'Always a part of us': Wayne community mourns death of 15-year-old Rocco Sivolella

WAYNE — The community is mourning the loss of a teenager whose will to live inspired a local fundraising crusade and built awareness around the global concerns of pediatric cancer.

Rocco Sivolella, a freshman and football player at Wayne Valley High School, died on Tuesday after a four-month bout with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 15.

Efforts big and small were being made this week to honor the young man.

At the high school, players on the boys' lacrosse team wrapped pieces of orange tape — for leukemia awareness — around the masks of their helmets during a playoff game. And on Thursday, police led a 24.7-mile escort from the hospital in Manhattan where Rocco died to the funeral home where friends and loved ones will pay their respects.

His mother, Paula Corrieri, said her son deserved the series of tributes.

"He came here for his 15 years," she said, "and he did what he had to do. He touched the lives of so many people. He lit up so many lives. And I feel like that's what he was here to do."

Now, Corrieri said, he is on to "bigger and better things." Rocco, she said, is "watching over us."

"That's where my head is," she said. "In my heart, I feel like that's why he's gone so soon. That's the only explanation I have."

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As of Thursday, almost $85,000 had been collected through an online fundraiser created four months ago by a family friend.

But more than anything, Corrieri said, it is the blessings and words of encouragement that are helping her to stay strong. "Hearing all of the special things that people have to say about my son, and knowing what a great kid he was — that's what's getting me through this," she said.

Kenneth Palczewski, principal at Wayne Valley, said Rocco's spirit will "always be a part of us." A "fighter to the end," he said, "his fight became our entire community's fight."

Rocco was a "great friend and teammate," said Roger Kotlarz, head coach of the Indians football team. Players huddled in the high school's weight room to support each other on Thursday, he said.

"There's a sense of shock," the coach said. "In everyone's mind, you just didn't think it would end this way. Everyone had positive thoughts — everything was progressing so well, and it just took a real devastating turn."

Rocco was diagnosed with the cancer, which attacks blood and bone marrow, on Jan. 12.

The disease is uncommon in children. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 11,540 deaths from acute myeloid leukemia in the U.S. this year. Almost all of those cases will be adults.

Rocco was initially treated at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone for a month before undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy, his mother said. It was working for a while, and the cancer even went into remission, she said.

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But on May 3, a week before Rocco was set to undergo a bone marrow transplant, his temperature spiked, and he was rushed to the emergency room. The cancer had returned.

In the time that Rocco spent at home, Corrieri said, he threw out the first ball to open the Little League season, and he cheered from the bleachers for the Wayne Valley baseball team. And on April 19, he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.

"He was home to celebrate the big things," she said. "He did what he could with the time that he had, and he enjoyed every minute of it."

The family will accept visitors at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, at 567 Ratzer Road, on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. the next day at Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, across the street from the funeral home.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

Relay for Life

Cancer survivors and their supporters will walk laps around the track at Wayne Valley High School this weekend. The benefit had collected almost $63,700, as of Thursday.

Registration begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the opening ceremony at 4 p.m. The closing ceremony will be at 2 a.m. on Sunday.

For more information, visit this website.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wayne NJ: Rocco Sivolella death mourned by community