Michael Thomas "Cola" Colatrella, Sr.

Michael Thomas “Cola” Colatrella, Sr.

Mr. Michael Thomas “Cola” Colatrellla, Sr., 76 died Sunday, February 11, 2018 in the Rehab Center at Wedgewood Gardens in Freehold, New Jersey.

Visitation will take place in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle St., Linden, on Thursday, February 15^th. from 5:00 – 8:00PM.  On Friday, February 16^th.at 9:15AM, family and friends will meet directly at St. John Vianney R.C.Church, 420 Inman Avenue, Colonia, New Jersey, where a funeral mass will be offered at 9:30AM.  The burial will follow in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.  In lieu of flowers, donation in Mr. Colatrella’s name can be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, Va. 22215.

Mr. Colatrella, the son of the late Carmella Miano Colatrella and the late John R. Colatrella, was born in Newark, New Jersey, where he was a graduate of Barringer High School.  Later in his life, Mr. Colatrella resided in Clark, New Jersey for thirty years, before moving to Freehold, New Jersey four years ago.

He was a co-owner and co-operator for fifteen years of Mandarin Coiffures, a beauty salon in Irvington, New Jersey.  Mr. Colatrella then worked for Autoland in Springfield, New Jersey for fifteen years, starting out as a car salesman and eventually becoming their General Manager.  Autoland, at the time, was the largest car dealership in the world.   After Autoland, Mr. Colatrella continued his work in the auto sales and servicing industry until his retirement in 2012.

He was very much a sports enthusiast, rooting for the Yankee’s, the Giant’s and the Rangers.  Most of all, Mr. Colatrella enjoyed nothing more than being in the company of his family, laughing and sharing food, especially his occasional cheat of sweets, such as Little Debbie’s.

Predeceased by his brother, John Angelo Colatrella in 2010, Mr. Colatrella is survived by his four sons, Michael T. Colatrella, Jr. and his wife, Jean Shanley, Glenn Colatrella and his wife, Laurie, Daniel Colatrella and Joseph Colatrella; his brother, Gerald Colatrella; his two sisters-in-law, Madeline Colatrella and Sandy Colatrella,; his two grandchildren, Anna and Jonathan Colatrella ; his great grandchild Crystal and his many nieces and nephews.

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