A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke Church in the Long Valley neighborhood of Wash-ington Township for Deacon Raymond “Ray” John Chimileski. He died suddenly on Oct. 28 at Hackettstown Medical Center. He was 76.
In 2005, Deacon Chimileski was ordained a permanent deacon of the Paterson Diocese and served St. Luke Parish. He belonged to the World Community for Christian Meditation and organized meditation at the church on Monday nights. Deacon Chimileski also began a Cross Walk across Long Valley on Good Friday, bringing together members of different denominations. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus.
Deacon Chimileski was the director and founder of Operation Chillout, New Jersey’s oldest all-volunteer mobile outreach for homeless veterans. Over the years, they have delivered backpacks with warm clothes and cared for thousands of homeless veterans.
Born in Passaic, Deacon Chimileski grew up in Paterson and lived in Long Valley for 34 years. He earned a master’s degree in art and was the owner and training consultant of Virtual Learning Network. He previously worked as a social worker for Child Protec-tive Services.
Deacon Chimileski enjoyed art and belonged to Art Matters in Long Valley.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Leslie Chimileski (Myers); his sister, Susie McElroy, and husband, Gary; his sisters-in-law, Ginny Ilsley, and husband, Patrick, and Gail Rock; his brother-in-law, Tom Myers, and wife, Angel Li; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Deacon Chimileski’s life will be celebrated with a visitation on Friday, Nov. 1, from noon to 4 p.m. at St. Luke Parish, followed the next day by his funeral Mass.
