Akl Hajjar Obituary

Akl N. Hajjar, 78, of Chatham, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 31, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Karoun, Lebanon, Akl came to the United States in 1968, settling in Fort Lee. He later lived in Paterson and East Hanover before making Chatham his home in 1983.
Akl earned his engineering degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and worked as the Chief Engineer and Technician for NC Carpet Binding in Newark. From 1983 to 1993, he and his wife, Mae, also owned and ran the Fairmount Country Store, a beloved local deli in Chatham that became a neighborhood staple all due to their hard work and welcoming spirit.
Akl was a dedicated parishioner of St. Anthony Orthodox Church in Bergenfield. He loved working with his hands and had an uncanny ability to fix just about anything, including plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and mechanical repairs. He also had a passion for technology that started when computers filled entire rooms. Whether he was physically fixing things or doing research online, he enjoyed the challenge and satisfaction of figuring things out and making them work again. But his greatest joy came from spending time with his grandchildren, who brought endless pride, laughter, and love into his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Mae; his daughter, Nicole Takla, and her husband, Michael, of Florham Park; his son, Paul Hajjar, and his wife, Jennifer, of Hoboken; and four cherished grandchildren: Ryan and Joseph Takla, and Max and Josephine Hajjar. He is also survived by three sisters: Lydia Abou Rjeily of Michigan, Marie Ferzli of Lebanon and Ghaida Hajjar of Lebanon; his mother-in-law, Josephine Hajjar; his brother- and sister-in-law, Melvin and Claudette Maher; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, George Hajjar, and his sister, Daad Hajjar.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 4th 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday at Hancliffe Home for Funerals, 222 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, followed by entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to St. Anthony Orthodox Church, 385 Ivy Lane, Bergenfield, NJ.