A funeral mass was held Jan. 31 at Our Lady of Visitation Church in Paramus for William Michael Sharples, 83, of Paramus, formerly of North Bergen. He passed away Jan. 28. Born in West New York, he was a Fire Captain for the West New York Fire Department before retiring in 1981. A successful business owner, he continued to work as the owner of the Boulevard Lounge in North Bergen for 32 years. Bill played on the football and basketball teams for Memorial H.S. in West New York in the late 1940s. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War.

Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara; father of William A Sharples and his wife Linda, Janice Schroback and her husband Mark, Thomas M. Sharples and his wife Lisa, James Sharples and his wife Dana and the late Robert Sharples; brother of his twin brother Robert Sharples and his wife Marie; sister Adele Mottershead; sister in laws, Roselyn Hollopeter and Carole Ashoff and husband Arthur; grandchildren; Larissa, Joseph, Ashley, Matthew, Mark, Robert, Michael, Megan, Thomas (TJ), Vivianna, Sofia, and Isabella; great grandchildren; Lila, Chaise, and Violet. Bill loved spending time with his family and was a lifelong Giants, Knicks, and Yankees fan. He touched the lives of so many close friends. Services arranged by the Vainieri Funeral Home, North Bergen.