In Memoriam: Red Bank Native, Former Longtime Citarella’s Market Owner, Ralph Citarella, 61

Red Bank native and fourth-generation owner of 121-year-old Citarella’s Market, Ralph Andrew Citarella, of Howell, passed away Nov. 5 after a valiant fight with glioblastoma. He was 61.

Ralph was born in Red Bank on Feb. 17,1961. He was predeceased by his father, Andrew Citarella, and his mother, Maria DiFiore Citarella.

Ralph Citarella
Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home

At the family’s popular longtime business in Red Bank, Citarella’s “Ralph was known for his sense of humor and love of good Italian food. He was a real character with a big personality and an even bigger heart. He loved making people laugh and would regal his friends, relatives and customers with stories about his prized dogs, and his many hunting accomplishments. He loved playing football at Red Bank Regional and boxing at the PAL. He enjoyed fixing up and showing his custom van in car shows. He was a big music fan, especially Sinatra, who he loved to sing along to. He had a lifelong passion for hunting, especially deer hunting on his own land and was an accomplished bowyer. He was such a skilled hunter that, to steal a line from a Disney Movie … ‘He used Antlers in all of his decorating!’ Ralph was a favorite with children and knew just how to make everything fun with his funny voices
and invented silly games.”
Loved ones of Ralph Citarella in his obituary

Ralph will be painfully missed by: his partner of 42 years, his wife, Jeanne Schaffer; his daughter, Susan Brown and son in law Anthony; and the joys of his life, his granddaughters, Abigail, Sophia and Adriana Brown; his brother, Andrew Citarella; sister and brother-in law, Angela and Tony Liberatore; his nieces, Maria Pollard, Jennifer Nelson, Christina Friscia and Julia Nelson and his five grand-nieces and nephews.

Memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 3 to 7 p.m. at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. Casting ceremony will be private.

Donations can be made in Ralph’s name to St. Jude Hospital or Glioblastoma Foundation.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via John E. Day Funeral Home