James J. Hayden, 97, of Linden, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, August 13, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the Funeral from the Leonard-Lee Funeral Home, 301 East Blancke Street, Linden, on Wednesday, August 17th at 9am. The Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Elizabeth R.C. Church, Linden, 10am. Entombment will be in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia. Visiting hours are Tuesday, August 16th from 4pm - 8pm. James was born and raised in Elizabeth where he graduated from Edison High School and then joined the Military. James was a proud U.S. Army Veteran who served in World War II with the 91st Division in the Rome-Arno, North Apennines and Po Valley battles. He moved his family to Linden in 1956. James was employed by the Proctor & Gamble Co. at Port Ivory, Staten Island for 29 years retiring in 1988 as a Perfume Supervisor in their Avenel, N.J. Plant. While at P&G he helped develop permanently heated storage facilities for perfume raw materials. He was a long-time and faithful communicant of St. Elizabeth Church. James is the beloved husband of 77 years to Clara "Dolly" E. Mazza Hayden and the loving father of Gary Hayden, Donna Hayden and her wife Kelly Cook and the Late Dr. James J. Hayden and father-in-law of Anne Hayden, the cherished grandfather of Cathleen Marie Rosen and her husband David and the late Kelly Hayden, he is also the loving great-grandfather of Benjamin Rosen and Isabella Rosen. He is also survived by many cherished nieces, nephews and friends. In Lieu of Flowers, donations to your favorite charity in his name would be appreciated.