Louis V Getchies, Sr.

Mr. Louis V. Getchies, Sr., 77 entered his heavenly home surrounded by the love of his family and escorted by the Lord’s angels on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Louis, the son of the late Angelina Faenza and the late Ignatius Charles Plaia, was born in Newark and raised in Union. He lived in Union for many years and Linden for several years,  prior to moving to Kenilworth twenty years ago.

After attending Union High School in 1966 , he went to work on the docks in Port Newark, as a forklift operator for Held Warehouse for 10 years.  He was employed as a shipping & receiving manager for Mamiye Brothers, in Keasby, for many years until his retirement in 1996.

Louis was a simple man with a huge heart and a personality that was infectious. He loved sports of all kinds, both local and professional and was a huge METS fan.

In his younger years, he was an avid bowler and Louis was at the level of almost going “pro”, but unfortunately his back injury sidelined him. At that point, baseball became his obsession. He coached semi-professional baseball in the 1980’s and started the Union Jayhawks and ended that chapter of his life with coaching the Union Rams.

All the kids, whether family or not, became a part of his extended circle and they all referred to Louis as “Pop”.  Louis was so family dedicated that he never ever missed a baseball practice or a game that his grandson, Nick, participated in. Baseball being so important to him, you know that he watched all the games, acting as an armchair umpire, whether he agreed with the calls or not.  Bingo was also in his wheelhouse and his granddaughter, Gianna, has wonderful fun filled memories of getting stained fingers from the different colored bingo dotters. 

Louis had a long-standing relationship with diners, having grown up with them in his background.  He probably ate at every diner in New Jersey, but his favorite place to go was Manny’s in Clark where he even had his favorite waitress.

 Lou loved cooking and was a great cook.  He took enormous pride and enjoyment in shopping at all the grocery stores, finding the best produce to create his masterpieces, like his eggplant parmigiana. His signature dish was his Italian long hot peppers that family and friends always looked forward to. Lou’s biggest love and most important thing in life was his family. His children and grandchildren were his heart and soul.

Louis is survived by his longtime companion Lura “Penny” Dreissig; his former wife, Frances Getchies; his son, Louis Getchies, Jr. and his partner, Lisa Traina; his daughter, Connie A. Getchies and her husband, Jeffrey Moreno; his three grandchildren, Gianna Moreno, Nicholas Moreno and his partner Alexa Brown and Dominick Getchies and his great granddaughter Mercy Mae Philemon. He is also survived by three sisters, Peggy Eginton, Patti Plaia and Joan Mettrock; and the special people in his life, Erin Davey, Ryan Dreissig and his four honorary grandchildren, Tyler, Alex, Cole and Drew.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden, on Sunday, March 1st. from 12:00Noon-4:00PM. 

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

On Monday, March 2nd. at 9:45AM, everyone will start to gather directly at St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Clark, where a funeral mass will be offered at 10:00AM.  The cremation in Rosehill Crematory, Linden will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Louis’ name to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, by mail to Memorials Processing,  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at  http://www.stjude.orgwould be appreciated.

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