iʼm just so excited and I hope this is momentum for the future. It was a great season and a great group of girls, and we got the job done.”

Jerome said “I think from the very beginning we understood the task before us and understood every game was going to be a battle and that this year was going to be a grind because of the level of competition in our league games, in our county, and in our state games, so we just sort of had a collective goal about playing every minute of every game for each other and go as far as we could.”

She called out her senior leaders and said theyʼve all been part of the program for four years. “They set the standard very high and conveyed to the other players that this was going to be a team that wanted something tangible to take away at the end of the year, and a league championship was really our goal.”

Looking ahead, she said, “Thereʼll be new faces; thereʼll be people who fill in the roles weʼre losing. So I look at it as a new opportunity to build on our success for next year.”

Teaching at PV since 2011, Jerome has coached at other districts, and most recently was at Immaculate Heart Academy as a JV coach. When there was an opportunity to coach here, she said, “It was like coming home. I teach here, and Iʼm Pascack Valley through and through, and thereʼs a lot of heart for the school. Iʼm just thrilled, very fortunate, to be able to coach in the district where I teach.”

She said, “Iʼm already committed to these students, and itʼs nice to be recognized as coach in the building.”

Pressed on her Coach of the Year honor on the heels of her county Teacher of the Year nod, Jerome credited “a really supportive environment. Iʼm surrounded by the right people, I have a supportive administration, colleagues, students, so I feel like thatʼs wherein lies my success.”

She added, “Iʼm serious about soccer. I want people to know that if theyʼre soccer players this is a place to play and vie for championships — because thatʼs what weʼre all about.” — John Snyder

Joan M. GALISH

Joan M. Galish (néeHimko), 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 14, 2022. She was a wonderful mother who was always there when we needed her. She had a close circle of family and friends who she kept in touch with daily. She had lived at the Evergreens of Moorestown and was formerly from Barnegat and Bayonne.

She had worked as an administrative assistant for Haight, Gardner, Poor &Havens law in Manhattan 1957–1967. She had taught Sunday school and volunteered with YWCA when she lived in Bayonne. Joan was a troop leader when her daughter Linda was a Brownie, and volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program, both in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Joan worked with her husband at his Albany Mack Truck Sales Co. in Rensselaer, N.Y. Her family was very important to her and will be remembered as a dedicated mother and wife, who always put her family first. Devoted wife of the late Daniel A. Galish. They were married for over 50 years and together built a successful business, raised a family, and had a happy, loving marriage.

Loving mother of Joy Vanderhoof and Linda Galish Behr. Beloved grandmother of Samantha Behr.

Virginia PHILLIPS

Virginia Phillips, 99, a lifelong resident of Hillsdale, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Herbert Phillips for 61 years. And she was the devoted mother of Linda Weimann and the late Robert G. Phillips; cherished grandmother of Suzanne and James, great-grandmother of William R. Delaney, Giavana M. Cala, Gabriella L. Cala and Dominick V. Cala.

Virginia was a lifelong member of the Hillsdale Methodist Church, and was active in the food bank, rummage sale and other church events.

Visitation 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Robert Spearing Funeral Home Inc., 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, rsfhi.com. Funeral service 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the funeral home with interment to follow in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Virginia to St. Jude Childrenʼs Research Hospital, stjude.org.

Christina A.

PALLOZZI

Christina A. Pallozzi, 97, of Westwood, formerly of Emerson, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. Christina is survived by her beloved children, Walter and his wife Mary, Rev. Vincent and his wife Jill, Christine Winkler and her husband Charles; her grandchildren Aimeé, Cara, Eric, Janelle, Matthew, Marianne and John.

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She is predeceased by her dear husband, Walter Pallozzi, who passed away in 1997.

She was always very generous, loved people, laughed much, danced often and deeply loved her family.

The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, on Friday, Dec. 9 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. A Mass celebrating Christinaʼs life and faith will be held at R.C. Church of the Assumption in Emerson at 10:30 a.m. with interment at Garden of Memories in Township of Washington to follow. Memorial contributions can be made in Christinaʼs name to the Boys Town Foundation.

Nancy E. CAMPOLI

Nancy E. Campoli, 61, of River Vale passed away on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

She is survived by her sisters Valerie Campoli, Susan Bartole and Karen Koller, her nieces Jody and Lisa and nephews Jeff and David.

Visitation 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at the Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc., 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, rsfhi.com, followed by interment in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus all on Thursday, Dec. 8.

James C.

LA BARBERA

James C. La Barbera, 95, a longtime resident of River Vale, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2022.

Beloved husband of Helen (née Danielson) for 73 years.

Devoted father of Karen Conklin, Nancy Bernot, Jeffrey La Barbera and Laurie La Barbera.

Cherished grandfather of 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his daughter, Joyce Susan La Barbera, and two sons, Gary and David La Barbera. Also predeceased by all 15 of his siblings.

Jim was a bookkeeper for Dominican College until his retirement. He was a United States Army veteran.

Memorial Service on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 at 1 p.m. at River Vale Community Church, River Vale. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of James C. La Barbera may be made to the church.

Arrangements by Robert Spearing Funeral Home Inc., Park Ridge, NJ, rsfhi.com.

Bernice ALACCI

On Dec. 3, 2022, Bernice Alacci, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at her home, surrounded by her children.

She was born and raised in New York, where she met her husband, Lou Alacci. Together they built a home to raise their family in River Vale.

Bernice loved the water, be it a pool or an ocean. Many cherished memories were made while swimming, walking the boardwalk, playing on the beach “and stuff.” Her sense of humor (along with a bit of sarcasm), her incredible kindness, her smile and her lighthearted demeanor will be remembered by all she met.

She is survived by her sister Margaret McInerney, her children Lou Alacci and his partner, Gail Farley; Bob Alacci and his wife, Honora; Patti Frese and Kathie Giovannetti and her husband, Bob; her grandchildren Nicole Wallace and her husband, Jack; Louis Alacci and his wife, Rebecca; Brittany Alacci; Jillian McGonigle and her husband, Adam; Billy Frese and his wife, Danyel; Andrea Frese and her fiancé, Zach; Chris Frese; Michael Giovannetti and his fiancée, Courtney Conner; her great grandchildren Joseph Wallace and Griffin McGonigle; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bernice was predeceased by her brother Michael Hennessy and her beloved husband, Lou Alacci.

Relatives and friends are invited to share in a celebration of her life on Friday Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon with interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in her memory to St. Jude Childrenʼs Research Hospital.