Bennett Hugh Bordone Merley Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

MERLEY, Bennett Hugh Bordone, 5, of Cresskill (formerly of NY, NY) passed away on July 6, 2021. Memorial Visitation will be held at Barrett Leber Funeral Home 148 Dean Dr., Tenafly, NJ 07670 on Saturday, July 17, 2021 from 12PM-130PM with words of remembrance to follow at 130PM. In lieu of flowers or food, the best way to remember Bennett would be to please donate to The Bennett Merley Fund https://one.rutgers.edu/campaigns/bennett-merley-fund Bennett is survived by his loving parents Michael Merley and Lindsey Bordone, sister Summer and brother Carter, grandparents Arlene & Wayne Bordone, Kim & Vicki Merley—and, as a five-year-old, too many other friends and family to list. Bennett taught us that attention and service to one another is the true currency of love. For example, if you came to visit and met Bennett, he would take you by the hand. He would make you hold hands with someone else. He would look at you both; his look, his firm and powerful touch, and the sounds he uttered combined to convey his imperative command: you must be friends with the person he chose for you, whether you liked it or not. He was a Matchmaker who required that you hold hands and pay attention to one another. Bennett's 3q29 Deletion Syndrome led to daily struggles, despite that he managed to have fun. He loved the movie Ferdinand, and picking flowers after school (just like the main character in that movie, an overly large Bull). He loved his brother and sister. He loved the school bus, school, his friends, and his teachers. More than anything else he craved attention—he craved a friend, like his brother, sister, mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend or anyone else who would play with him. Bennett’s persistence and capacity for joy, despite many challenges, lit up our lives. We will do our best to keep that light on for him.

Bennett Hugh Bordone Merley

May 1, 2016 - July 6, 2021