Pietanza family photo

Marty Pietanza, holiday home decorator, dies

Marty Pietanza, known for his elaborate and dazzling holiday decorations at his Willowbrook home, has died.

Pietanza died in his sleep at his home on Sunday. He was 49 years old.

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Bill Lyons

Christmas lights, decorations

Pietanza was well-known in the Staten Island community for his house decorations for Halloween and Christmas.

His home, located on Woolley Avenue in Willowbrook, has been featured in the Advance as one of the most festive homes on Staten Island.

"Shortly after we moved here, we started decorating for Christmas and then Halloween," said his daughter, Justine. "It kept getting bigger and bigger. The more people who enjoyed it, the bigger he made it."

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Pietanza family photo

Moved to Staten Island in 2006

Pietanza was born in Italy and grew up in Brooklyn, where he met his wife, Gina, in a pizzeria. The pair were married in 1999.

Pietanza moved his family to his Willowbrook home in 2006.

"He was an amazing husband and father," Justine said.

In this photo, he is pictured with his wife, Gina, and his two daughters, Justine and Taylor.

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Pietanza family photo

Worked as steel fabricator

Pietanza worked as an operations manager at T and L Fabricators in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

He worked as a steel fabricator for over 20 years and was an active member of the Steelfitters Local 638 union.

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Decorated all night

His daughter Justine said Pietanza decorated because he loved the neighborhood and enjoyed how much people were amazed at the decorations.

"It was something he loved to do, and he did it all by himself," she said. "He worked on it all hours of the night."

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Advance file photo

A favorite holiday

His daughter said that Pietanza's favorite holiday was probably Christmas.

"The neighbors lit up his whole world," Justine said. "He would stand up and ask people to come by and take pictures [of his decorated home]. He was such a people-pleaser and always had a smile on his face. It's a tremendous loss."

Pietanza would also dress as Santa Claus, much to the excitement of neighborhood kids.

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🎄🎅🏽Staten Island Christmas Lights Tour: Where should we go next⁉️ Posted by Staten Island Advance on Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Willowbrook home featured as best decorated

The Staten Island Advance's Shane DiMaio went to some of the best decorated homes during the Christmas season last year.

Skip to the five-minute mark in this Facebook Live video to view Pietanza's home decorated for Christmas.

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Pietanza family photo

Family plans to decorate

Family members said they plan on trying to decorate for Christmas this year -- in Pietanza's honor and memory.

Pietanza was the youngest of three sons. He is survived by his wife, Gina, his two daughters Justine and Taylor, his parents, his two older brothers and his many nieces and nephews.

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Pietanza family photo

Funeral arrangements

Arrangements are being handled by Andrew Torregrossa & Sons, Inc. Funeral Homes, located at 1305 79th St. in Brooklyn.

Services will be held at the funeral home Monday and Tuesday, from 4 to 9 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Brooklyn at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Pietanza will be buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Pleasant Plains.

In this photo, Pietanza is pictured with his wife, Gina.