Mario Alfonso, 90, passed away on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, at The Canterbury in Cedar Grove, N.J. Relatives and friends are welcome to visit the Buyus Funeral Home, 426 Lafayette St. at Wilson Ave., Newark, N.J., on Friday, Feb. 17, at 9 a.m. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 10:45 a.m., thence to Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, N.J. Visit buyusfuneralhome.com. Mario was born in the Ironbound section of Newark, N.J., on Dec. 5, 1921, and resided in Belleville, N.J., for more than 60 years. His family had emigrated from Portugal. Mr. Alfonso worked for PSE&G in Newark, N.J., for 25 years, and was active in their retirement association. He served as a sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, stationed in Bari, Italy, with the 450th Bombardier Group of the 720th Squadron. He loaded one-ton bombs onto B-24 fighter planes. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and was honorably discharged. Mr. Alfonso was a 60-year, founding member of the Julio Silva Post No. 681 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The post owned a building on McWhorter Street in the Ironbound, where they held fundraisers for charities and weekly social events, and he was a chaplain. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Etylvina "Tina," and daughter, Brenda Carol Alfonso. He will be dearly missed by his nieces, nephews and many good friends. He was a person of admirable character and deep convictions.