Mr. Laraia, 79, of Howell, died April 12, 2012, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Mr. Laraia was employed as a licensed professional engineer and worked as a chemical engineer for Merck & Co. in Rahway and Whitehouse Station for 35 years, retiring in 1993. He was also a member of The Villages Association board of trustees, where he served on the architectural committee and represented The Villages at township meetings. Surviving are his wife, Helen Lucey Laraia; three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Lois Laraia of Avenel, Vincent Jr. and Andrea Laraia, of Taipei, Taiwan, and Andrew and Susan Laraia of Lakeville, Mass.; a daughter and son-inlaw, Mary Ellen and Carl Davis of Edison; eight grandchildren; and two sisters, Marie Ghio of New Fairfield, Conn., and Madeline Laraia of Zionville, N.C. Afuneral Mass was celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Farmingdale, followed by interment in St. John’s Cemetery, Queens, N.Y. Arrangements were by the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township.
