Roger James Garnes

Roger James Garnes, 81, of Livingston, NJ, formerly of Brooklyn, NY, passed away peacefully in the care of his loving family on May 20, 2021.

Born and raised in Colon, Panama, Mr. Garnes was an active member of Christ Church by the Sea.  He graduated from Rainbow City High School in 1959 and worked for the Panama Canal Commission at the Coco Solo Hospital as a Supply Clerk where he received many awards.   He played several musical instruments with the Henry Marcel Band and with the Banda de Bomberos de Colón.

Emigrating to the United States, in 1966, Mr. Garnes married his beloved wife, Hilma, and they settled in Brooklyn, NY, where they spent many happy years raising their family.  More recently, they lived in Livingston, NJ.  Mr. Garnes received his Associates degree from the New York City College of Technology and also studied at Brooklyn College.  He enjoyed a successful career as a Computer Programmer, holding positions with EP Dutton, US Life, Securities Industries Automation Corporation (SIAC) and Merrill Lynch before his retirement.

 Mr. Garnes was a faithful member of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn since 1966, where he and Hilma were married and where he sang in the choir for many years. He was a proud and longtime member of the Roy Prescod Chorale.  Mr. Garnes was a true Renaissance man and a lifetime learner.  He enjoyed learning to play new instruments, reading newspapers cover to cover, taking on a variety of masonry, carpentry, mechanical, and household projects, attending concerts, plays and musicals, and travelling domestically and internationally.  He infused a passion for learning into those around him.  Most importantly, he was always there for his family and friends, teaching by example that love is an action verb.

Mr. Garnes was predeceased by his loved and missed parents, Haig Garnes and Egecile Louise Gooden (nee Lindsay) and by his dearly missed sister, Eleonor Yard.

He is survived by his beloved and caring wife, Hilma (nee Diaz) Garnes, of Livingston; by his four devoted children: Liza Garnes LeAndre and her husband, Lesly, of South Orange, Roger James Garnes, Jr. and his wife, Vanessa, of Bradenton, FL, Tamara Garnes Mata and her husband, Shane, of Verona and Kelly Garnes-Pages and her husband, Michael, of West Orange; five dear siblings: Aurelio Gooden of Montgomery, NY and Roberto Garnes, Maria Garnes, Angela Garnes and Omar Garnes, all of Panama; and eleven cherished grandchildren: Justin, Miles, Jonathan, Alexander, Christian, Reina, Andrew, Avery, Grace, Michael Jr., and Stella.  He also leaves behind a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren and, of course, his lifetime compadres whom he loved as brothers and sisters.

 Visitation will be Tuesday May 25th from 10:00 am-11:00 am at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 331 Hawthorne Street, Brooklyn, NY with the funeral service to immediately follow at 11:00 am. A prayer service will be on Wednesday May 26th at 11:00 am at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, NJ. A procession to and interment will follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, 255 Main Avenue, Clifton NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter (www.alz.org/nj), 23 Vreeland Avenue #105, Florham Park, NJ 07932 would be appreciated. Please visit www.bizubquinlan.com where online condolences for the family may be left on the Tribute Wall section of the obituary for Mr. Garnes.

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