Mayla Sabeh, age 43 of East Hanover, died peacefully at home on Saturday, October 8, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Aleppo, Syria, Mayla came to the USA with her family when she was just ten years old, settling first in Wayne and then Clifton. She went on to graduate from Clifton High School in 1997 and attended William Paterson University. It was around this time, in 1998, that she met Alan Sabeh at a church party. They hit it off and their love blossomed quickly. Mayla was a gifted artist and she drew a portrait of Alan for his birthday that year. It was that very day that Alan told her “I love you” for the first time, and just a few months later he proposed! They were married on September 20, 1998 and honeymooned to Hawaii. The twenty-four years since have been nothing less than amazing! Mayla was an “all-in” kind of person who put her heart and soul into everything, including her marriage. She was always full of ‘gusto’ and rarely sat still. They traveled extensively too, visiting Syria, Hawaii, Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, Disney World, and summer vacations every single year to Wildwood, NJ. Their marriage has been a love story all along, and Alan will miss her dearly.

Mayla’s talents as an artist were a big part of everything she did. Her home was decorated beautifully, and floral arrangements adorned every room. She had floral displays for every season and her basement looks like a florist’s workshop! She loved decorating for the holidays, and Christmas was certainly her favorite. Her house looked like a museum at Christmas time, and it was all stunning. Mayla was also an amazing cook: preparing food for parties, some of her favorite meals were mahshee, yebret, kibbe byl lebaniya.  

Mayla’s family was, of course, her greatest passion and she often referred to her triplets as her “precious babies.” She was an incredible, devoted mother and gave them the best childhood she could. She taught them so much about being passionate, caring, loving, and kind. Above all, she taught them about the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

Mayla was profoundly devoted to her faith, and she lived in Christ. She read her bible often and frequently, she posted bible verses around her home, and she loved listening to Joyce Meyers, Joseph Prince, Andrew Wommack, and other evangelists. She organized bus trips to the Sights and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA where she loved watching the biblical performances – something she would highly recommend to everyone. She also found great joy in raising funds for St. Jude Children Research. She was on the ALSAC of St. Jude Committee and had earned an award for her fundraising efforts, which is displayed at the St. Jude Hospital. She was unashamedly faithful to God and Jesus, and she shared that love with everyone she knew, and many more whom she didn’t know. She had an unwavering faith and trusted in the Lord that all would be well with her soul when she passed away.

Mayla is survived by her loving and devoted husband Alan of East Hanover, their triplets; Houda, Lani, and Hikmat, her sister; Miriam Gabriel, her parents; Michel and Maha Gabriel, and a large, extended family including Albert Sabeh and his wife Rimonda and family, Sylvana Sabeh and family, Gilbert Sabeh and his wife Najla and family, and Aurore LoRé and her husband Derek and family.

Those wishing to make a donation in Mayla's memory, please consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.

Hanna Puzio (nee Kapelanowska), age 63, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at home in the loving care of her family.

Hanna was born in Zambrów, Poland, and was one of four children to Witold Kapelanowski and Bronislawa Sadowski. Following her high school graduation, Hanna attended college in Poland and earned her degree in Education. She was a History and Language Arts teacher, as well as a librarian, at the local grade school for many years. In 1992, she immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities for her family. Hanna was truly proud of her Polish heritage and continued to practice Polish traditions while assimilating to her new American life.

Upon arriving in the United States, Hanna and her three children joined her mother in Clifton, NJ. Hanna married the love of her life, Józef Puzio, on September 9, 1999. While living in Clifton, they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Olivia. The Puzios resided in Clifton until 2010, when they moved to Wayne. Hanna and Józef have called Wayne their home since.

Hanna remained devoted to her career as an educator and treasured teaching in various local Polish schools. She was very active in the Polish community. In 2021, she was awarded and proudly accepted the KEN Medal from the National Education Commission for her commitment and contributions to the field.

Hanna led a rewarding life. From a young age, she adored reading books of various genres. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake. She traveled extensively with her family, checking off numerous domestic and international iconic sights. She enjoyed adorning her yard with beautiful flowers and plants. Aside from all of Hanna’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was her family. Nothing in the world meant more to Hanna than caring for and supporting her husband, children, and grandchildren. She was a truly selfless mother who sacrificed a great deal to provide the best for her children, particularly her daughter, Angela. Hanna and Józef cherished twenty-three years of loving and loyal marriage together. Hanna was also committed to her Catholic Faith.  The Puzios were parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne for many years.  

Hanna was an extremely strong woman, steadfast and tenacious. She lived her life with great purpose and intention. Hanna was always willing to lend an ear and offer her wisdom and guidance to anyone in need. She was an extraordinary person who touched the lives of everyone around her and will be sincerely missed by family and friends alike.

Hanna is survived by her husband, Józef Puzio; her four children: daughter Angela Jastrzebska, son Dorian Jastrzebski, daughter Dagmara Jastrzebska and husband Daniel Stratthaus, and daughter Olivia Puzio; her two sisters: Wanda Lendzion and husband Kazimierz, and Barbara Kaminska; and her three grandchildren: Sophie Jastrzebski, Hailey Stratthaus, and Zachary Stratthaus. She was predeceased by her brother Kazimierz Kapelanowski.

Bryan Vande Vrede, 49 of Belvidere, NJ and formerly of Pompton Plains, died on Thursday, October 6, 2022 after a valiant battle with cancer. He and his wife are the owners of Flowerland Growers in Belvidere, and Bryan is the former Mayor of White Township.

Bryan grew up in Pompton Plains and has always been a creative thinker. He had a natural head for business, and he was quite a salesman. In 2004, he started “Flowerland Growers” in Belvidere with his wife, and they’ve worked hard to build that together. If you knew Bryan, you know there was nothing complicated about him, he just loved helping people in every way he could. He taught his children to always have something to give. He also understood his civic responsibility, proudly serving on his town council before becoming Mayor of White Township in 2007. He loved his neighbors, he loved his friends, and he loved his family.

Bryan was especially grateful to the Lord for all of his many blessings. He loved his church family and had served as a Deacon and Elder with the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Kinnelon. He was raised in the Lord, attended the Netherlands Reformed Christian School in Pompton Plains through the eighth grade. It was here, in grade school, that he met Debra Nieuwenhuis, and they married on October 8, 1993. Debbie was the love of his life, his biggest cheerleader and supporter, and she lovingly cared for him throughout their twenty-nine years of marriage. They raised their family of four children and worked hard together every day. Bryan’s family meant everything to him, his kids were his pride and joy, and he loves their spouses just as much. He is grateful to have been able to see them all grow into the hard-working young adults that they are today. They will all miss his gentle heart and calm confidence, and his love will endure with them forever.

Bryan is survived by his wife of twenty-nine years; Debra (nee Nieuwenhuis) of Belvidere, their four children; Scott and his wife Leah, Emily Van Woudenberg and her husband Luke, Ryan and Rachel, two grandchildren; Connor and Blake, his grandmother; Jenny Van Vugt, his parents; David and Gerda Vande Vrede of Lincoln Park, his parents-in-law; Richard and Trudy Nieuwenhuis of Belvidere, his six siblings; Amy Carbone (Christopher), Kenneth (Lisa), Michael (Christine), Beverly Willekes (Abraham), Steven (Jaquelyn), and Daniel (Faye), his siblings-in-law; Bethanne McLean (Thomas), Lauren Spiro (Philip), and Cheryl Densel (Brian), twenty-four nieces and nephews, and a large, extended family. Bryan was predeceased by his son Thomas in 1997.

Donations in Bryan’s memory would be appreciated to the Puritan Reformed Theological School in Grand Rapids, MI.

Vincent K. Gough, III, age 78, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Vincent was born in Pequannock, NJ, raised in Lincoln Park, and was the oldest of five children to Vincent and Marion Gough.  As a young boy, Vincent was a member of the Boy Scouts and enjoyed playing baseball.  Later he attended Boonton High School where he excelled in sports and was a member of the High School Varsity Track and Field team.  Vincent attended Wayne High School in his senior year after he and his family had moved to Wayne Township.  For many years Vincent would boast to his family that he had held the record for the number of sit-ups performed in his high school.  

After graduating from Wayne High School with the class of 1961, Vincent enrolled at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  He attended the school for a couple of years then Vincent left when felt in his heart to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army in 1964.  Vincent was stationed in Vietnam and was assigned as a Cryptographic Technician.  At this position he spent his time deciphering, cracking, and translating secret codes.  Vincent honorably and proudly served four tours during the Vietnam War in the United States Army from 1964 until 1970. During his service he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and received the Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

During Vincent’s first tour in Vietnam, he met a young, beautiful Vietnamese woman by the name of Be Tran, whom he lovingly referred to as her nickname Tam, she worked with the US Army Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Operations.  Vincent had run into her a few times at her work, then later met her at a local tavern.  Vincent and Be hit it off great and it was truly a case of “love at first sight.”  Following his first tour in Vietnam, Vincent was sent back to the United States and was assigned a job in Washington D.C.  Vincent didn’t care for the position in Washington and re-enlisted for his second tour in Vietnam.  He did so also to be reunited with his beloved Be.  As fate would have it, when Be and Vincent reunited in Vietnam, they became husband and wife on February 2, 1967.  Shortly after getting married and while still in Vietnam, Be and Vincent welcomed the birth of their first child, their son Vincent.  Be, Vincent, and their son left Vietnam after Vincent’s honorable discharge from the US Army and settled in Wayne Township, NJ.  While living in Wayne, they welcomed the births of their next three children, Sanlee, Heather, and Nigel.  Vincent and Be called Wayne their home for the rest of their lives together and raised their family.

Vincent took a position as a Field Technician with the Bell Telephone company after returning to the US.  He later worked for Fairbanks Scales in Upper Saddle River for more than fifteen years.  Vincent then worked for Action Scales in Newburgh, NY and also Material Processing Technologies in Paterson, NJ where he was employed as Maintenance Manager and later promoted to Plant Engineer.  His last seven years of employment, before his retirement, he worked as a Field Technician with Verizon in Totowa, NJ.

Vincent was a volunteer fireman for the Wayne Fire Company #2 for many years.  He was also an avid softball player in a local bar league in Wayne and played on a Modified Fast Pitch Softball team for his company MPT.  Vincent was an avid hunter of large and small game and enjoyed hunting with both shotgun and crossbow.  He was a passionate fisherman, particularly of Trout and Bass.  Vincent was a lifetime member of the NRA and member of the American Bass Association.

Vincent was truly a man of integrity and a devoted patriot.  He was unapologetic about his views and opinions but always polite and respectful of others opinions.  He had a wonderful and colorful sense of humor and could captivate an audience of any age with his ability to tell a story.  One of his most prized possessions was his 1989 Jeep Wrangler, which was his first brand new car he ever purchased.  Vincent was an avid collector of model HO scale trains.  Seventeen years ago, in 2005, Vincent’s sister Janice donated one of her kidneys to him. A “Gift” that extended his life nearly two decades.

Aside from all of Vincent’s hobbies, talents, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Vincent than spending time with and providing for his family.  He treasured spending time with his children and grandchildren and cherished fifty-five years of loving and loyal marriage to his wife Be.  Vincent touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Vincent is survived by his wife Be (nee Tran) of Wayne, his son Vincent Gough IV and his wife Elizabeth of Neptune, NJ, his daughter Sanlee Larena and her husband Pete of Jefferson, NJ, Heather Pettijohn and her husband Josh of Highland Ranch, CO, and his son Nigel Gough of Wayne, NJ, one brother Bruce Gough of Branchville, NJ, two sisters; Karen Sherrer of Pennsylvania, and Janice Sladicka and her husband Bob of New Milford, PA, nine grandchildren; Jason Gough of Fredericksburg, VA, Connor Halma of Jefferson, NJ, Fiona Gough of Wayne, NJ, Lila Be Pettijohn of Highlands Ranch, CO, Corrin Pettijohn of Highlands Ranch, CO, and Harper Pettijohn of Highlands Ranch, CO, Ally Larena of Jefferson, Michael Phillips of New Windsor, NY, Joey Phillips of Ramsey, NJ, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents Vincent and Marion Gough, and by his brother John Edward Gough.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Vincent’s name may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Rd, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.vva.org

Ray Martin, age 90 of Little Falls, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.

Ray was born in Clifton to Leonard and Lenore Martin before moving to Little Falls 46 years ago where he’s resided ever since. Ray served his country in the United States Navy as a 3rd class Engineman during the Korean war. His calling to serve and protect didn’t end there because after his return he elected to volunteer at the Eagle Hose Company #1 of Little Falls New Jersey as a volunteer fireman in 1962. His efforts in the Navy and as a fireman allowed Ray to discover his talents for hands on work which propelled him into his professional career. Ray went on to work as a Service Man for Royfax Corporation in Paramus for several years, and then later Eastman Kodak for 20 years before retiring in 1991. Ray helped us out here at the Vander May Funeral Home for many years and we all will cherish all the laughs and good times he could make out of tough situations.

Ray was a caring man who on April 21, 1956, decided to devote himself to his beloved Dorothy through marriage. They’ve been fortunate to enjoy 66 loving years in each other’s company. Ray found his faith and practiced at the 2nd Reformed Church in Little Falls for many years. He will be remembered as a faithful man with an ability to get a smile on your face no matter how difficult the circumstance. For many years Ray enjoyed supporting his daughter and son-in-law with their glider business called Jersey Ridge Soaring in Blairstown.  He would occasionally take glider flights, they have forms named after him, and he even helped assemble tow ropes for them.

Ray is survived by his wife Dorothy Martin, his daughter Brenda Martin and her husband Kevin of Germantown, MD and more recently Blairstown, NJ along with Ray’s Granddaughters, who lovingly called him “Ponkey” Alison and Ellen. Ray was also the cherished great-grandfather and “Ponkey” of Keagan and Talia. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Ray is predeceased by his brothers John Martin of Westwood and Wilber Martin.

In lieu of flowers those inclined to make a memorial donation in Ray's memory are asked to consider: The Second Reformed Church, 6 Walnut Street, Little Falls, NJ 07424  or  The Little Falls Rescue Squad/Fire Department (click here for the link)

Giovanni Domicoli, 70, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 while in the loving company of his dear family.

He was born in Gela, Italy in 1952 and Immigrated to the United States at the age of 15. Soon after Giovanni met Emanuela, who became his loving wife of 48 years.

Giovanni lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; Sunday dinners with his children and grandchildren filled his heart with joy. He loved fishing, crabbing, gardening and spending time at the shore.

He was a hard-working father who was always there when we needed him. He had many friends and was well respected.

Giovanni leaves behind his wife Emanuela Domicoli, his three children, Phyllis, Joseph and Daniel along with his greatest joys; his grandchildren, Gianni, Giovanni, Juliana, Daniel, Joey, Marco and Mia.

He will be sadly missed and always hold a place in our hearts.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Giovanni’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Walter C. Johnson, age 74 of Wayne, died on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. He had been a machinist and engineer throughout his career before retiring fifteen years ago.

Walt grew up in Jersey City and moved to Old Bridge when he was twelve years old. He went on to graduate from Madison Township High School in 1966. In 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served as a Machinist for four years before being honorably discharged in 1971. He enrolled in engineering classes while working full time, and received his mechanical engineering degree from NJIT in 1996.

He was an avid league bowler and achieved a “300” game just a few years ago. He enjoyed deep sea fishing and landed a 619 lb. tuna when he was just twenty years old. He also loved golfing and working on home improvement projects.  Walt was a cancer survivor who experienced his share of health challenges for the past twenty-five years, but he was a strong fighter who wouldn’t allow himself to be held back from enjoying life. He was a hard worker and a perfectionist. He also had a great sense of humor and provided plenty of laughter for his friends and family.

Walt met his wife, Frances, in Garfield, NJ, while playing cards at a friend’s house. They married on May 25, 1975 at St Stanislaus Kostka Church in Garfield and honeymooned in Bermuda. They lived briefly in Old Bridge before settling in Parsippany where they lived and raised their family for more than thirty-three years. They traveled extensively including many cruises to destinations such as Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, London and Rome.  His favorite destination was Bermuda and he was fortunate to have cruised there just three weeks ago! They were blessed with a beautiful, loving and devoted marriage of more than forty-seven years, and Fran will miss him dearly.

Walt cared deeply for his family and had always been a very supportive and loving father. He was gentle and strong at the same time, always leading by his example. He was a true gentleman. Each of his grandchildren meant the world to him and he enjoyed all the time he had with them. They all love him and will miss him dearly.

Walt is survived by his beloved wife, Frances (nee Sondej) of Wayne, their two sons; Michael and his wife Danielle of Rockaway, and Jason and his wife Michelle of Wayne; six grandchildren, Anthony, Aidan, David, Carlie, Abbey, and Cameron; as well as one sister, Carole Rux. He was predeceased by his sister Kathleen Johnson in 2009.  He also leaves nephew Scott Eder, who he was like a father figure to, as well as nephew Kenneth Rux, and nieces Kristen Blomstrom and Jennifer Aroche, as well as eight great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Walter's memory would be appreciated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.

Brenda I. Roman, age 54, of Clifton, passed Sunday, October 2, 2022.

She was born to Emilio and Vidalina Brito in Heidelberg, Germany as her father was serving in the US Army and stationed in Germany. Upon returning to the United States the family first settled in Alabama, soon moved to Paterson, and ultimately settled in Clifton many years ago.

Brenda graduated from the John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, where she played on the volleyball team, with the Class of 1986.

She will be lovingly remembered as a fun, crazy, outgoing, bubbly, wonderful person. She was an excellent cook specializing in Spanish cuisine. When it came to cleaning it is said that Brenda was obsessed with cleaning and would even clean your house when she came to visit. She loved caring for family and their kids, and enjoyed going to the Jersey Shore in Belmar, Bradley Beach, and Long Branch. She would sit on the beach and could look at the ocean or people watch all day long. When it came to her soap operas on television, she loved watching The Bold and the Beautiful.

Brenda met her husband Eli through friends. Eli proposed marriage while they were at a restaurant in Lincoln Park and they soon married on June 13, 2010…the day after her birthday.

Brenda was the loving wife of twelve years to Eli Salazar; devoted daughter of the late Emilio (d.2003) and her surviving mother Vidalina Brito; she was the mother of four sons: Joshua Virella, Skylar Roman, Justin Roman, and Devin Roman all of Clifton; she was the sister of the late Nidia “Mari” Brito (d.1985), Marta Rodriguez and her husband Miguel “Junior” of Paterson; and Elva Ghalam and her husband Darryl of Midland Park.

Virginia D. Canlas, MD age 76, of Passaic, passed away into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, October 1, 2022.

The third of Virgilio and Mercedes (Dimalanta) Canlas’ four children, Virginia was born and raised in the city of Manila in the Philippines. Her father was a physician whose desire was for his son Renaldo to follow in his footsteps. When Renaldo learned that this was not God’s calling for his life, Virginia came forward to tell her father that she would like to become a doctor. After graduating from Abad Santos High School, she attended Far Eastern University in Manila where she earned her undergraduate degree and served her internship to become a physician. In 1970, Virginia received her license to practice medicine and she was assigned by the Philippine government to the province of Pampanga as a general practitioner with a specialty in OBGYN.

Dr. Canlas practiced medicine in the Philippines until 1980 when, at the encouragement of her parents and two of her siblings, she joined them in the United States to be closer to her family and to enjoy all the opportunities that America offered. After taking some master courses in public health at Columbia University, Virginia took a position with the New York Department of Health.

Virginia, also affectionately known as Gie, held a deep and abiding faith in God. Sensing God’s call to use her medical skills for His glory, she left her current position to go work for an organization called World Vision, an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to work with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and be witnesses to the good news of the Kingdom of God. Over the course of several years with World Vision, Dr. Canlas served as a general practitioner, providing medical assistance in Cambodia, Romania, Laos and on the continent of Africa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Looking back on that experience, Gie was so grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to help those who otherwise would have had no hope. She eventually returned to the United States and worked at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth before fully retiring in 2015.

In addition to her love of travel through World Vision, Gie enjoyed the simple daily experiences of life like so many of us do. She kept her mind sharp by regularly watching Jeopardy and, having spent time in Los Angeles, she took a liking to watching Los Angeles Lakers games on TV. She was an accomplished pianist who loved to play the sacred hymns of the faith and was a bit of a fashionista who had just as much fun shopping for nice clothes as she did wearing them. Gie loved dining out, with favorite restaurants being East Japanese Restaurant in Teaneck, I-Hop in Clifton, and, of course, any restaurant that served delicious ethnic Philippine foods.

Next to her faith in the Lord, Gie’s family and extended church family at Bible Church International in Garfield (now in Randolph) were most dear to her. After her father’s passing, Gie eventually moved home to provide loving care for her mother Mercedes in Passaic. Somewhat shy, Gie was happy for her times of solitude but she also loved the company of her sisters, brother, nieces and nephews. She was a gentle and generous soul and, while her family mourns the loss of Gie, they are thankful to God for her life and look forward to being reunited with her in God’s glorious presence.  

Virginia was the loving sister of: Zenaida Sakdalan and husband Bonifacio of Pequannock, Leticia Abad and husband Antonio of Southbury, CT., and Renaldo Canlas and wife Ines of Flanders, NJ; and dearest aunt of: Dennis Sakdalan and wife Rachel of Pompton Plains, Ronald Sakdalan and wife Christine of Rockaway, Paul Sakdalan and wife Lorelie of Barnegat, Stacy Ann Canlas of Flanders, John Michael Canlas and wife Kimberly of New York City, Lea McNamara and husband Glen of Southbury, CT, Michelle Frost and husband Brad of Chicago, IL, and Anthony Abad and wife Cate of Wyckoff.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Virginia’s name are asked to consider:

World Vision
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063

Joan Helene Ruyzam, 72, of Pompton Lakes, passed away peacefully at home while in the loving presence of her family on Friday, September 30, 2022.

Joan was born in 1950 in New York City and raised for a short time in Astoria Queens. Her life got off to a bumpy start as she was prematurely born resulting in lungs that were not fully developed. To assure the best chance for survival, Joan’s pediatrician advised her parents to move out of New York’s congested atmosphere to a place where the air quality would be cleaner. Her parents took the advice and moved to Ocean Township in South Jersey. By God’s grace, Joan’s condition continually improved to the point where she was able to lead a perfectly normal life.

In her teenage years, Joan attended Asbury Park High School while waiting for the completion of the newly constructed Ocean Township High School where she graduated in 1967. In pursuit of higher education, she attended Monmouth College in West Long Branch, NJ and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Education in 1971.

Joan really loved the sun, sand, surf and everything else there was to enjoy about life near the ocean. While in college during the summer of 1970, she decided to compete in the Miss Seaside Heights Beauty Pageant. No surprise, Joan won the contest and, in efforts to boost tourism to Seaside, a large promotional poster featuring Joan was posted in prominent locations including Grand Central Station in New York City.

Joan’s “get your foot in the door” first job was at a business school in Asbury Park. After that, she subbed until getting a job teaching typing at a grammar school in central New Jersey. Being a teacher meant summers off and she’d typically waitress to supplement her income. One summer, Joan was waitressing down the shore at a place called the Thunderbird Hotel. It was there that she waited on a couple who knew about a job opening for a business teacher at Lakeland Regional High School in Wanaque Township, NJ. Taking their advice, Joan interviewed for the position and got it. She ended up staying at Lakeland for the next thirty years until retiring in 2007.

While teaching at Lakeland, Joan enjoyed the respect of her students and colleagues. One colleague was a history teacher named Joseph Ruyzam. She and Joe eventually fell in love and married. The wedding ceremony was officiated by the mayor of West Long Branch and took place on June 25, 1999. After honeymooning in San Francisco, California, Mr. and Mrs. Ruyzam took up residence in Pompton Lakes. For their seventh and fifteenth anniversaries, Joan and Joe renewed their wedding vows. On both occasions, they renewed those vows in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wanting to keep it lightly dignified, the renewal vows were officiated by an Elvis impersonator who asked Joe, “Do you take Joan to be your Hunka Hunka Burn’n Love” and “Do you promise to never send her to Heartbreak Hotel?” After the ceremony was complete, Joan, Joe, and Elvis walked down the aisle of the chapel together singing Viva Las Vegas.

Joan had a love for life filled with many interests. She was an avid reader who enjoyed anything from the latest Danielle Steele romance to countless writings about political history and current political events. When she and Joe travelled, she could never resist picking up a book about the places they went. She and Joe’s travels took them all over the USA including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Nashville, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Boston and New Orleans. There was also a very much enjoyed trip to Aruba where the restaurants were a highlight. Joan’s favorite music featured songs from the 1950’s. She and Joe were regulars at concerts by Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, The Drifters, and Frankie Ford. When it came to sports, the New York Mets were Joan’s team of choice. She was a life-long fan who started going to games with her father when she was just a little girl. Her all-time favorite player was first baseman Ed Kranepool who was a lifetime Met with a career that started with the franchises first year in 1962 until he retired in 1979. One time she got to meet him and Ron Swaboda at the Tarrytown Theater. It was a fun time where the players just told stories about their careers. Joan’s husband Joe revealed Joan’s greatest secret to Ed – that she had such a crush on him, she wanted to marry him. Ed’s reply was, “I should have married you!” Another Met highlight was when she got to meet the Mets former third baseman Howard “HoJo” Johnson. HoJo was on the 1986 world champion team and Joan got to try on his world series ring. Over the years, she and Joe attended games at Citi Field and many minor league games too.

Throughout Joan’s life, her faith in God was foundational. Even in recent years as she fought through various battles with her health, her faith was a constant source of strength. She was beloved by her students, her professional colleagues, and especially her family. Intelligent and quick witted, Joan was a pleasure to share company with. Here range of knowledge was vast and conversations with her were always interesting and thought provoking. Her smile was as beautiful as her heart from which her smile emanated.

Joan was the beloved wife of Joseph, blessing in marriage for 22 years. She is also survived by her brother-in-law John Ruyzam of Wayne, and her cousin-in-law Valerie Levine (Victor Barber) of Boonton. Joan was predeceased by her parents Edward F. and Edna R (Ford) Ringenberger.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Joan’s name are asked to consider:

Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church
220 Browertown Road
Woodland Park, NJ 07424

P.A.T.C.H. (Pet Adoption Through Caring Hands)
26 Lakeside Avenue
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

Schavaria Reeves, age 56 of Clifton, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, September 24, 2022. He had fought a valiant battle with prostate cancer for the last eight years.

Schavaria grew up in Harlem, New York, and his mother raised him to know Jesus. From his youngest days, Schavaria chose to spend his free time at the local church, avoiding the worldly temptations that were so readily available on the neighborhood streets. He trusted that God had a better life in store for him. He showed promise as an artist and this gained him acceptance into the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan. After graduating high school, he went on to study art at the Fashion Institute of Technology, FIT, in New York. While a student at FIT, a friend asked him to create a story board for an upcoming music video and Schavaria’s artwork was so impressive that the production company hired him full time. His career began quickly and he found himself working as a production assistant in the art department making music videos for some of the most popular artists of the era. He eventually settled in as a sound engineer with IATSE Local 52 in Queens, NY, and had most recently been working on projects with Amazon Prime. He was passionate and professional about his work, was respected and beloved in the industry, and he enjoyed meeting all the celebrities along the way. Among the highlights of his career was when he was able to watch Michael Jackson rehearsing for a show in New York City.

On one particularly special day during his career, a friend of his came to visit him at work and she brought along a friend named Martha Melendez. When Schavaria first saw Martha, he was astounded. He pulled his friend aside and asked, “who is this woman? I have to marry her.” Martha, however, wasn’t as equally smitten with Schavaria at first sight. In time though, she warmed up to him and learned that he was a man of strong character, who was very loving, and he proved to be utterly devoted to her. They have shared twenty-seven years since first meeting, and their love grew stronger every day. The strength of their marriage is rooted in their shared faith in Jesus Christ, and they’ve shared that faith with their children, their friends, and just about everyone else they encounter. Martha is grateful for the time she was able to share with Schavaria, and for the faith that they both shared so deeply throughout their years together.

If you were blessed to know Schavaria, then you know he was always happy and joyful. He would talk to just about everyone he met, and he often made lifelong friendships after striking up a conversation with a stranger. He enjoyed life with a zeal and happiness that was fueled by his faith that something even greater awaited him in his next life. That faith began during his earliest days growing up in Harlem. He went to church frequently in his Harlem neighborhood, in an effort to stay off the streets. He spent hours at his church. He also watched televangelists such as Billy Graham and Jimmy Swaggart on TV, and his faith grew strong as he learned about the love of Jesus. He received the Lord at the age of fourteen and has walked with the Lord, as best as he could, ever since that day. He was not a perfect man by any means, but he always did the best he could, and he was never shy about sharing his faith. In the days prior to his death, as his family sat vigil, he never showed fear and held fast in the knowledge that he would see the face of Jesus soon. What a glorious moment that must have been for him.

Schavaria is survived by his beloved wife, Martha Melendez of Clifton, their two children: Sky and her husband Alex, and Kayloni Burton, his brother, Ernest Reeves, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Ollie Reeves, in 2021.

John C. Brugaletta, age 92, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 24, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

John was raised in Haledon and was one of 4 children. Following his high school graduation, John found work at Food Fair in Paterson. While at Food Fair, John worked alongside a lovely young woman named Caroline Maratta. John asked Caroline out on a date and picked her up in his mother’s car (which he told Caroline was his). As fate would have it, they fell in love and while at church one Sunday afternoon John proposed to Caroline. The couple became husband and wife on April 20, 1952 and honeymooned in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

After getting married, John and Caroline settled in Paterson and moved into an apartment on Union Ave just upstairs from Caroline’s parents. During their time in Paterson, the couple welcomed the births of both their daughters Carol Ann and Judy. In 1963, as their family grew, Caroline, John and their two children moved to Wayne. The couple remained in Wayne for the rest of their lives together. John worked for Instrument Specialties in Little Falls and then went to Weiss – Aug Co. where he retired. He and Caroline cherished sixty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage together. John was a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather. He also enjoyed being a Scout Leader in his early years, fishing and camping. John and his family frequented the Jersey Shore points such as Seaside Heights and Wildwood Crest during the summer for many memorable family vacations. John was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

John was the lovely husband of the late Caroline Brugaletta (d2020). Devoted father to Carol Ann Johanson and her husband Frank of Rockaway, and Judy Hanenberg and her husband Jay of Wayne, beloved brother to Ann Joseph and her husband Bill of Toms River, NJ, five grandchildren; Keith D. Hanenberg and his wife Katie, Kevin Hanenberg and his wife Brooke, Renee Ross and her husband Tim, Lori DellaValle and her husband Jeff, and Michelle Johanson, and eight great grandchildren; Tyler and Jared Hanenberg, Hadley and Kendall Ross, Leah and Kaylee Hanenberg, Sophia and Joseph Jeffrey DellaValle.

Travis C. Havel, 53 of Wayne, died unexpectedly on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Travis had been employed with Virgo Medical Services and Lifeline Medical Services, both in East Orange, throughout much of his career. He has always enjoyed helping others and started as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Wildwood, NJ after high school. After moving to Wayne about twenty years ago, he joined the Wayne Volunteer Fire Company 4 and served there for many years. He was always ready and willing to serve his community.

Travis met his wife, Karen (nee Arbucci) after being introduced by a mutual friend. They had been dating for some time when Travis surprised Karen with a new toolbox. This wasn’t exactly her idea of the perfect gift, and she was rather unimpressed. But Travis encouraged her to open the toolbox, which revealed a sparkling engagement ring! They were soon married on October 2, 2004, at Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne, followed by a fantastic honeymoon to Hawaii. They have enjoyed eighteen “wonderful and fun” years together. They went to countless NASCAR races, minor league baseball games, football games, and hockey games. Travis particularly loved going to Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA to watch the Penguins play hockey. He would bring a Teddy Bear every time and throw it on the ice after the Penguins scored their first goal, which is a fun tradition there and the toys are collected off of the ice for charity! Travis and Karen also visited Atlantic City frequently, and they vacationed to Ocean City, MD where he enjoyed swimming in the ocean and relaxing on the beach. They had a lot of fun together and Karen will miss him dearly.

Travis was a good man, with a big heart. He was always willing to drop whatever he was doing and help a friend in need. All you had to do was ask and he would be there for you. He leaves behind a large group of friends, coworkers, and family who will all miss him very much.

Travis is survived by his beloved wife, Karen (nee Arbucci) of Wayne, his in-laws; Barbara and Vincent Arbucci of Wayne, his mother; Grace Havel of Wildwood, his sister; Jodie Beaudoin and her husband Chuck of Wildwood, two sisters-in-law; Lorraine Arbucci and her husband David Holowiecki of Florida, and Patricia Arbucci of Riverdale, his nieces and nephews; Gracie and Amber Beaudoin, and Dylan, Derek, and Devin Rhinesmith, and by his aunt; Anne Cielo. Travis was predeceased by his father, Charles Havel.

Betty Chanson (nee Oakley), age 93, of Wayne passes away peacefully on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Betty was born and raised in Clifton, NJ and was the youngest of three children to Alfred and Theresa Oakley.  While growing up in Clifton, Betty attended Clifton high School, excelling in academics, she graduated with the class of 1947.  Immediately following her high school graduation, Betty enrolled in the Berkley Secretarial School located in the Clifton/Paterson area.  After receiving her certification in the secretarial program, Betty found employment quickly at the Singer Kearfott company in Nutley, NJ.  Betty remained at Singer Kearfott for several years and later took a position as a crossing guard with the Township of Wayne. This was work that Betty truly treasured.  Betty remained employed as a crossing guard for more than thirty years until she retired approximately fifteen years ago.

When Betty was a young woman, she snuck into a local CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) dance.  While at the dance, she met a handsome young man by the name of Robert Chanson.  Robert asked Betty to dance and they hit it off great.  They immediately started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and Robert and Betty became husband and wife in Totowa, NJ.  After getting married, the newlyweds moved to the town of Wayne and have called it there home ever since.  While living in Wayne, Robert and Betty welcomed the births of both of their children Roy and Cheryl.  It was also after getting married that Betty made the decision to become a full-time homemaker.  This was truly Betty’s calling and certainly where she flourished.  Betty was a truly devoted wife and mother.  She was a wonderful cook and was famous by family and friends for her Pot Roast and her tomato sauce.  She was also proud of having won a cooking contest for her vegetable lasagna some years ago.  Betty cherished hosting her family’s events including birthday parties, and especially the holidays.

Betty was not only devoted to her family, but she was also dedicated to her Christian Faith and was baptized as a child at the Pompton Reformed Church in Pequannock.  She enjoyed traveling with her husband Robert over the years to a variety of destinations including the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda.  She also treasured her family vacations to Dewey Beach in Delaware and frequented the Jersey Shore every summer.        

Not only was Betty devoted to her husband and children, but she was also devoted to her parents as well.  Betty took it upon herself to act as the primary and full-time caregiver for both her parents when they became elderly.  Caring for people was something that came natural to Betty and was also what some would call a gift.  Betty was often selfless, and whether if was family or friends, she took care of the needs of others before her own.  She was a wonderful and talented dancer, particularly of the polka, and was also a diehard New York Mets fan.  She loved all animals but had a soft spot for stray dogs.  Her husband Robert would often come home from work and find a new dog in the house that Betty had found.  She would often shelter the dogs until she could find their owners or bring them safely to the local animal shelter.

Betty was a kind and sweet woman who had a wonderful sense of humor and could light up any room she walked into with her smile and laughter.  Shel loved to joke around with people and had the delightful quality of being able to laugh at herself.  She was never heard to speak a bad word about anyone and had only friends, no enemies.  It was clear to everyone that knew Betty, that her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in world meant more to Betty than spending time with and providing for her family.  Betty and her husband Robert cherished more than sixty years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Betty touched the lives of everyone around her and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.

Betty is survived by her husband Robert Chanson of Wayne, NJ, one daughter Cheryl Romeo and her husband Ralph of Wayne, NJ, one son Roy Chanson and his wife Amy of Princeton, NJ, four grandchildren; Nick Romeo and his wife Allie of Wayne, NJ, Mark Romeo and his wife Kristy of Little Silver, NJ, Eric Chanson of Princeton, NJ, and Alex Chanson and his wife Nicole of Atlanta, GA, four great grandchildren; Mason Romeo, Tenley Romeo, Sienna Romeo, and Charli Chanson.  Betty was predeceased by her brother Edward Oakley, her sister Dorothy Turner, and her granddaughter Melissa Romeo.

Donations in Betty’s name may be made to Friends of Wayne Animals (FOWA), PO Box 3701, Wayne NJ 07470.

Loretta Costabile (nee Coronato), age 95 of Wayne, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

Loretta was born and raised in the Totowa section of Paterson and graduated from Central High School with the class of 1944. It was in high school that her girlfriend introduced her to Charles Costabile. They exchanged countless letters while Charles served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and they courted for a few years after his return home. They tied the knot on October 19, 1952 at St. Mary’s RC Church in Totowa followed by a honeymoon to Washington, DC and Florida. They lived in Totowa Paterson for a few years before moving to their home that they built together in Wayne in 1960. Loretta has lived in that same home for sixty-two years! They raised their three children there together until Charles died suddenly in 1975. Loretta’s world was turned upside down as a result, but she was a fiercely strong woman, determined to do all she could for her children. She began working two, and sometimes three, jobs to make ends meet, and she did it with grace and poise. She worked at her father’s store; Coronato Brothers Silk Shop in Totowa, as a salesperson at Meyer Brothers, and as a cashier at the gift shop in Wayne General Hospital. She was a salesclerk at a bakery, a helper at a local nursery school, and as a library and cafeteria aid at the Lafayette Elementary School in Wayne. She was also a babysitter for countless families around town. She was truly amazing.

In her free time, she was an accomplished league bowler at T-Bowl, and she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing various crafts, and solving jigsaw puzzles. She was a fantastic baker and a wonderful cook. Her pasta and meatballs were famous among her children, and she loved preparing large meals for the holidays. Christmas was her favorite holiday and along with the help of her sister, they would prepare the traditional seven fishes for Christmas Eve. No one is sure how she found the time, but Loretta also volunteered as the Treasurer for the Xaverian Missionaries in Wayne, Treasurer for the Our Lady of the Valley RC Church Seniors Group, Treasurer at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Wayne, and as Treasurer for the Golden Age Circle of Wayne. Needless to say, she kept herself active and busy, and she was dedicated to many local charities and causes.

Loretta is survived by her three children; Loretta Costabile of Newfoundland, John Costabile and his wife Donna of Sparta, and Kevin Costabile of Goshen, NY, three grandchildren; Kyle C., Trevor J., and Anthony M. Costabile, and one sister; Theresa Coronato-Rossi of Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad.

James “Jimmy” H. Shaw, Jr. age 55, of Wayne, passed Tuesday, September 13, 2022.

He was born to James and Edie Shaw and raised in Wayne. In his youth, Jimmy played both football and baseball with the Wayne P.A.L. He went on to play both sports at Wayne Hills High School where he graduated with the Class of 1984. His love of football never faded as evidenced by his love for the New York Giants and his constant support of them through the years. His children still carry on his tradition of being season ticket holders for the Giants supporting them every week.

Jimmy discovered a passion for cooking early on, and enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York where he developed an affinity for French cuisine. He applied this skillset to the many restaurants he worked at during his professional career.

Jimmy enjoyed time spent with his family. He loved their annual trips to Seaside, from swimming to walking the boardwalk, to playing Frog Bog and riding the roller-coasters. He also loved deep sea fishing, a nice day spent golfing at the Knoll West Country Club in Parsippany and of course trashing the Dallas Cowboys. He will be remembered as a witty jokester with a great sense of humor, a beloved father, son, brother and friend.

Jimmy is survived by his three children: Casey, Kerri, and Ryan Shaw. He is also survived by his mother Edie Shaw, his brother and sister-in-law Joseph and Bonnie Shaw, and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father James Shaw and sister Edie Sich.

In lieu of donations, the family asks that you honor Jimmy’s memory with a cheer and toast for the Giants at the next game!

Francesco Ceraulo, age 82 of Ringwood, died on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. He had lived in Newark, and North Haledon, before moving to Ringwood in 2005.

Francesco was born in Sicily and emigrated to Lens, France with his family when he was just a teenager. In Lens, he found work as a coal miner, which he knew didn’t offer a very promising future. Fortunately for him, he had a brother-in-law living in Newark during the 1960’s, who encouraged him to come to America. He moved his family to Newark’s North Ward with little more than a heart-full of really big dreams. His brother-in-law helped him get work at Calandra’s Bakery in Newark, where he started at the bottom and worked his way up to become the foreman of their baking operation! He and his wife saved every penny they could and were soon able to open their own bakery, the Mediterranean Bakery, in Bound Brook, NJ. It was a wonderful success story based on hard work, dedication, and sweat which enabled him to retire in his 50’s. But retirement didn’t suit Francesco very well and he opened another bakery with his daughter and son-in-law in Washington, NJ, called Sicilia Italian Bakery. He officially retired in 2005.

Francesco met his wife, Mattia (nee Ricca) when they were both living in France. They have enjoyed over sixty years in a very loving and close marriage. They’ve traveled extensively and loved visiting new places. They’ve been to Spain, Greece, France, Hawaii, and Australia. They also enjoyed taking cruises and have sailed the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Ocean, and many others. They enjoyed going for long drives in the car, eating out, and visiting Atlantic City where they would stroll the boardwalk. They loved being together and Mattia will miss him dearly.

Francesco is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years; Mattia, their three children; Salvatore Amato (Annamaria) of Totowa, Vincenza LoCascio (Sebastiano) of Martinsville, NJ, and Lillian Auteri of Ringwood, nine grandchildren; Francesco LoCascio, Antonino LoCascio, Angelo LoCascio, Michael LoCascio, Mattia Doyle, Anthony Amato, Angelo Auteri, Frank Auteri, and Paula Greggo, and sixteen great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Guiseppe Auteri of Ringwood in 2017.

Friends wishing to make a donation in Francesco’s memory are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Marjorie H. Considine (nee Evans), age 82 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

Marjorie had grown up in Edgewater, NJ and went to Leonia High School. It was here that she met the handsome James Considine and a whirlwind romance ensued. They were practically just kids when they married on December 8, 1956, and went on to raise five children. They enjoyed a fun and adventurous marriage of fifty-seven years. They had lived in Bergenfield for most of their years together and retired to a home on a lagoon in Little Egg Harbor. They often went bicycle riding and golfing together, and they even took up Scuba diving as a shared hobby. They were ‘snowbirds’ for a number of years in Port Charlotte, Florida, and they vacationed on countless cruises all over the high seas. Marjorie discovered tennis as an adult, and she enjoyed it so much that it was more of a second childhood for her! She excelled at tennis and competed in club tournaments nationwide. Later in life, she took up playing cards and had regular games of Pinochle, Conasta, and Rummy. She was always an excellent Scrabble player too – but everyone knew she cheated! Her own grandchildren were shocked when they caught her cheating while playing with them! Marjorie was very outgoing and funny, would freely speak her mind and she often had a witty comment for you. She was an excellent conversationalist and she enjoyed making friends.

Marjorie and Jim retired to Little Egg Harbor and they would often host all the grandchildren there. They loved having family around and their grandchildren all have great memories of crabbing, digging for clams at low tide, and going out on the boat. Sadly, their home was destroyed by hurricane Sandy and just a few months later Jim passed away. Marjorie moved to St. Peter’s Senior Residence in River Edge and lived there before settling more recently at the Christian Healthcare Center in Wyckoff.

Marjorie is survived by her five children; Daniel  Considine and his wife Elaine of Wayne, Kelley Bacci and her husband Kurt of Bergenfield, Laura Phelan and her husband William of Rivervale, James Considine and his wife Sharron of Dunstable, Massachusetts, and Kristene Neal of Highland Falls, NY, and twelve grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Jim in 2013.

For those wishing to make a donation in Marjorie’s memory, please consider the St. Peter’s Senior Residence in River Edge, NJ.

Jon D. Swenson, age 75, of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, N.J., passed away peacefully on September 10th, 2022, after a courageous but brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born on September 17, 1946, in Newark, NJ, to the late Edwin G. Swenson and Pearl H. Swenson, Jon was an only child who grew up in North Caldwell, NJ.   After graduating in the first class of West Essex High School, he attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1972, Jon graduated from NJIT (formerly Newark College of Engineering) with his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.  Jon also holds a Professional Engineer license with the State of New Jersey.  

In 1970, Jon met his future bride (Joyce Halloran) at Billy Bud’s Shanty Pub in Fairfield, NJ. He asked her to dance and then asked for her phone number.  Immediately thereafter, they dated, and eventually were married on October 21, 1972, at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Prospect Park, NJ.  They were blessed with two sons and a daughter to complete their family.

Upon graduation from Stevens, Jon began his employment at Becton Dickinson & Company, first in Rutherford, and later in Franklin Lakes, where he spent his entire 37- year career.   Jon worked in various divisions, starting in machine design and advancing to product development and management. Ultimately Jon became the Director of Needle and Blade Technology and was a global leading expert on needle sharpness, reducing the pain felt by millions of patients who receive a needle stick each year.  Jon was led by guiding principles of exactness, precision, excellence, perseverance, and ingenuity in everything he pursued.  It was his desire to improve the patient experience, especially for young children, so that through its design each needle would be as painless as possible.   Jon was awarded numerous patents, and in 2001 received Becton Dickinson’s Wesley J. Howe Award for Technological Innovation for a Lifetime Achievement in Needle Technology.  Many of the manufacturing machines designed by Jon almost fifty years ago are still running and operational in multiple Becton Dickinson facilities.  

Jon had a solution for every problem.  His grandchildren affectionately called him “Mr. Fix It” because he could fix anything.   He cherished doing projects around the house with his children, took exceptional pride in his extensive tool collection (especially obscure ones that solved unique challenges), and loved teaching his grandchildren how to ride his beloved John Deere lawn tractor.  His youngest grandchild, only 6, learned to drive it this past summer!  Jon had a deep love for the history, power, ingenuity, and legacy of steam railroad trains, especially the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was an ongoing challenge to find a railroad book that could be gifted to Jon, as he already owned a copy of (and read cover-to-cover) almost all of them that were in print.   He could recite the wheel configuration, hauling capacity and years of operation for nearly any locomotive from memory and enjoyed taking road trips to visit obscure railyards and stations from past and present. Around the house, Jon spent considerable time attending to his many gardens with pride and joy.    

For Jon’s family and friends, Jon was selfless with his time and willingness to help.  He volunteered for his children’s youth baseball and soccer teams in Packanack Lake, as well as committees that erected floating curtains at the swim areas of the lake’s two beaches. He oversaw a large project to install lights at the sports fields and always made time to have a catch with his children, so long as they were prepared for a lesson in applied physics. He took genuine interest in others and saw friendship as its own reward.  Jon was a daily reader of the Bible and his strong beliefs guided him through his everyday life.

Jon loved that Joyce was one of four children and had a large family.  Together they hosted many family holiday parties at their home and no detail in the preparation was overlooked.  Jon organized many of the family events, whether it was planning the annual Christmas tree cutting in PA, planning the after-tree gathering at a local restaurant, hiding Easter eggs for the Easter egg hunt, getting the Easter pinata ready for all the children, or even dressing up as Santa for the Christmas Eve party.

Jon is survived by his wife of 49 years; Joyce Swenson (nee Halloran) of Wayne, NJ, two sons; Kirk (Wendy) of Mountain Lakes, NJ, Kevin of Silver Spring, MD; a daughter, Katy Lauber of Essex Fells, NJ, and is affectionately known as Grandpa and Poppy to his six grandchildren (i.e., Luke, Addison, Russell, Nora, Will, and Connor).  Jon is also survived by two very special cousins Raymond and David Scaravaglione of NY and Florida, respectively, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jon’s memory would be appreciated to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation or the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

Jack A. Lavelle, 72 of Lodi passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 8th 2022.  Jack was born in Scranton Pennsylvania to Aloysius and Hannah Lavelle. Jack was raised in  Lodi, New Jersey where he grew up surrounded by loving family and lifelong friends.

Jack served in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany. He was Honorably discharged in 1974. Jack joined the Bergenfield police force in May 1974, where he was later promoted to the detective bureau. Jack excelled professionally throughout his career receiving numerous training certificates, letters, and awards memorializing his outstanding service to the community. Jack excelled in all areas including welding and mechanics which he enjoyed with his son, Jack, and brothers Mickey & Al. Jack was truly captivating, his thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and genuine love and compassion for all living things shined bright. Jack was a devoted Christian with a deep-rooted faith in God. He truly was the type of person everyone loved being around, always there to lend a hand or an ear. He will be sincerely missed by his family and friends.

The only thing Jack loved more than his career was God and his family. Jack and Helen Santorawere introduced in High School. They were married in June of 1974 at St. Joseph’s Church in Lodi, New Jersey. After three children the two shared a special bond, providing unconditional support for each other.

Jack’s most cherished possessions were his children, Michelle Minassian of Wayne, Angela Pagano and her husband Daniel of Wayne, and Jack J. Lavelle and his wife Mariela of Wayne. Jack and his daughter Michelle shared a love for animals. Michelle’s fondest memory with her father was at the age of six, when Jack told Michelle he had to stop at the bank, but instead surprised her with a German Shepherd, Shamu, after the passing of their beloved German Shepherd Sheba. Jack and his daughter Angela shared a love for knowledge. Angela’s fondest memory with her father was their road-trip to Arizona, where they spent three days chatting about life, law, and politics. Angela enjoyed questioning everything in life and Jack enjoyed pondering these questions with his daughter. Jack and his son Jack Joseph shared a love for mechanics. Jack fondly remembers spending hours with his father toiling over cars, boats, etc., anything in need of repair. Jack looked to his father for advice and strength. Jack truly inspired his children; Jack is deeply loved by his children and Jack’s earthly absence will be deeply felt by his wife, mother, and his children.

In the last years of his life Jack enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren, Ava & Daniel. Jack instilled in his granddaughter Ava the importance of school and learning.  Jack’s kind, caring nature lives-on in his granddaughter Ava. Jack and his grandson Daniel share a deep love for Good & Plenty and Computers. Jack’s handsome good-looks and charming personality lives-on in his grandson, Daniel.

Jack’s pride and joys were his grand-doggies two German Shepherd’s Reina and Bruce (whom Jack was instrumental in saving from shelters), his beloved Stella who would enjoy weekends with Grandpa Jack while her pet parents were away and his sweet Angel. Jack loved being with his grand-dogs & the dogs loved being with their grand-poppy.  Jack loved the water. For years he enjoyed his Sea Ray which he kept docked on the Hudson and boating with his beloved brother-in-law Sal. Jack enjoyed taking friends and family to Island Beach State Park and seeing the fireworks from his boat on July 4th. Jack’s mother fondly remembers looking out her kitchen window and finding Jack scuba diving in their family pool, during the winter after he purchased scuba gear. Jack enjoyed the occasional poker game with his brother-in-law Mark and Sal and watching football games in the fall with his mother, Hannah. Jack’s inquisitive, charismatic nature was what made Jack.

Jack is survived by his wife Helen Lavelle (nee Santora) of Wayne, NJ, two daughters: Michelle Minassian of Wayne, NJ, and Angela Pagano and her husband Daniel of Wayne, NJ, one son Jack Lavelle and his wife Mariela of Wayne, NJ, his mother Hannah Lavelle of Lodi, NJ, three brothers; Aloysius Lavelle and his wife Jacqueline of Lodi, NJ, Gerald Lavelle and his wife Ann of Paramus, NJ, and Michael Lavelle and his wife Terri of Oakland, NJ, two sisters; Debra Iurato and her husband James of Pompton Plains, NJ, and Linda Santangelo of Mahwah, NJ, his mother-in-law Angelina Santora, two grandchildren Ava Minassian, and Daniel Pagano, his brother-in-law Salvatore Santora and his sister-in-law Mary Ann Weiseltier and her husband Mark, as well as many nieces and nephews.  Jack was predeceased by his father Aloysius Lavelle, his brother-in-law’s; James Santangelo, and Joseph Biss, his sister-in-law Mary Beth Santora, and his father-in-law Joseph Santora.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Jacks name may be made to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. 2 Shelter Ln, Oakland, NJ 07436 https://rbari.org/

Frank Giannini, 91 passed away peacefully on September 8th, 2022 as his childhood sweetheart and wife of 69 years, Audrey, held his hand.

Frank was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where, as children, he and Audrey would hold hands on the subway on the way to church. They later married and settled in the Pines Lake community of Wayne, NJ to raise their four children. They later built a house on Lake Bomoseen in Vermont, where they enjoyed living for 30 years after their retirement.

Frank was an avid skier and golfer well into his 80's, and he and Audrey enjoyed playing cards and square dancing with friends as well as traveling the world. Frank was happiest when surrounded by his growing family in their “paradise” on Lake Bomoseen. He welcomed friends and significant others as if they had always been a part of the family and modeled that there is nothing in life more important than spending time with those you love.

Frank was a Korean War veteran and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from NYU and his Master’s in Chemistry from Stevens Institute of Technology.  He spent most of his career as a manager in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants at Hoffman La Roche and Lederle Laboratories. He was also always active in his church, serving as a youth group leader, singing in the choir, and leading Bible studies.

In 2021, Frank and Audrey moved to Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, NJ, where they were closer to family and surrounded by many old and new friends.

In addition to his wife, Frank is survived by his four children, Bob (the late Lori) of Middlebury, CT, Bill (Liz) of Highland Lakes, NJ, Ron (Melony) of Lighthouse Point, FL, and Kathy Curtin (Ted) of Wayne, NJ. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Andrea Brunner (Andy Orlando) of New Milford, CT, Valerie Beard (Len) of Southbury, CT, Robyn Giannini (Charles Tsang) of New York, NY, Alissa Giannini of Driggs, ID, Peter Giannini (Erin), of Bloomingdale, NJ, Kelly Cohen (Josh), of Washington, DC, and Jim Curtin (Baileigh Carter) of Chantilly, VA, along with his eight great-grandchildren (Katelyn, Bill, Leah, Harleigh, Maddie, Kyle, Alex, and Ryan). He is also survived by several close nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Preakness Reformed Church Memorial Fund, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ  07470

Christopher J. Oldham, age 57 of Stockholm, NJ and formerly of Wayne, NJ, died tragically on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Chris had lived in Wayne throughout most of his life and moved to Lake Stockholm eight years ago.

Chris graduated from Wayne Hills High School with the class of 1983 and he’s been a landscaper for many years. Most recently he’d been working with Papa Grieves Pools of Rockaway.

Chris was the definition of gregarious. He loved to socialize, loved to talk to people, was always helpful to anyone, and he had a great sense of humor. He could be a bit sarcastic at times and had a stubborn side as well, but always a heart of gold. He was a genuinely good guy. He quickly made friends among the Lake Stockholm community after moving there eight years ago, and he seemed to always be helping out a neighbor or friend with his handyman skills. Chris could also sing and he would get on stage and sing with any band that let him. He was also a prolific reader who loved sci-fi novels and would devour books at breakneck speed. It wasn’t uncommon for him to read a few books per week, and he has three burned-out Kindle readers to prove it!  

Chris also had a romantic side to him. When he met his wife, Sharon (nee Westdyk), they fell in love quickly. Although it took him a few years to propose, he did so with a cute Vermont Teddy Bear dressed as a bride holding the ring box. They were married on September 23, 2001 and honeymooned in the Dominican Republic. The D.R. became their “go-to” vacation spot and they’ve been going back to the Ocean Blue & Sand resort in Punta Cana for many years. They’ve had a lot of fun in their twenty-one years together and Sharon knew that Chris always held her closely to his heart. She will miss him dearly.

Chris is survived by his beloved wife Sharon (nee Westdyk) of Stockholm, NJ, his two stepsons; Kyle Kerstner and his wife Alyssa of Franklin Lakes, and T.J. Kerstner and his fiancé Danielle of Stillwater, NJ, a brother; James Oldham of Totowa, his nephew; Ryan Oldham and his wife Melissa of Connecticut, and his niece; Kirstie Oldham of Connecticut. Chris was predeceased by his brother Robert, and by both of his parents, Robert and Ruth Oldham.

M. Camille Pabst, age 92, of Wayne and a former resident of Monroe Township, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022.

The first of Louis and Nancy (Caraccia) Pesile’s three children, Camile was officially named Mary Camille Pesile but was widely known throughout her life as Camille. She was born at home in Lyndhurst at the family’s home on Green Ave and raised in the same town in the home located on Valley Brook Ave. When she was just two years old, Camille fell out of a second story window. She broke an arm but her life was spared, and for that, her parents were eternally grateful to God.

After graduating from Lyndhurst High School with the Class of 1946, Camille set off for higher education at Montclair State Teacher’s College where she received a B.A. in English with an accounting minor. Following graduation on June 15, 1950, she taught eighth grade in the Lyndhurst School District at Lincoln School.

Camille met the love of her life, Ferdinand Pabst at a block party in Lyndhurst. They soon fell in love and married on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1953 at Sacred Heart Church on Ridge Road in Lyndhurst. After a reception at the Rutherford Women’s Club and a honeymoon at the Paradise Valley Lodge in the Poconos, PA, the newlyweds settled into their first home together which was an apartment in Carlstadt. From there they temporarily moved into Ferd’s parent’s home in Woodridge while they waited construction of a brand-new home which they purchased in a then, “up-and-coming” town called Wayne. They moved into their new home, located on Terrace Road on December 12, 1956, just in time for Christmas. Soon after, Camille and Ferd welcomed their firstborn, a baby girl whom they named Paula. She was soon followed by her younger siblings Robert, Neal, and Nancy.

With four children and a new house, Camille transitioned from life in the classroom to fulltime life in the home. She lovingly cared for her four children and did a great job of providing a welcoming place for them to grow up. Eventually she returned part time to the classroom serving as a substitute teacher in the Wayne school system. Her years in education culminated with the position of a Career Counselor in the career resource center at Wayne Valley High School before fully retiring in 1987.

In 1988, Camille and Ferd relocated to the Clearbrook a 55+ community in Monroe Township. Camille settled quite nicely into retirement spending much of her leisure time playing her lifelong passion, bridge, and going out to lunch with old and new friends. In the winters she and Ferd escaped the cold by traveling to their second home in Naples, Florida. Retirement years also proved to be a great time for traveling adventures together throughout much of Europe, Asia, and South America. They especially loved river cruises. It was also a season of life filled with the blessing of grandchildren, and Camille and Ferdinand enjoyed them to the fullest by attending many of their sporting events and dance recitals. They were always fully supportive of their grandchildren and made every effort to attend all their events so they could watch their grandchildren grow up.

In addition to cherishing her family, Camille was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith. When she and Ferd moved to Wayne, they soon joined the faithful for weekly mass at Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church in Wayne. In fact, they were charter parishioners! Throughout their many years of living in Wayne, Camille remained very active in the life of the parish as a member of the women’s club, the Mr. and Mrs. Club, volunteering to help clean the church and rectory. In later years, Camille and her husband taught marriage Pre-Cana classes for parishioners. Upon relocating to Monroe Township, she and Ferd again became charter parishioners of the newly formed Nativity of our Lord Church. They remained faithful parishioners for many years.  

Throughout her life, Camille enjoyed athletics. For many years she played volleyball in the Wayne Women’s League. She also enjoyed playing tennis, and in their retirement, she and Ferd took up the game of golf. Camille was also a true movie buff. Ask her about a classic movie and she could tell you all about it, including who starred in the movie and when it came out. Her favorite actor was Charlton Heston, and her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. Camille possessed a great vocabulary, a skill which was probably somewhat aided by her love reading and crossword puzzles. She was a real socialite who loved going to and hosting parties. Her house was always a hub of entertainment for summer barbeques, family reunions, birthday bashes, and holiday parties.

On December 19, 2018, Camille’s beloved husband Ferdinand passed away at the age of 89. Camille continued to live at Clearbrook in Monroe Township until this past November when she moved into the new Brightview Senior Living community in Wayne.

Camille’s college yearbook described her well.  It made mention of her sparkling brown eyes, her always being ready with a laugh or a helping hand, and her carefree but capable nature. When asked to describe Camille, her own children used words such as spunky, chatty, smart, strong-willed, and yes…..sometimes a bit bossy. Camille will certainly be missed, but her family is grateful for her long life and that she is now reunited with her beloved Ferdinand.

Camille was the beloved wife of Ferdinand, blessed in marriage for 65 years until Ferd’s passing. She was the very loving mother of Paula Mecke and her husband Jim of Hayden, ID, Robert Pabst and his wife Diane of Branchburg, Neal Pabst and his wife Karen of Wayne, and Nancy Gilmore of Haskell; cherished grandmother of: Tyler, Emily (Scott), Paige (Sam), Luke, Corey, and Jordan; dear sister of the late Frank Pesile and his late wife Darlene, and Martha Hart and her husband Tom of Columbus, NJ.

For those unable to physically attend, the mass will be livestreamed at olvwayne.org/live-streaming. Following the Mass, Camille will be laid to rest at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Camille’s name are asked to consider one of the following charitable organizations:

‍

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959

American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005 Boston, MA  02241-7005

Ann Marie Simpson (nee Gentile), age 65, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 8, 2022, from a long and heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Ann Marie was born in Brooklyn, NY, and one of five children to Mario and Marie Gentile. When Ann Marie was 12, her family moved from New York to Wayne, NJ.

She attended Wayne Valley High School, Class of 1975. She completed her BA degree in dental hygiene at Fairleigh Dickenson University.

Over the course of her dental hygiene career, Ann Marie was passionate about her patients, and loved her day-to-day interactions with them.

Ann Marie met the love of her life, Don Simpson, in high school. They dated from 1973-1974 but drifted apart. Nine years later, in 1982, Ann Marie decided to go dancing with some friends at Gaspers in Wayne. She reacquainted with Don, and they danced the night away. They were inseparable from there on. They married on October 22, 1983.

Ann Marie will be remembered for her magnetic personality. She was a shining star that lit up any room she entered. She will be cherished as a great wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched along the way.

Ann Marie’s three daughters can attest to a house full of laughter and love. Tara, Danielle, and Andrea are lucky to have had a wonderful childhood where Ann Marie was fully invested in each of their passions, creativity, and education, but most importantly, she instilled a strong family bond for which they are so grateful.

Ann Marie loved to volunteer her time and spent countless hours arranging cultural enrichment programs for her three daughters during their elementary years in school.

The summer was Ann Marie’s favorite time of the year. She enjoyed opening her pool and hosting many gatherings throughout the summer. Ann Marie spent days gardening and preparing her backyard with beautiful flowers. Her backyard could have been photographed for a magazine.

Ann Marie was the loving wife of 39 years to Don Simpson. She was the devoted mother of Tara Parker and her husband Greg of Mandeville, LA, Danielle McGuire of Nutley, NJ, Andrea Simpson of Woodland Park, NJ. She was the cherished grandmother of Bethany, Grace, Emma Jane, Nathan, Benjamin, and Vivian. She was the most loving sister of Chris Doran and her husband Jim of Fort Mills, SC, Tom Gentile and his partner Ellen Oster of Cheshire, CT, Mary Jane Threlfall (beloved twin sister) and her husband Gary of Landing, NJ and Salvatore Gentile and his wife Arlene of Wayne, NJ. She was the much-loved aunt of many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Mario Gentile (2020) and Marie Gentile (2017).

Those planning on an expression of sympathy in Ann Marie’s name are asked to consider:
Alzheimer’s Association
You can donate online at (www.alz.org)

St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis TN 38105-9959
You can also donate online at (www.stjude.org)

Phillip “Phil” John Angello, of Wayne, NJ passed away peacefully on September 7, 2022 with tears in his eyes, hand-in-hand with his beloved daughter by his side. Phil was 78 years old.

Born in Passaic, NJ to the late Phillip (1989) and Mary (2002) Angello, Phil Angello was the youngest of three children. Upon graduating from Garfield High School in 1964, Phil courageously entered the Air Force, proudly serving his country as a Staff Sargent with the 170th Civil Engineering Flight. After receiving an honorable discharge, Phil entered his trade and developed his craft as a union recognized plumber working for nearly 30 years.

Many of those years found him stationed at the Meadowlands racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Phil loved being at the stables and his love of animals meant that he spent much of his downtime admiring the horses. He was even known to rescue stray cats from the racetrack. When needing to refuel, Phil often patronized Pegasus, a well-known restaurant in the stadium, where he was known to always “sneak something off any passing plate.”

Phil’s career not only included his professional occupation, but also spanned a variety of other ventures which included a first responder at the World Trade Center after 9/11 as well as an entrepreneur delving into real estate and other businesses. Phil’s various enterprises included owning and operating greenhouses and tropical plant wholesale.

Phil possessed an adventurous and generous spirit. When not working, Phil could be found engaging in hobbies that ignited his passions. Racing fast cars, hunting and freshwater fishing were among a few of his interests. Although a hunter, Phil cared deeply for nature and enjoyed the outdoors. He would often share stories of his encounters with ailing animals, taking them into his home while nursing them back to health or even keeping them as pets. When inside Phil’s home, it was obvious that gardening was another passion as evidenced by thriving tropical plants. Phil took pride in learning and educating himself in botany and his expertise in this area was realized through his uncanny ability to provide the scientific name of any plant or tree he encountered.

Phil was hard to miss when he walked into a room; he transformed the energy with an endless supply of jokes and stories. Being with and around Phil guaranteed all that were in his company a good laugh. One of Phil’s favorite holiday activities involved dressing up as Santa Claus during Christmas. He loved giving gifts, especially to the children in his life. Knowing that he brought happiness to his loved ones provided Phil with an infinite amount of joy. Nothing in the world meant more to Phil than spending time with those he loved.

Although some may describe Phil as “a little rough around the edges,” like a diamond, he was unique and spectacular. Phil possessed a heart of gold, was loving and caring. Phil especially shined when someone was down on their luck, lonely or truly needed a friend. Phil’s unconditional commitment to those he loved was selfless, authentic, and genuine. His life, particularly in our world today, should aim to inspire how we all treat each other, especially in times of strife and suffering.

Angello, stemming from the Greek word ‘angelos’ means “messenger” from God. For those in need, many are able to share stories of instances in where Phil impacted their life just by being there for them. Phil Angello was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back. He truly was a guardian angel and touched the lives of those around him and those that needed him. He will be sorely missed by all who saw his true colors.

Comfort lies in the knowledge that Phil fulfilled his life’s purpose as he has left a legacy and carried out his behests. This is now Phil’s time to take the special seat saved just for him in heaven. Phil was not only devoted to his family, but he was also dedicated to his Catholic Faith and being a son of God.  He was a parishioner to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne for many years.

In lieu of flowers, please submit a funny or heartfelt memory, story on how Phil impacted your life to kcappelli03@aol.com or consider a donation in Phil’s name to PanCan (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network) 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 http://www.pancan.org or the Lustgarten Foundation, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797 http://www.lustgarten.org

George "Pops" Morris, age 67 of Pompton Lakes, NJ died on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. He lived in Pompton Lakes for thirty-one years and retired recently from the Caldwell – West Caldwell Schools where he had been the maintenance foreman.

George was raised in Fair Lawn by his mother Angie and his father George, along with his two sisters Julie and Nancy, who always wished for a little brother. He graduated from Fair Lawn High School, class of 1972 and "couldn't wait to get the hell out of there". He spent some time in college, and was an avid skier, travelling to Europe. After a much-needed haircut, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard, eventually being honorably discharged having achieved the rank of coxswain. He was also awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon. George was proud of and regularly enjoyed proving that he had been ranked "expert" in both pistol and rifle during his service.

After the Coast Guard, adventures surfing in California soon led him to Wyoming where he worked as a hunting guide. Surfboards and Jersey plates, seldom seen in the wilderness of the great American West, made for some interesting interactions with locals. Rekindling his romance with his high school sweetheart, Regina "Jeanne" Sangis, he finally had reason to stay in civilization. A proposal on her birthday led to a 39-year marriage filled with its fair share of both love and trials. They built a life together surrounded by friends and family.

After starting their own family, first George and then Samantha, George and Jeanne moved to be close to family in Pompton Lakes, NJ. The next several decades were spent mostly living on soccer fields, hunting, fishing, gardening, working, cooking, spending time with loved-ones, and yelling at the TV (with Samantha), the dog, the kids... there was always lots of yelling. And singing. And whistling. While George was constantly busy, he always made time for both of his children, nieces and nephews. He often told Jeanne he was most proud of being a father. The time he spent playing soccer with Samantha and yelling at his son George to hold the flashlight still are a testament to this fact.

If you knew George, you knew he was stubborn. He loved stubbornly. He fought stubbornly. He had strong opinions about music and food and culture and history. Luckily, he had pretty good taste. He enjoyed sharing the things that he loved with the people that he loved. George will be sorely missed by all who loved him.

George is survived by his beloved wife of thirty-nine years; Regina “Jeanne” (nee Sangis) of Pompton Lakes, their two children; George Morris and his wife Catie of Pompton Lakes, and Samantha Morris and her fiancé Dave of Hoboken, two sisters; Julianne Bruno and her husband Jim of Cody, Wyoming, and Nancy Johnson and her husband Eugene of Beachwood, NJ, and his nieces and nephews who he loved; Jimmy Bruno, Laurie Steward, Karen Carew, Amy Sturgis, Dan Carew, Danielle Walsh, and their families.

For those wishing to make a donation in George’s memory, please consider donating to the National Audubon Society or the COPD Foundation.

Nettie Zagra, age 89, passed away on Sunday, September 4, 2022.  She was born in Plains PA and lived in Wayne NJ for the greater part of her life.

She is survived by her daughter, Debra Scism and grandsons Ryan and Stephen Scism.

Nettie was a homemaker, active in her church as a Eucharistic Minister and enjoyed taking trips with various senior groups.

She will be especially remembered in the happy times, vacationing with her family and attending her grandchildren’s sporting and musical events.    

OAKLAND - On Saturday, September 3, 2022, Joseph Catanzaro, beloved brother and uncle, passed away at the age of 91. He is survived by his sisters Rose Carrabba and Regina Alpern, niece Josephine Heberling, great-niece Katherine Heberling and her husband Jason Young, and is predeceased by his nephew Henry Heberling and great-nephew Michael Heberling.

Born on June 5, 1931 in Paterson, NJ to Joseph and Regina Catanzaro (née Attanasio), Joe was an avid hunter in his youth and loved fishing, football, and baseball as well as music, dancing, and singing. He worked for decades as an interior upholsterer at Market Auto Seat Covers in Paterson, NJ, and later retired to West Palm Beach, FL for 17 years. Joe was equally known for his warm and easygoing nature as for his love of sweets, especially ice cream. He made friends wherever he went and had a kind word for everyone he met.

Joe spent his final years at Oakland Rehabilitation Center and his family would like to thank the staff for their generous and loving care.

Yorghi “George” Turkmany, 68 of Wayne, died on Friday, September 2, 2022. He has lived in Wayne since 2000.

George was born in Aleppo, Syria and emigrated to America with his family when he was just seven years old. He was one of eight children in his family, and they settled in Paterson. When he was nineteen, he met Siham Attieh who had been visiting from Beirut, Lebanon. They were married just two months later, on October 15, 1977, at St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church in West Paterson, followed by a honeymoon to Seaside, NJ. They settled in Paterson, and then moved to West Palm Beach, Florida for about fifteen years, before moving back to New Jersey in 2000. They’ve enjoyed forty-five years together, raised six children, and welcomed ten grandchildren into the world.

George was very talented and could fix just about anything. As a young man, he learned to wallpaper and became an auto mechanic. He went on to have his own gas station and repair shop for many years. He always worked hard to keep himself in shape, working out, running on the treadmill, and exercising. He had a boat while living in Florida and he loved to go fishing. He especially enjoyed taking his kids to Disney World when they lived in Florida, and they would go every few months. George liked riding in the front seat on the rollercoasters, and his kids have so many great memories of those fun times! George was a fun and loving grandfather to his ten grandchildren. He spent as much time with them as he could, and they all know how much he truly loved each of them. They will all miss him dearly.

George is survived by his dear wife Siham of Wayne, five children: Elias Turkmany and his wife Victoria of Hackettstown, Bertha Qassar of Wayne, Loris Turkmany of Wayne, Touma Turkmany of Wayne, and Nadima Turkmany of Wayne, ten grandchildren, his siblings, and many nieces and nephews. Sadly, George was predeceased by his son, Yorghi, Jr., in 2020.

Doris M. Lepari, age 92, of Basking Ridge and a former longtime resident of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 2, 2022.

The first of Frank and Frances (Flynn) Warner’s three children, Doris was born in Paterson and raised in Hawthorne at the family home located at 46 Kingston Ave. The classic oldest child, while her sister Carole was known to occasionaly stick her tongue out at her father in defiance after a whooping, and her brother Dick once drove a car off a bridge into a creek, Doris was a parent pleaser who always did the right thing.

After graduating from Hawthorne High School with the Class of 1948, Doris worked in a local bank in Hawthorne as a teller.

While in high school, Doris met a handsome young athlete named John Lipari. John was a star football, basketball and baseball player who, while in a game, could hear Doris rooting for him from the stands. They became high school sweethearts who ultimately married on Saturday, May 14, 1955 at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church in Hawthorne. After the wedding the newlyweds honeymooned in Florida before settling into their first apartment in a house on a side street off Diamond Bridge Ave in Hawthorne. After marriage, Doris remained with the bank until one day when she developed what she thought to be flu symptoms. It turned out that her strain of flu was better known as pregnancy. After that, she retired from banking to pursue her new career as a mother and homemaker. She and John were blessed with a baby girl which they named Diane. Soon after, they moved to the home at 44 Rea Ave in Hawthorne and there they welcomed child number two, a baby boy which they named Steven. In 1962 they purchased their first home and moved to 89 Farmingdale Road in Wayne. Doris remained a Wayne resident even after her beloved John passed away in 2005. In 2020, with the onset of the pandemic, Doris moved in with her daughter Diane in Oak Ridge and in 2021, they all moved to Bernardsville where Doris stayed until moving into Sunrise at Basking Ridge in late 2021.

Doris was a true example of a traditional, loving, family-oriented homemaker. Her skills provided a super-clean, well-decorated, peaceful respite for her husband and children to come home to, and a great place to care for her grandchildren when those little blessings came into her life. She believed in sit-down lunches and she was a decent cook. Her daughter Diane loved her veal cutlet and her son Steve loved her pot roast and French toast. Dessert was served at each and every meal, usually jello, ice cream, pie, or a family favorite called junket. Everyone knew the Lepari house in Wayne. It was the one that you drove by that had all the clean laundry hanging on the clothesline in the yard. Once adequately dry, that clothing would come in and it wouldn’t be hung in the closet or put in the drawer until it was neatly ironed. Armed with her coupons, Doris always was looking for the best deals at the grocery store. She loved all the holidays and her house was fully decorated for each one. She’d even make cherry pie on George Washington’s birthday! Every afternoon, while the kids were in school, she’d watch her soap opera and then she’d take a short nap. She also liked to watch Notre Dame and Dallas Cowboy football games.  

Since before her children were born, Doris and John enjoyed annual vacations for one, two or three weeks down the Jersey shore in Manasquan. It became a family tradition that Doris cherished the most and one that continued for multiple decades, right up until recently. She and John also enjoyed vacations with friends to Hawaii, Bermuda, and annual trips to the Poconos.

Doris enjoyed the blessing of many friends. She enjoyed hosting them for games of Pokeno and she’d frequently get together with them to go shopping followed by lunch. Doris liked to take care of herself. She loved looking fashionable and she enjoyed going out with her daughter Diane to get her nails done. Everyone at Sunrise always complimented her on how nice she looked. She also loved it when old friends would visit her at Sunrise and take her out to lunch.    

Above all else, faith and family were the cornerstones of Doris’ life.

As a devout catholic in her Christian walk, when they moved to Wayne, Doris, along with John, became charter members of a then-new church in Wayne called Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church. Doris was always very proud of the fact that they were charter members and they were regulars at Sunday’s 10:30 mass where John also served as an usher. Doris understood the importance of praying the rosary and for many years, she was a member of the church’s rosary society.

Her devotion to God was only matched by her devotion to her family. Doris was such a loving, steadying presence in their lives. She was loyal to her children, even her son Steven who she’d often say would be the death of her. Even as a young kid sewing his oats, when Steven ran away from home, she’d call the school to make sure he showed up that day. She and her husband John made a great team. The roots of their love and devotion ran deep and, throughout John’s battle with Parkinson’s Doris gave him the best of care. Attending all their grandchildren’s sporting events and performances, she and John were always so proud.

While her life was long and blessed, Doris’ passing was somewhat unexpected. She passed away into the loving arms of Jesus as she slept. She will be remembered and cherished as a great wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be missed by those whose lives she touched along the way.  

Doris was the beloved wife of John, blessed in marriage for 49 happy years until his passing in 2005. She was the most loving mother of Diane Tasker and husband David of Bernardsville, and Steven Lepari and wife Gloria of Lebanon, NJ; cherished grandmother of Amy Shaver and husband Josh, and Sean Tasker; adoring great-grandmother of: Bryce, Tessa, and Ashton; and dear aunt of: Richard, David and wife Sharon, Michelle and husband Joe, Timothy and wife Joyce, and Lisa. Doris was predeceased by her younger sister and brother: Carole Finan and Richard Warner.

At the request of Doris’ son Steven, NOT in lieu of flowers, please feel free to send flowers in Doris’ memory. After all, she loved them so very much.

Angelo “Buddy” Palumbo was born March 9, 1947 in Paterson, New Jersey. The first born child of Vincent and Jean (nee Roatti), he was raised in Wayne and graduated from Wayne High School in 1965.

After his high school graduation, Buddy joined the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of Sergeant, and served our country during the Vietnam war. After his honorable discharge from the USAF, he returned to New Jersey with his first wife and his son, settling in Haledon, where he owned and operated Belmont Cleaners, a local dry cleaning service. He later added Belmont Carpet Care to the business.

In 1988, Buddy relocated to Florida with his second wife, where he worked for ADT as a security system installation supervisor. He lived in Wellington for several years before moving to Stuart 19 years ago. In his spare time, Buddy enjoyed boating, going to drag racing events, working on cars and hitting up his favorite local diners.

In 2021 as his health failed, Buddy returned to New Jersey to be closer to his son and his family. He spent his final year as a beloved resident of Arden Court in Wayne.

Buddy is predeceased by his parents, Vincent and Jean; and his first wife and the mother of his son, Nancy Palumbo (nee Roberts). He is survived by his son, Tony, his wife, Danielle (nee Deraney), and his grandson, Tony, of Oakland; his former wife, Christina Palumbo (nee Iveson Dasker) of North Carolina; his brother, Jimmy and his wife, Ginny, of Wayne; his sister, Bobbie Gerardo and her husband, Pat of Wayne and their sons, his nephews, Pat Gerardo and Vinny Gerardo.

A tribute to Monroe Aboyoun

We honor and celebrate the life of Monroe Aboyoun of Wayne, NJ, who passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.  Monroe was 90 years old.

Monroe was living proof that your past doesn’t have to define your future.  He was born of humble beginnings in Paterson, NJ to Charles and Manira Aboyoun on January 9, 1932.  Monroe was the youngest of seven children and his mother Manira tragically passed away during his birth.  Monroe spent the first 8 years of his life living at the home of his mother’s best friend, Mary and Abraham Ablahani, along with their seven other children, who became his foster family and who loved and raised him as their own.  He moved into his father’s home, learning of, and meeting his six older siblings for the first time at the age of 8, and spent time living with cousins in Brooklyn, NY.

Navigating so much change in his early years taught Monroe that hard work and effort builds self-esteem and independence.  As the youngest in a poor household, Monroe was expected to pull his weight at home. He took his first job at 8 years old - shining shoes at a Paterson barber shop for pennies. He would go on to deliver ice from a wagon and sweep a soda shop floor.  One day he found a dollar bill while sweeping the soda store floor and even though it was a fortune in those days, he turned it in to his boss.  From that day forward, his boss at the soda shop, perhaps testing Monroe’s character with that dollar bill, trusted him implicitly.  

Monroe was a trustworthy, honorable, and exceptionally kind man who proved that character is destiny.  His calm, sunny personality and instinctive curiosity and intelligence helped him grow into a real “people person” as well as a respected and trusted leader who never raised his voice.

Monroe met the love of his life, Carol Agnello, in 1951 on a blind date. He was instantly smitten the moment he laid eyes on her, and later described her as “a real knock out” who was “movie star gorgeous.”  Carol was attending college at the time, and although all his brothers worked in a factory, Monroe knew he would have to attend college too if he was to be worthy of such a terrific woman. After his first semester in college, however, Monroe realized he simply couldn’t afford the tuition.  One of his professors became aware of his situation and encouraged him to take a test to apply for a scholarship.  Monroe did and he received a full scholarship, graduating from Seton Hall University with a degree in Business. Soon afterwards, he proposed, and Monroe and Carol were married on June 29, 1957.

Monroe cherished Carol and he was a thoroughly devoted husband to her over the nearly sixty-five years they were married.  He also loved Carol’s parents and they adored him, treating him as if he was their own son. Monroe always said he got “the whole package” by marrying into such a loving and kind family, and he in turn was very good to Carol’s parents as they got older, taking care of them every way he could.  

Together Monroe and Carol raised three beautiful and talented children, their daughters Jane and Susan and their son, David.  He and Carol enjoyed exposing their children to all the world had to offer.  They loved the theatre, visiting museums, and traveling with their children: they traveled to Europe, all around the United States, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Road trips with AAA TripTik’s as their guide were also commonplace.  Monroe would drive and Carol would be the tour guide, following the prompts of the AAA TripTik.  Carol was an artist with an artist’s temperament, while Monroe was the rock and the calm in the storm. The two balanced one another perfectly. They lived a very full and blessed life together until Carol’s passing on November 18, 2021.

After he married, Monroe found a job with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and he prospered there, rising to Agency Vice President.  Monroe was always more interested in others than himself.  He loved people, was a good speaker, and most of all an outstanding listener. Unique for his time, Monroe was an inclusive leader, and he would teach others how to leverage their best qualities to their advantage at work. Monroe was able to take a struggling office and turn it around into a nationally recognized producer for the company. His family would attend Met Life conventions with Monroe and saw him receive many accolades – professional and personal – over the years. Monroe worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company his entire career, retiring in 1996.

Despite his many achievements at work, Monroe felt that his greatest accomplishment was without a doubt his family.  He was ahead of his time in his approach to raising a family and he epitomized what it was to be a great husband, father, and grandfather. As a young father in the 1970’s, for example, he would wake his three children in the morning by asking them what they wanted for breakfast and lunch.  Carol called him a “short-order cook,” as he would individually make their breakfast and lunch orders.  Most school lunches he made consisted of a sandwich, a piece of fruit, cookies, and money for milk and ice cream.  Speaking of ice cream, Monroe had a lifelong love of it that he happily shared with his children and grandchildren every chance he got.

Monroe especially loved spending time with his six grandchildren – Adrienne, Chris, Ben, Luke, Leslie and Jordan – and he led them on trips well into his 80’s.  Visits to all kinds of places were planned, including the Intrepid, Liberty Science Center, Cirque du Soleil, the Bronx and Turtleback zoos, Children’s Theatre at NJ PAC and Broadway shows in New York City, as well as teaching his grandchildren to swim.

Monroe and Carol were generous people who had many friends, looked after too many animals to mention and actively participated in their church and community.  Monroe also followed the ethos that a healthy body is a healthy mind, spending hours in the pool swimming or working out at the gym.  He stayed physically fit all his life and prided himself on his mobility, as that allowed him to help others.

Monroe will always be remembered for his words of encouragement and his positive outlook in everything he did. He was resilient, supportive, generous and he truly loved life.  Recently, as he contemplated his own passing, he shared that he had no regrets. Monroe was grateful for the life he led, proud of his family, and appreciated his good fortune to lead a life and devote his energy to the things he valued most.  Most of all, however, his family are grateful for him – for leading by example, for his unfaltering support and for his unconditional love.  They know above all how lucky they were to have such a remarkable, special man as their father, grandfather, brother, and friend, which is what also makes saying goodbye so hard.

Monroe is survived by his three beloved children and their partners: Jane Aboyoun and her wife Emma van Rooyen of Manhasset, NY, David Aboyoun of New York, NY, Susan LoFrumento and her partner Ivan Kimball of Morristown, NJ; his six adored grandchildren: Adrienne, Jordan and Leslie Aboyoun, and Christopher, Benjamin, and Luke LoFrumento; and his sisters Mary Rigoloso-White and Lynn Snihur.  Monroe was preceded in death by his siblings John, George, Charles, Michael, Elias and Anna Ablahani, and Lee, Joan, Sam, Ned, and Edward Aboyoun.

In lieu of flowers, Monroe asked that donations in his memory be sent to: St Marys Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442.

Dorothy Patricia O’Connor, born on May 22, 1931 died peacefully in Wayne, NJ on Monday, August 29, 2022.

Dorothy was born in Brooklyn, NY, the first-born of James and Rose (Cummings) O’Connor’s three children.  She was joined by her baby sister, Mary (Nihill, dec. 2005) and several years later she welcomed her baby brother, Jimmy O’Connor (dec. 2013).

As a young lady, Dorothy loved to stay up late and wait for her dad to return from work, as he worked the late shift.  They would spend special time together enjoying chocolate pudding, which led to him affectionately calling Dorothy “Pudding Head”.

Dorothy had a deep and strong devotion to her Catholic faith.  As a young woman over 70 years ago, she joined the convent and became a Carmelite nun.  Her faith never waivered throughout her life.  Her religious name was Sister Mary Armata, DC.

As she grew older, Dorothy became known and loved as Aunt Dorothy, with three generations of nieces and nephews including: Mary Rose Nihill, Maureen Cretella, Colleen Youngman (2015), Greg Nihill (2001), Jimmy O’Connor, Jr. (2015), Dorothy Cudia (2020), Patricia Szlembarski, and Irene Yalicki; great-nieces and great-nephews: John Youngman, Anne Marie Mazloom, James Youngman, Amanda Cretella, Amy Cretella, Kelly Titus, Joey Cretella, Alexa Cudia,  Jimmy O’Connor III, and Rachel Cudia; and great-great nieces and great-great nephews: Robert Titus, Connor Titus, John Youngman, Audrey Youngman, Angelina Mazloom, Scarlett Mazloom, and Joseph John Cretella.

Rosaria C Abrescia, (nee Caruso), age 97 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. She received devoted care by Lineth Burke, her caregiver for over ten years whom she adored.

Rosaria was born and raised in Newark, NJ and was the oldest of four children to Ralph and Ida Caruso.  While growing up in Newark, Rosaria attended Arts High School where she was a member of the Girls’ Varsity Fencing Team.  Following her graduation from high school with the class of 1943, Rosaria enrolled in Pratt Institute in New York City where she studied Fashion Design.  Sewing and clothing design was a skill that Rosaria would flourish in and fine tune throughout her life.  In the mid 1940’s Rosaria was attending the Italian Feast of SS Maria Buonocammino in Fairview, NJ.  While there, she caught the eye of a handsome young man by the name of Nicholas Abrescia.  Nicholas was a young GI who had been stationed in India during the Second World War and had recently returned home.  Nicholas and Rosaria met and started dating.  She initially played hard to get, but he was persistent and finally won her heart. As fate would have it they fell in love and on September 25, 1949, Nicholas and Rosaria became husband and wife.

The newlyweds first settled in Newark with family.  While living in Newark, Nicholas and Rosaria welcomed the birth of their first two daughters, Nina followed by Ida.  Rosaria and her family also lived in Jersey City for a short time then bought their first home in North Arlington where they welcomed the births of their next two daughters, Donna then Patricia.

Shortly after getting married and having children, Rosaria decided that she would set her sights on being a full time homemaker.  This was Rosaria’s true calling and where she sincerely flourished.  She remained a homemaker for several years, then in 1960 she put her dressmaking skill to the test and opened her own business in North Arlington, called Rosaria’s Bridal Shop.  Rosaria owned and operated her business for many years designing a wide variety of bridal dresses and women’s formal wear.   Rosaria eventually closed her business to care for her husband Nicholas who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Rosaria later worked as an apparel buyer for Muir Department Store in Orange, NJ.

In 1978 they built their dream home in Wayne, NJ.

Rosaria loved gardening and growing flowers and vegetables in her yard all year round.  Her front and back yards were always meticulously manicured and had a wide variety of flowers and vegetables to pick from.  She was a wonderful cook and was famous through family and friends for her eggplant, manicotti and cream puffs. She treasured hosting the holidays and all the family events at her home.  An event as simple as Sunday dinner was always made out to be a feast of sorts.  She was an outstanding baker, baking cakes for all her family’s occasions.  Throughout the years she constantly called upon her dressmaking skills to design all of her family’s wedding, prom, baptism, and communion dresses.  It was clear that Rosaria’s true passion in life was her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Rosaria than providing for and spending time with her children grandchildren and great grandchildren.  One of her favorite past times was babysitting her grandchildren who came to know her affectionately as “Gram.”  Rosaria and her family share a lifetime of wonderful memories including frequenting Atlantic City and Virginia Beach for summer vacations every year.  She and her husband Nicholas cherished forty-one years of loving and loyal marriage until Nicholas’ passing in 1990.

Rosaria was not only devoted to her family but also to her Catholic Faith. She was a parishioner of Annunciation Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wayne for many years.  There she also served as a Eucharistic Minister and was past president of the Parish Prime Timers Group.  Rosaria also volunteered at St Joseph’s Hospital in Wayne, then known as Wayne General Hospital, where she gave out communion to patients.

Rosaria was a loving and generous woman who loved her family deeply.  She had an outstanding work ethic; she was strong willed and tenacious in everything that she did.  Having taken care of her husband for many years made her even stronger.  Rosaria was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Rosaria is survived by her four daughters; Nina Constantino and her husband Salvatore Sr. of Bolivia, NC, Ida Cantrella Pfeuffer and her husband Alfred of Nutley, NJ, Donna Guidetti of Wayne, NJ, and Patricia Taylor and her husband Richard of Bloomingdale, NJ, four grandchildren’ Steven Taylor and his wife Jennifer of Mahwah, NJ, Nicole Serapiglia and her husband Nicholas of Wayne, NJ, Christopher Taylor and his wife Ana of Wayne, NJ, and Denene Guidetti of Wayne, NJ, Anthony and his wife Kimberly Guidetti of Upper Saddle River, NJ,  eight great grandchildren; Dylan, Sienna, Brandon, Aviana, London, Lucci, Jaxton, and Matteo, and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas Abrescia, her granddaughter Jennifer Cantrella, her son in law Jeffrey Guidetti, two sisters; Sue Iafelice, and Lena Lancelotti, and her brother Anthony Caruso.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Rosaria’s name may be made to National Processing Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090 http://www.alz.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorials Processing501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 http://www.stjude.org or National Multiple Sclerosis Society 733 third Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10017 http://www.nationalmssociety.org

Jill Allen Strauss, age 70, of North Haledon, NJ passed away peacefully on August 26, 2022.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest of twin daughters to Harriet Goldstein and Albert Allen, Jill attended elementary and junior high school in the Bronx, alongside twin sister Fran and older brother Jeffrey, where she found a circle of lifelong friends and discovered a passion for acting. Every Saturday, Jill would travel by subway from the Bronx to NYC with her devoted mother and sister Fran so she could take method acting classes at The Ansonia Theatre on 73rd St.

Following the passing of her father, Jill’s mother Harriet married Ralph Rizzo, a Marine veteran with two children Charles and Janise. The blended family then settled in New Milford, NJ, where city girl Jill had to adjust to life as a Jersey girl.

On a summer night along the Jersey Shore, Jill met her husband Deke as he fronted a rock band and Jill was studying speech at Montclair State University. During their 47-year marriage, they raised two children, daughter Daryn and son Joshua, with a love of music, drama, and constant laughter, settling in Wayne, NJ. Jill’s love and dedication to her family soared through every moment of her life. From the backstages of smoky bars to weddings to dance recitals to film shoots, Jill was always there, making sure everyone was OK.

A leader and problem solver with a huge heart, Jill was known for her infectious smile and for getting things done. A Former President of the National Association of Insurance Women (NAIW), Jill managed large books of commercial and personal insurance lines across New Jersey for over 35 years. Jill’s entrepreneurial spirit also saw her successfully run her own business, bridal gift store Expressions. She is remembered fondly by thousands of couples all over NJ for her kindness during the planning of their weddings over the course of 10+ years.

A radiant personality with the feisty soul and strength of a movie heroine, Jill’s heart and compassion were felt by everyone who crossed paths with her. She will be lovingly remembered for her ability to bring joy and warmth to every room she entered and as a fierce advocate for everyone around her.

Jill was a longtime member of High Mountain Church where her desire to help people led her to many different areas of ministry ranging from Sunday School teacher to Compassionate Ministry leader to Church Board elder and Maranatha Church of the Nazarene where her brother and sister are pastors and where Jill served as a Sunday School teacher.

Jill is predeceased by her brother Jeff and will be greatly missed by her husband Dennis, children Daryn and Joshua, sisters Fran and Janise, brother Charles, her many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews who love their silly aunt, and her congregations at High Mountain Church and Maranatha Church of the Nazarene.

To honor Jill, please send donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

James T. O’Sullivan, age 80 of Manahawkin, NJ died peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2022. Jim had lived in Brooklyn for sixty years before retiring in 2001 to Beech Mountain Lake in the Poconos, and he lived more recently in Manahawkin, NJ.

Jim was an electrical engineer with the New York Transit Authority and IBEW Local 3 throughout his entire career before retiring in 2001. He was a bit of legend during his tenure there, and he was especially proud for having been part of the team of engineers that developed a new and specialized switching system for the subway. He truly enjoyed his years there, and the many good friends he made in the tunnels. He was a gifted engineer, and even after retiring in 2001, he continued consulting for many more years.

Jim was born in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, NY, the youngest of four children in his family. He went on to graduate from Chelsea Vocational High School and promptly joined the U.S. Army. He took full advantage of the G.I. Bill after his discharge and graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in electrical engineering. He accomplished all of this while being married, having children, and working a full-time job (and sometimes two jobs!). He was committed to making a good life for his family, and he worked hard to do just that throughout his entire career.

While serving in the U.S. Army, Jim was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany and it was here that he met a cute German girl named Heidemarie Vehse. Thus began a love affair that has lasted nearly sixty years! Although Heidi’s parents were not so supportive of the relationship at first, Jim proposed to Heidi upon her first visit to the United States in 1962, and they were married just three months later. They settled in Brooklyn to build a life together and raise their family. Jim was a naturally loving husband and a great father. He became a sort of ‘neighborhood father’ to many kids on the block and he was always there to help someone in need. Together with Heidi, they built a very strong, loving, and close-knit family. Their home was the place where aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends alike would gather, and Jim provided plenty of comedy and laughter for everyone. After retiring, Jim and Heidi moved to Beech Mountain, PA, in the Poconos. Jim became an avid boater and loved cruising around on the lake. In 2016, Jim and Heidi moved to live with their daughter in Manahawkin, NJ and have been there ever since.

Jim is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years; Heidemarie (nee Vehse), their three children; Corinna Byrne and her husband Kevin of Wayne, Eileen Erwin-Michael and her husband Jared of Verona, and Sean O’Sullivan of W. Babylon, NY, ten grandchildren; Meghan (Kevin Solomon), Matthew, Elizabeth, Brendan, Erin, Thomas, Caleigh, James, David, and Katie, a sister; Ann Denning of Staten Island, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Maureen in 2015, and by his brother Jack in 2014.

Lisa Ann Maguire (nee Cassie), age 61, of Stockholm passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 25, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family and after a courageous battle with cancer.

Lisa was born in Passaic and was raised in Wayne, NJ.  She was the older of two daughters to Frank and Martha Cassie.  Following her high school graduation in 1978, she found employment quickly with the Wayne Board of Education as a bus driver.  Lisa remained a bus driver for about nine years.  She was a homemaker for a number of years and then returned to the workplace later in her life accepting a position as a Bus Driver Aide, again for the Wayne Board of Education.  Lisa held this position until her illness forced her to stop working a short time ago.

In the early 1990’s, Lisa met a handsome young man by the name of Michael Maguire at a local tavern while getting together with some friends.  Michael and Lisa hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and were married in November of 1995.  The couple settled in Wayne and while living there, they welcomed the births of their two children Michael and Cassandra.  Lisa and Michael called Wayne their home until 2007 when they moved to Stockholm, NJ.

Lisa enjoyed riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and treasured traveling to Daytona Beach Florida for “Bike Week” every year.  She enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and gardening.  Her back and front yards were always meticulously manicure and decorated with a variety of beautiful flowers.  She also had an extensive collection of wind chimes that adorned her porch and back yard.  Lisa was an animal lover and rescued a number of dogs, cats, and other animals throughout her years.  She also spent several years breeding Pugs.

Above all of Lisa’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Lisa than providing for and spending time with her children, family, and friends.  Lisa was a truly dedicated wife and mother.  She and her husband Michael cherished twenty-five years of loving and loyal marriage until Michael’s passing in 2020.  She and her family treasured frequenting the Jersey Shore at Seaside Heights every summer for family vacations.

Lisa had a bubbly personality and could light up any room she walked into with her infectious laugh and sense of humor.  She was a truly “Happy Go Lucky” girl, easy going, and enjoyed the simple things in life.  Lisa was a sincerely special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Lisa is survived by her daughter Cassandra Maguire and her husband Daniel Evans of Lafayette, NJ, her son Michael Maguire of Stockholm, NJ, her stepson William Maguire of Athens, TN, one sister Lorelei Moskowitz of Stockholm, NJ and four grandchildren; Lindsay, Sheri, Kennedy, and Jack.  She was predeceased by her husband Michael Maguire in 2020, and by her mother Christine Parese, and her father John McDermott.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lisa’s name to http://www.fuckcancer.org would be greatly appreciated.

Waine Sarah Haines (née Porter) of Oakland passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at the age of 80.

Waine, better known as Sarah, was born in Bennettsville, South Carolina and was one of three children to James and Victoria Porter.  When Sarah was about five years old, her family moved from South Carolina to Brooklyn, NY, where she spent her formative years. There she attended Ft Hamilton High School and was involved in Trinity Club, the volleyball team and was voted MVP for the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team. After graduating high school in 1959, Sarah enrolled at the Brooklyn Hospital School of Nursing and received her certification as a Registered Nurse in 1962.

Sarah furthered her education earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Jersey City State College in 1978 and a Master’s Degree from the California College for Health Sciences in 1998.   Over the course of her career, Sarah worked at a number of medical institutions including Beth Israel Hospital in Passaic, NJ, Alps Manor Nursing Home in Wayne, NJ and Oakland Care Center in Oakland, NJ.  Beyond her clinical work, Sarah was engaged as an LPN Instructor at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, NJ, where she taught students from 1979 until 1986.  Later, Sarah moved to California where she served as the Director and Psychiatric Technician Instructor at Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, until she retired in 1998 to care for her second husband who had fallen ill.  After her husband passed, Sarah spent time tutoring nursing students studying for the Nursing Board exams.  

On the 23rd of September in 1962, Sarah married Marvin Marshall Liss.  Together Sarah and Marvin lived in Passaic where they welcomed the births of their two children, Allan and Michele.  Shortly after the birth of their daughter, the family moved to Lincoln Park, NJ, and later, Wayne, NJ where they settled to raise their children. Eventually Sarah parted ways with her first husband and was later introduced to Olympus (Oly) Ernest Haines, the brother of her close friend and colleague Athena Fitzgerald.  The two fell in love and married on September 27, 1987 in Las Vegas, NV and settled in southern California. She and her husband Oly cherished eleven years of committed and loving marriage together until Oly’s passing in 1998.

Sarah was very active in a variety of programs at the Oakland Senior Center, particularly the Arts Program. She was a voracious reader and was a member of a variety of book clubs in her area including the Oakland Senior Center and the Oakland Public Library.  She most enjoyed  romance novels, mystery novels, and watching crime drama programs on television, and  considered herself a writer of sorts. Sarah worked on her own novel over the years and was quite artistically talented,  creating a number of watercolor paintings and pencil drawings.  Most important to Sarah, however, was her family. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.  

Sarah dedicated her life to caring for others.  In her family, career, and friendship, Sarah demonstrated a remarkable level of devotion, selflessness, and generosity. She touched many lives and will be missed dearly.

Sarah is survived by her daughter Michele McInnes and her husband David of Brooklyn, NY, one brother James Franklin Porter, Jr. of Brooklyn, NY, three grandchildren; J. Hammerman of Brooklyn, NY, Lucky McInnes Connelly of New York City, NY, and Brigid McInnes Connelly of Los Angeles, CA, four stepchildren; Linda Klass of Long Island, NY, Doreen Haines of Colorado, Michael Haines of Indiana, and Andrew Haines of South Carolina.  She was predeceased by her husband Olympus Ernest Haines (1998), her son Allan Brian Liss (1996), her brother William Joseph Porter (1955), and her stepson Jeffery Jerome Haines (2017).

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome in Sarah’s name to the Humane Society of the United States,1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037  http://www.humanesociety.org

Shirley A. Cantwell, age 93, of Lincoln Park and formerly of Packanack Lake in Wayne, passed peacefully at her home on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, while in the company of her loving family.

The youngest of Bert and Sarah “Sadie” (O’Rourke) Waldorf’s six children, Shirley was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa.

After completing high school, Shirley worked as a secretary for a year. She had a niece named Gloria and, while Shirley was technically Gloria’s “Aunt Shirley” the two were so close in age that they were more like friends. Gloria happened to also be an aspiring singer and piano player who performed on the road in many varied venues but, living in an age when female musicians would never travel alone, Gloria needed a chaperone. Who better than Shirley? It turned out to be a win-win arrangement and consequently, the two of them had a lot of fun and got to see much of the Midwest. One Sunday morning, Shirley’s niece Gloria and Gloria’s boyfriend Ray attended mass at St. Joan of Arc Church in Okauchee Lake, Wisconsin. That morning, Gloria invited her Aunt Shirley and Ray invited his friend Tom Cantwell. During that encounter, Shirley and Tom hit it off rather well. That morning in church served as a springboard into a loving relationship which ultimately led to their marriage on Saturday, April 25, 1953 in that same church where Shirley and Tom first met. After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds took a road trip to Florida for their honeymoon.

Shirley and Tom’s first home together was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As time went on, they started a family and Shirley settled into her much-enjoyed role of wife, mother, and homemaker. Tom’s profession in sales necessitated numerous moves all over the U.S. With the purchase in 1970 of a home at 100 Oakwood Drive, they ultimately landed in a little lake community in the town of Wayne called Packanack Lake. By this point, they were the parents of six children. Unfortunately, in 1987, at the young age of just 61, Tom passed away. Shirley remained in their home in Wayne until 1992 when she moved to Lincoln Park where she was living to the present.

Shirley was the consummate mother and homemaker who viewed her role to be as important as in reality, it truly was. With Tom frequently away on business, Shirley was the nurturing and stabilizing force in her children’s lives. It wasn’t always easy raising her family but she did it with just the right measure of grace and grit. Up until about 1980, she could still beat any of her kids in an arm-wrestling challenge. Her son Kevin recalls the time he came home to find his minibike in the garbage can. Kevin wasn’t sure how Mom managed to lift it into that can, but he knew she didn’t want him to have it because she said it’s too dangerous and didn’t want him to get hurt. Shirley was also the best cook in the world!  She herself was a real foodie, never finding a food she didn’t like. Her family loved her cooking as did her children’s friends. Mrs. Cantwell always made enough food to feed an army!  There was always plenty, and her children’s friends were always welcome to stay for dinner!  Shirley loved the family trips they took to Long Beach Island and was always welcoming with her “you’re welcome to eat here and stay the night.”  She was also a great baker! Come late October, the house began to smell like Christmas from all the cookies that Shirley began baking from that time, right up to December 25th. With six growing kids, most of those cookies never made it out of the house but Shirley managed to hide just enough of them to give to extended family and friends. Shirley was also the “hostess with the most-est”.  She found great joy in hosting all the big holiday get-togethers and it only became more loud and more crowded in the house when her precious grandchildren came along. Speaking of her grandchildren; as a new grandma, Shirley thought it would be fun to always have a jar of M&M’s out when they came to visit so that they could help themselves. It became a great tradition but quite frankly, her grandchildren were far from the only ones to frequently dip their hands in that jar. In addition to hosting her own family, Shirley was a frequent entertainer of her and Tom’s friends.

Shirley was an avid reader. A regular at the Wayne Public Library she was known for frequently checking out the new arrivals and reading them as fast as the librarians could put them on the shelf. She read the Record newspaper from cover to cover daily, and she kept her mind sharp by completing the paper’s crossword puzzle or by playing scrabble, especially with her son-in-law Rob or her best friend Betty. Every day at 5 PM, it was time for her daily martini with crackers and cheese. That tradition started with her husband Tom and continued for the rest of Shirley’s life, oftentimes later in life with her friend Betty while the two of them talked on the phone. In later years Shirley’s kids gifted her with an iPad. She took a great liking to Facebook as it afforded her with the ability to keep up with the happenings of her family.

With her job as mom largely behind her, Shirley got to accompany Tom on his business trips throughout the USA and much of Europe. They loved traveling together and it was a great way to see many interesting places. Shirley also enjoyed the comradery of Tom’s business associates and wives.  

Along with Shirley’s love for her family was her love and devotion to God. A lifetime church attender, when the family moved to Wayne, she joined Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and when she moved to Lincoln Park, she became a faithful parishioner of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.

Shirley’s family described her as a remarkable woman! She was a sincerely kind, patient and accepting person and the greatest mother and grandmother who never stopped worrying about her family because of her great love and devotion to them.  

Shirley was the beloved wife of Thomas Cantwell, blessed in a loving marriage until his passing in 1987. She was the most loving mother of: Thomas Cantwell, IV and his wife Patricia of Franklin Lakes, Kathleen Anthony and her late husband Lee of Dana Point, CA, Timothy Cantwell and his wife Sandra of Wayne, Kevin Cantwell and his wife Michele of Wayne, Terrence Cantwell and his wife Sheila of Montville, and Cynthia Balfour and her husband Robert of Pompton Lakes; adoring grandmother of Erik and wife Alyssa, Thomas, V and wife Hanna, Kristen and husband Thomas, Jeanette, Dannielle and husband Taylor, Jessica, Colleen, Kelly, Terry, Kyle, and Sarah; cherished great-grandmother of Annabella and Thomas, VI; and dear aunt of numerous nieces and nephews. Shirley was predeceased by her five siblings: Mildred, Lorraine, Hazel, Sister Pat, and Bill.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Shirley’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

You can also donate online by clicking here (www.stjude.org)

Sandra M. Ward, age 80, of Wayne, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022.

Sandra was born in New York City and raised in Harlem, NY before moving to the Inwood section of Manhattan. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Stella (Rutkowski) Irizarry.

After high school graduation, Sandra worked various jobs before settling into a career with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Each day she reported to her office in the former World Trade Center and, over the span of her twenty-five-year career from 1975 to 2000 when she retired, Sandra rose to the rank of Marketing Manager. While working at the Port Authority, she attended college in the evening to earn her bachelor’s degree. One career highlight was her involvement with the promotion and establishment of the EZ-Pass cashless tolling system for the states of New York and New Jersey. Sandra truly loved her work and she enjoyed the respect of her coworkers.

One night in November of 1969, just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Sandra was out at a bowling alley on Academy Street in the Inwood section of Manhattan. There she had the life-changing pleasure of meeting a charming young man named Thomas Ward who happened to be bowling on the lane right next to her. On that evening, the team member with the highest score was awarded a free turkey. As it turned out, both Sandra and Tom went home with Turkeys that night! While bowling they engaged in playful banter and before the night was over, Tom asked Sandra out for a date. Between the two encounters, a beautiful love for each other sparked. They eventually eloped to Mexico and married on August 19, 1970. After a two-week honeymoon, they drove home to New York in Tom’s 1969 dark blue two door Ford Maverick. Sandra and Tom’s first home together was an apartment in Fort Lee. In 1976 they moved to Lincoln Park and in 1986 they moved to Wayne where they’ve remained to the present.

One of Sandra’s favorite pastimes was traveling. After retirement she enjoyed trips to Lithuania, Spain and Puerto Rico with her girlfriends. When Tom retired two years later in 2002, they set out to see the world with trips together to Turkey, Hungary, Egypt, Peru, Costa Rica, England, and Ireland, and lots and lots of cruises including one on the Black Sea and the most recent cruise this past March to Jamacia, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. Sandra’s favorite drinks on the cruises included chocolate and pumpkin martinis. Sandra loved exercise too. She had a regular habit of attending Zumba exercise classes with her friends. Afterwards they’d all go to lunch and laugh about how they were putting all those calories back on. Sandra’s favorite lunch food was anything Mexican.

Above all else, Sandra’s greatest love was for her family. Nothing made her happier than when they were all together. She adored her grandsons Terrence and Thomas and, together with Tom, her daughter Tammy and son-in-law Thomas, and her grandsons, they enjoyed a cruise to Bermuda and partied till the lights came on.

Sandra’s faith was important to her and she attended Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church in Wayne. She had a real soft spot for children, especially those facing life-threatening illness, and was therefore a faithful contributor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  

Sandra was the beloved wife of Thomas, blessed in a loving, devoted marriage for 52 years. She was the loving mother of Tammy Carey of Mahopac, NY and her late husband Thomas Carey (2019); adoring grandmother of Terrence Carey and Thomas Carey, Jr.; much-loved sister of the late Joyce Carey and her late husband Pat; dearest aunt of Pat Carey and wife Diane of Yonkers, NY, and Jennifer Tracey and husband Shawn of Omaha, Nebraska; and dear great-aunt of Patrick, Colleen, and Caitlin Carey.  

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Sandra’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Amy Pifer Leonard, formerly of Mountain Road, Smoke Rise, Kinnelon, NJ passed away quietly at her home in Cedar Crest, Pequannock, NJ on August 22, 2022 after a brief illness.  Amy was born on March 2, 1933 in Butler, Pennsylvania. She had many passions in life: opera, books, and her beloved Pug dogs in addition to her artistic interests.  Growing up in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, Amy was surrounded by relatives who taught and encouraged her to pursue her drawing and painting.  At the age of ten, Amy’s grandmother, sensing her talent, enrolled her in her first art class.  An uncle, who was a civil engineer, taught Amy how to draw and use drafting tools.

Amy attended Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree.  She continued her education with a Master’s Degree, in addition to a Certificate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania.  Amy used these degrees to begin her career as an Occupational Therapist at Pennsylvania’s State and Veteran Hospital.  While focusing on her career, Amy continued to sketch and paint.

Moving to Smoke Rise in 1976 with her husband Jay, the now retired Amy played an active volunteer role in operations of the Smoke Rise Club and the Smoke Rise Chapel.  That activity complete, she devoted most of her time to drawing and teaching watercolor painting for many years through the Kinnelon Library’s Center for Lifelong Learning.  Beautiful landscapes, such as the Smoke Rise Chapel, waterfall, beach and New England ocean scenes were inspirations for her paintings.  For many years Amy provided the Women of Smoke Rise with their annual Christmas card design.  At the Club’s request, she provided a watercolor painting of a Smoke Rise landmark to outgoing Smoke Rise Club Board members.

Amy and her late husband, Jay, who passed away in 2021, were married for 64 years. Funeral services will be private.  Not wanting anything special for a memorial service, Amy’s wish for everyone was to enjoy the beauty of the world around them and to keep a special place in their hearts for animals of all types. Donations in Amy’s name may be made to:  The Kinnelon Volunteer Animal Shelter, 2 Kiel Avenue, #252, Kinnelon, NJ. 07405 and/or the Kinnelon Library Legacy Foundation, 132 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ. 07405.

Mary E. Sisco, age 87, of Wayne passed Sunday, August 21, 2022.

She was born in Paterson to James and Theresa Harrington.  She was part of the first graduating class from Wayne High School graduating with the Class of 1953 and has lived in Wayne for the past over 60 years.

Just out of high school Mary worked at the NJ Bell Telephone Company in Pompton Lakes as a switchboard operator. She later worked as an Administrative Assistant for the Metal Craft Company in Wayne and at the General Electric Companies Customer Service in Wayne.  In her later years she worked as an Administrative Assistant for Seton Hall University in South Orange before retiring on her 75th birthday - June 1, 2010.

In her youth Mary was a Bobby Soxer and loved to dance with her girlfriends. For Christmas, Saint Patrick’s Day, and her birthday she went all out decorating.  She also made the best Irish Soda Bread – a skill she learned from her mom. Most of all Mary was a dedicated, loving, and devoted mother and grandmother.

Mary's friendship was a treasure easily shared with anyone in need. Her friendships were life long and cherished. She was a caring sister who watched over her little brothers and helped to keep them safe and secure. Mary raised her sons with love and understanding. She created a home for them where all their friends were welcomed and respected.

Mary was dedicated to her Catholic Faith and was a devout parishioner of Holy Cross Church in Wayne and more recently Our Lady of Consolation Church also in Wayne.

She was the loving mother of William T. Sisco of Wayne and Brian Sisco and his wife Jill of Smyrna, GA; cherished grandmother of Anndrea and Tiffany Sisco; and she was the dearly loved sister of Kevin P. Harrington, ESQ and his loving companion Colleen of Wayne and John J. Harrington of Suwanee, GA. She was preceded in death by her brothers James J. Harrington and Thomas E. Harrington.

Let us celebrate a life well lived. She graced us with her love and blessed us with her laughter. Let her memory linger and give comfort to all of us who have borne witness.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

Elisa Manzo (nee Acquaviva), age 87 of Montville, NJ died peacefully on Saturday, August 20, 2022. She was affectionately known as “Aunt Lee” to many.

Elisa was born and raised in the Riverside section of Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School. It was in high school that she met the one and only lover of her life, Frank Manzo. They married on October 3, 1955, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson. They lived in Paterson for a few more years before establishing their family home in West Paterson. Elisa and Frank loved going to the Jersey Shore and lived in Fort Lauderdale for many years together. Elisa was blessed with very strong, loving relationships during her lifetime, and despite the painful losses she experienced, she remained grateful for all of her blessings. When she had spare time Elisa loved reading and crocheting.

Family meant everything to Elisa and the family home on “Maple Ave.” was always a hub of activity. Having many people over for Sunday dinner was commonplace, and her children always had friends and cousins over.  Elisa shared her love through her cooking and she knew everyone’s favorite dish. If you showed up unannounced, no problem! There was always another pound of pasta to be cooked and plenty of gravy on the stove. Later in life, she became a devoted grandmother to her six grandchildren and loved doing everything and anything she could with them. They each have cherished memories with their grandma.

For many decades, Aunt Lee Greeted guests at The Brownstone.  Her entire life was family, friends, and The Brownstone. Right up to her last day, she asked Edie to call Denise at The Brownstone to advise her that she wouldn’t be in on Sunday.  Working with her nephews, Al, Tommy, Kenny and her niece Patty, made her look forward to work.

Elisa is survived by her daughter; Edie Manzo-Calvitti and her husband William, daughter-in-laws; Judy Manzo, and Linda Manzo, six grandchildren; Aja Cohen and her husband Evan, Michael Calvitti and his wife Megan, Albert Manzo and his wife Alycia, Christopher Manzo and his girlfriend Brittany Tanis, Gabriella Manzo and her boyfriend Jacob Sturt, and Adam Manzo, five great-grandchildren; Raina, Shua, Abigail, Levi, and Ace, and many loving and devoted nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother Ida Giannella, husband Frank in 1990, by her son Frank in 2004, by her son Albert in 2022, and by her friend and cousin, Elsie Orlando in 2017.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be sincerely appreciated to the “Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament School” at 785 Franklin Lakes Rd., Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417. Please be sure to note “Elisa Manzo” in the memo field. Thank you.

Raymond M. Pierson, caring father, brother, grandfather, and friend, passed away on August 17, 2022, at the age of 82 in Tucker, Georgia.

Ray was born to Robert and Marie Pierson on November 21, 1940, in Rosland, NJ. After he graduated from high school, Ray married Virginia Countey in May of 1964, and settled in Wayne, NJ. There, Ray started a family as well as his own company, Pierson Air Conditioning. In time, he would own several rental properties as well as go into the restaurant business by owning Buxton’s Family Restaurant.

Though he was proud of his business accomplishments, nothing made Ray prouder than raising his four boys, Raymond, Bart, Matt, and Ted, on his own after the passing of his wife in 1978. Over the years, Ray was his sons’ coach for various sports, their Cub Scout Leader, and their biggest fan. His sons were the most important things in his life, and he never forgot to remind them of it.

Later in his life he pursued his love of golf and moved to Georgia, owning a home on a golf course with his beloved dogs, Scruffy I and Scruffy II. For his final years, Ray was a resident of Atria Senior Living, whose staff showed him the utmost kindness.

Ray is survived by his sons, Ray Pierson Jr., his wife Ying Ling, and their two daughters Mei and Holly Ann; Bart Pierson, his wife Doreen, and their two sons, Sam and Robert; Matt Pierson, his wife Lisa, and their kids, Virginia, Mary Matt, and Ford, and his Son Ted and his fiance Ashley.

Ray was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Pierson and their baby Joseph, his twin Ellen Pierson, and his sisters Rosemary Blaney, and Georgia Ottiwell, and his brothers Robert Pierson and Donald Ogden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Marie D. Marano (Corteluna) age 98, of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, formerly of Ridgefield, passed Sunday, August 14, 2022.

She was born to Leonard and Mary Corteluna in Hoboken.  Marie graduated from Hoboken High School with the Class of 1941.  After high school she worked as a secretary for the Nabisco Corporation in New York City. She changed her last name on her job application to Cortell as they were not hiring Italian people. Marie dedicated herself to raising her three boys before returning to the workforce and a secretarial job with ESC Electronics in Palisades Park. She worked there to help support putting her three sons through Rutgers College and retired in 1984.

Marie married her sweetheart Carmen Marano in 1946 after he returned from the Pacific Theatre of WWII.  They settled in Ridgefield where they lived for sixty years and raised their three sons Anthony, Leonard, and Richard. In 2017 they moved to the Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains before Carmen’s passing in June of 2021 and 75 years of a loving and devoted marriage.

She will be lovingly remembered as an avid reader – sometimes two books in a day! She had a phenomenal memory, loved shopping, was always dressing meticulously with the latest styles and had to have a computer. She was always active whether it was Friday night dancing at the Ridgefield Fire Department Engine Co. 3, helping with their Ladies Auxiliary, or socializing with seniors at the Ridgefield Community Center. She was an excellent cook and her special loving touch on Eggplant Parmesan will be dearly missed.

Marie was the loving wife of 75 years to the late Carmen Marano (d.June 2021); she was the devoted mother of Anthony and Marilyn Marano of Franklin Lakes, Len and Diane Marano of Washington Township, and Rich and Eileen Marano of Mantoloking; she was the adored grandmother of Alison and Adam White, Christine and Rob Odell, Jillian and Mark Capalbo, Dana and Alex Cunningham, Connor Marano, and Griffin Marano; she was also the dearly loved great-grandmother of Samantha, Robert, Reese, Ashley, and Ella.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Ridgefield Fire Department, 588 Bergen Blvd, Ridgefield, NJ 07657 would be greatly appreciated. (the funeral home will have donation cards available by the register book)

James Edward Roe, age 86, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 13, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

James was born and raised in Passaic, NJ and was one of three children to John and Jennie Roe.  As a young man, James attended Passaic High School and graduated with the class of 1953.  Following his high school graduation, James enrolled at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.  James attended Steven’s for about a year. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1959.  James served proudly and honorably in the US Army from 1959 till 1962.  During his service with the army, James was stationed at the Nike Air Missile Base in Milford, CT.  There he was a Radar Operator for the Battery A 3rd Missile Battalion. Serving in the US Army was something that James was always proud of.

After being honorably discharged from the army, James accepted a position at the Nabisco Corporation in Fair Lawn, NJ.  While working in the research lab there, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Upsala College in East Orange, NJ.  He was a research chemist for Nabisco, developing new food products for the company.  He was credited with several patents which were published by Nabisco. James’ career with Nabisco spanned over thirty-six years until his retirement in 2001.

James met his future wife, Carol Ann Connelly, and two years later on July 3, 1965 they became husband and wife at St Michael’s Church in Lyndhurst, NJ.  After getting married, the newlyweds settled in an apartment in Wayne.  The couple remained there for about two years and then moved to a newly built home on Kiwanis Dr in Wayne.  While living there, they welcomed the birth of their first child, Brian.  In 1972, the family moved to the Pines Lake section of Wayne where their second child, Lauren, was born.  James and Carol raised their children in Wayne and have called it home ever since.

James joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary where he would monitor shipping and transit operations on the Hudson River by way of small aircraft.  Later James was made a liaison for the Coast Guard Academy and traveled to various high schools in Northern NJ informing students of what the Coast Guard Academy had to offer them.  He was also a Webelo Den Leader when his son Brian was younger.  James was an active member of the Preakness Reformed Church for many years and also served as a Deacon for the church.

James enjoyed building model boats, and hiking.  He loved listening to classical music and had quite an extensive music collection.  He liked exploring the Northern New Jersey area and learning about its history.  James was also interested in his own family history and traced his ancestry back to the Revolutionary War. Two of his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War which prompted James to be invited as a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.  Aside from all of James’ interests and hobbies, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to James than spending time with and providing for his family.  He and his wife Carol have cherished fifty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage.  James treasured vacationing with his family throughout the years, particularly two very memorable trips to Utah, and Estes Park, CO which were sponsored by the National Wildlife Foundation.

James was a quiet and private man who loved his family deeply.  He was sincerely loved and respected by his colleagues throughout his career.  James was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him.

James is survived by his wife Carol Ann (nee Connelly) of Wayne, NJ his son Brian Roe and his wife Lun-Shan of Lincoln Park, NJ, his daughter Lauren Roe of Clifton, NJ, one sister Jean Jarzabek of Paramus, NJ, three nephews; Stephen Roe, John Roe, and Kenneth Jarzabek, and one niece Susan Roe Roessner.  James was predeceased by his brother John Roe.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make charitable donations in James’ name, may make them to the charity of their choice.

Wayne Mowry, age 70, of Morris plains , NJ passed away unexpectedly on Friday August 12, 2022.

Wayne was born in Woonsocket, RI and was one of two sons, to Mason and Cecelia Mowry.  Wayne’s family moved from Woonsocket to Boynton Beach, FL when he was a young boy.  At the age of only fourteen, Wayne’s father, Mason, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  Wayne’s mom Cecelia later remarried a man by the name of Dick Dunphy who had four children of his own.  After getting married the family moved to Teaneck, NJ together.  While living in Teaneck, Wayne attended Teaneck High School and graduated with the class of 1970.  

Following his high school graduation, Wayne attended CW Post College, now known as LIU Post University in Long Island, NY.  There, Wayne studied business and earned his bachelor’s degree in business.  After receiving his degree, Wayne found employment quickly and went to work for his stepfather Dick Dunphy at his company “Dick Dunphy Advertising.”  Wayne worked alongside his stepfather for more than twenty years.  Wayne later worked for Verizon for a few years then in 2005 he took the opportunity to start his own advertising/marketing business, “Mowry’s Promotions.”  One of his largest and most loyal accounts was the New York City Port Authority.  Wayne worked closely with the NY Port Authority by way of advertising and marketing throughout the years following the events of September 11.  Wayne owned and operated Mowry’s Promotions for the last seventeen years until his passing.  

In the late 1970's, Wayne was introduced by some mutual friends to an attractive young lady by the name of Ute Neumann.  The two went out on a blind date and hit it off great.  A couple of years later they became husband and wife on September 20, 1980.  The newlyweds first settled in Garfield then moved to Lincoln Park, NJ.  Wayne and Ute spent the next thirty years calling Lincoln Park their home and raising their two daughters, Kenna, and Kara.  Wayne was a truly devoted father and grandfather.  He was not only devoted to his family but was also dedicated to his Catholic Faith.  He was an active member and a Eucharistic Minister for St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lincoln Park for many years.

One of the favorite past times of Wayne’s life was surfing.  Wayne’s love for surfing prompted him to purchase property with his brother David in Mexico where he would vacation with his children and surf.  Wayne is a legend at the ranch and Saladitia  where everyone knows him for his neon green surf shorts! And even has one of his old surf boards on display in the Florida Surf Museum!

His surf vacations also led him to Puerto Rico, Florida, and other exotic locations.  Travel was also something that Wayne and his family treasured doing together.  Wayne and his family have traveled to a variety of destinations around the world including Europe, Florida, Canada, and other destinations throughout the Western United States.  Wayne had a highly anticipated vacation planned with his family to Budapest and Prague, that had been postponed numerous times due to Covid. Wayne’s business allotted vacation time every year during the holiday season.  Throughout the years his family would often wake up early on Christmas morning, open their gifts, then rush out the door to catch a plane for their vacation.  Aside from travel and surfing, Wayne treasured golfing, painting, and felt right at home in the kitchen after taking cooking classes in the city, cast iron bread was his specialty.

Wayne was a reserved and quiet man who definitely “marched to the beat of his own drum.”  He had an offbeat sense of humor and was not concerned with what others thought of him.  Wayne loved to push the envelope and believed “rules were meant to be broken, not followed”. To know Wayne was truly to love him.  He was kind, gentle, generous, and had the biggest heart. He truly treasured spending time with family and friends. Wayne was spontaneous and adventurous, he would never turn down an invitation; however usually showed up at his own leisure, always with a smile on his face.  Aside from all of Wayne’s hobbies, talents, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Wayne than spending time with his children and grandchildren.  Wayne was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be truly missed by everyone that knew him.  

Wayne is survived by his two daughters; Kenna Petruska and her husband Eric of Pompton Lakes, and Kara Gilchrist and her husband Steven of Somerville, NJ, one brother David Mowry and his wife Anne of Houston, TX, two grandchildren; Penelope Petruska and Peyton Petruska, and two twin grandchildren on the way.  He is also survived by two stepbrothers Richard Dunphy, and Paul Dunphy, one stepsister Irene Dunphy, his former wife Ute Mowry, and his loyal service dog and best friend Bretagne.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association in his honor.  American Diabetes Association. PO Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215,http://www.diabetes.org

**Please check back for a more complete obituary at a later time**

Rosaria "Rose" Roatti, age 91, of Sarasota, Florida, formerly of New Jersey, passed Friday, August 12, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, Florida would be greatly appreciated.

Marilyn Sentowski passed away August 11th in Tucson, AZ. She was born August 17, 1943, in Greenpoint, NY, attended Delehanty High School and graduated from Saint Elizabeth University in 1964. Marilyn & her husband of 58 years, John, resided in Lincoln Park, NJ for 34 years and raised their 3 sons there. She was a parishioner of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and made lifelong friends with the neighboring families.

Later, she and John built their dream home and retired to Quechee, VT.  Marilyn was an avid reader, knitter and began quilting when they moved to Vermont. She soon became an expert at it.  She gifted many of her spectacular quilts to family and friends to mark special occasions. Marilyn spent her days in Quechee volunteering at the library, garage sale hunting, gardening, and quilting. She loved hosting her children and grandchildren as they made many memories skiing, skating, swimming, and golfing.

After tiring of the cold weather, she and John moved to Tucson, AZ full time in 2006 and became active members in Santa Catalina Catholic Church. Marilyn continued with her quilting and was proud of the citrus fruits she was able to grow in her backyard.  Marilyn loved going on her yearly "girls’ trip" to the National Quilt Show and always returned home with new ideas.  John & Marilyn loved to travel and visited many historical sights and National Parks in the United States.  She was an avid researcher and could track down anything whether it was an out of the way place to visit or a unique gift that someone asked about.  

Visits back East to family always included attending her grandchildren's school and sporting events.  She was an incredible baker and Christmas always meant baking many dozen cookies.  The coveted recipes are her legacy that will live on each Christmas season.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, John; and, three sons Steve and his wife Tracy of Lincoln Park, NJ, Peter and his wife Karen of Mountain Lakes, NJ, and Michael and his wife Michele of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and, their seven grandchildren, Erin, Olivia, Molly, Diana, Matthew, Tyler and Emma.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marilyn’s name to Casa Maria Soup Kitchen of Tucson.

Please note: a more complete obituary will be posted here soon.  Check back later.

Janet Simon, age 83 of Wayne, died on Thursday, August 11, 2022. She had lived in Brooklyn and The Bronx before moving to Wayne in 2017.

Salvatore Adolph Cerasuolo, age 96, of Boynton Beach, Florida, formerly of Wayne, passed Monday, August 8, 2022.

He was born to Louis and Carmela Cerasuolo in New York City and graduated from the Christopher Columbus High School in Bronx, New York. He lived in Bronx, New York before moving out to the country where they bought a home in Wayne in 1977.  Salvatore lived in Wayne for 44 years before moving to Boynton Beach, Florida in 2021.

As a young man in his 20’s Sal worked at his brother’s pizzeria.  Through the years he has owned three different butcher shops: Astoria, Queens, NY, Bergenfield, NJ, and the Bronx, NY.  He worked at Cerveli’s Supermarket in Hoboken as a butcher for fifteen years before retiring in 1987. During his retirement he has worked at Sears and Burlington Coat Factory in a security capacity.

Salvatore served in the United States Army from 1944 through being Honorably Discharged as a Staff Sergeant on June 26, 1946. While in the Army he served with the 254th Infantry Regiment's 63rd Division.

Salvatore met the love of his life, Carmela Cervone as they grew up in the same neighborhood in Manhattan.  Her family knew his family and introduced them. Salvatore was very happy as he thought she was a beautiful girl.  They soon fell in love and married.  Salvatore’s butcher shop was doing very well, and he was proud to buy his wife Carmela a brand new 1956 pink Cadillac.  They enjoyed sixty years of a devoted and loving marriage which Salvatore described as “two peas in a pod.”  Before Carmela’s passing on January 7, 2009.

Salvatore was the loving husband of the late Carmela Cerasuolo; dear father of Phyllis Antonelli and her husband Joseph of Pleasant Valley, NY and Sally Cuccurullo of Delray Beach, FL; he was the loved grandfather of Eric Cuccurullo, Jennifer Hickey and her husband William, and Joseph Antonelli; he was the devoted great-grandfather of Owen and Camille Hickey.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

A Proud Navy Seabee, Command Master Chief (retired), Robert “Bob” Verhasselt, age 92, of Wayne, passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was born in Paterson and lived in Wayne since 1978. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church in Wayne. He was predeceased by is parents Gus and Marie Verhasselt and his two sisters Germaine Zwier and Margaret Dinardo.

Bob was a proud military veteran serving more than 35 years of total service to his country in both the Army and Navy. The last 30 years of his military career were spent with the Navy Seabees from which he retired as a Command Master Chief in 1988. His life was spent using the principles of his military career to succeed as he did. Bob had the privilege of serving with the Army Advisory Group in Shanghai China, the last military group to leave Shanghai in 1949, during the Communist takeover. His last Army assignment was with the 78th A.A.A. Gun Battalion during the Korean War in ’51 and ’52. Bob was equally proud to attend the meetings and reunions around the country each year with all his “grey-haired” buddies he served with during the years.

Bob was a self-employed automobile mechanic and business owner in the transmission field. After retiring, he was employed as a bus driver for the Wayne Board of Education for many years.

Bob was a life member of the Korean War Veterans Association, the Korean War Veterans Taejon Chapter 170, The Veterans of Foreign War Post #7165 Clifton, The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, The C.B. Veterans of America and his name is enshrined at the Navy Memorial in Washington D.C. He was also an Honorary Life Member of the B.P.O.E. #60 Elmwood Park-Paterson.

Bob was an avid race car owner and fan for many years. He owned cars that raced at most of the tracks in PA, NJ, and NY. He was a longtime member of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth “Bettie” (married 1951); two sons: Robert and his wife Diane, and Craig and his wife Patti; four grandchildren: Bryan and his wife Sue Ann, Danielle and her husband R.J., James and his wife Karen, and Eric and his wife Christine; and nine great-grandchildren: Taylor, Kayla, Joey, Gianna, Emma, Michael, Gabby, Owen, and Joel.

Donations in Bob’s honor may be made to your favorite charity.

Mama, Oma, Omi, Tante Magda - all names of our beloved Magda Kajah, who passed away peacefully on August 5, 2022.

Magda was born in Pinneberg, Germany August, 20, 1936. She lived there with her five siblings and parents until meeting Horst at her church youth group. Horst and Magda married on August 25, 1956. A few years later, the two decided that moving to the United States would offer them what war-torn Germany could not. They were sponsored by Pastor Hüssmann and the congregation of Immanuel Baptist Church in Woodside, NY, a German community that became their family in this country. Horst, Magda, Angela, Christine and Stephan moved to Pompton Lakes in 1965, Thomas was born shortly after, and Magda and Horst would live on Marion Court for the next 56 years. Magda didn’t let having four children slow her down: she studied and received her GED, which was extremely difficult considering she came into this country without knowing one word of English. She was a stay at home mom until Thomas was in high school, and then Magda started cleaning a dentist’s office.  He, in turn, taught her to be Dental Assistant and encouraged her to study to complete her dental x-ray certificate. She worked there for 33 years and retired at the age of 81. Magda loved her work and her patients, and her patients loved her, many saying she was the reason they enjoyed coming to the dentist at all. Magda’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her joy and an ever-present reason to bake another batch of chocolate chip cake or chocolate chip cookies, which she loved to do. She loved to spend time gardening, too.

Anyone who knew Magda and Horst, even as an acquaintance, knew the great pride they took in their German heritage, which they very intentionally instilled in their family. Magda and Horst and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have spent many years maintaining German holiday traditions, participating in German heritage festivals, and attending the Steuben Parade in New York quite religiously.

Magda was predeceased by her husband Horst, 2021, her children, Angela Winters, 2018, and Stephan Kajah, 2006. She is survived by her son-in-law, Brian Winters, of Bloomingdale, daughter, Christine Pallo, and her husband, Steve, of Pompton Lakes, son, Thomas Kajah, and his wife, Marcy, of Londonderry, VT, and her grandchildren, Rebecca Peller and her husband, Jason, of Pompton Plains, Courtney Laurente and her husband, Michael, of Wayne, Sarah Hout and her husband, Jonathan, of Forest, VA, Kerstin and Heidi Pallo of Beverly, MA, Devan and Lily Kajah of Londonderry, VT, and eight great-grandchildren, Liam, Noah, Luke, and James Peller, Caleb, Hannah, and Daniel Hout, and Charlotte and Owen Laurente.

Kyle Nyman, age 31, of Port St. Lucie, Florida passed on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.

He is loved and survived by his mother Tina Nyman, his father Chance Nyman, and his stepparents Fred Abascal and Christie Terhune Nyman; two beautiful children: April age 10 and her mom Aneesha, and Chance age 4 and his mom Susie; his beloved sister Alexa, stepsisters: Michelle Abascal, Kristin Abascal, stepbrothers Steven Abascal, David Abascal and Jared Terhune, cousins Matthew Honchen, Timothy Weite and Samantha Weite, grandparents Anthony and Tina Buraty, aunts Nancy Honchen and Tonianne Weite, and uncles Ed Honchen, Darren Weite and Robert Wagner.

Kyle was an intellect who read hundreds of books. He was primarily intrigued and fascinated by the subjects of world history and politics and was currently writing his own first history book about English and Scottish aristocracies and how those aristocratic families affected the world economy. As part of his research to passionately craft one of the first books on this topic, Kyle possessed dozens of recorded interviews with many of the descendants of these families.

Kyle had a razor wit, and incredible sense of humor. He was always the one to have the whole room laughing because he saw the happiness and even humor in the sadness in everything.

Kyle was so smart that he could see straight through a situation. This ability was fed by a vast knowledge base obtained by his unquenchable drinking in of knowledge which led to a keen perception of politics, how people think, why they do what they do, and how the world works.

Despite all his God-given gifts, Kyle would be the first to admit that he was not perfect. Who in this world is? Unfortunately, for Kyle, his imperfection - substance addiction which he fought for the last decade, is more stigmatized in a society that applauds financial success and worldly gain. Honestly, for Kyle, there was shame and regret, but there was also peace in knowing that he fought hard for his life and the love he had for his children, and there was peace – a peace which came from becoming a great student of religion and learning about and embracing a God who knew his weaknesses and loved him anyway.  

On a lighter note, Kyle also loved to paint and play guitar. He loved his family and his children dearly and was very proud of his daughter April who is a gymnast, and his greatest joy, and his son Chance, his young boy who was his greatest pride. Kyle was brilliant, passionate, full of life and love and he will be missed greatly!

Doris M. Allen, age 88, longtime resident of Pompton Lakes, passed away on August 3, 2022 in Florham Park, NJ.

Doris was raised in Newark, NJ. She was an enthusiastic student of dance and spent happy childhood summers at the shore. She graduated from Barringer High School where she was a cheerleader and excellent student.

She entered nursing school, but her plans changed when she began visiting her neighborhood friend Joanie, whose family had moved from Newark to Pompton. It was there that Doris met the love of her life, David Allen. Doris and Dave married and raised five children in Pompton Lakes. Doris was a loving and devoted mother, active in PTA, scouts and church activities. Family camping trips were the highlight of every summer vacation.

Doris returned to school, attending Montclair State College as a psychology major. She then earned her masters degree in counseling, earning the distinction of summa cum laude, and embarked on her career as a college counselor. Doris was a trusted and skilled counselor and she especially loved personal counseling and career counseling. She was retired from County College of Morris and was very active in the Middle Atlantic Career Counseling Association, (MACCA). In retirement Doris enjoyed volunteering as an ESL instructor. (English as a Second Language.) Doris enjoyed traveling with her husband David, going on many camping trips and cruises, alone and with family and friends. Sadly, David passed away in 1989, but Doris never lost the travel bug. She journeyed many places, including Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the UK, Canada and Mexico. She was very proud of her solo trip to Japan visit her granddaughter.

Doris embraced her many life experiences with resilience, gratitude and cheerfulness.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Kathleen (Kate), Donna and her husband Lyonel, David and his wife Jill, Carol, Douglas and his wife Monica. Doris leaves nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and was “favorite aunt” of many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her brother William Hendricks and his wife Susan, and many great friends and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association ALZ.ORG or the Shepherd’s Haven, 420 Ramapo Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 would be greatly appreciated.

F. Bruce O’Connell, Jr., age 83, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly on August 2, 2022.  Born in Clifton, New Jersey, he was the son of the late F. Bruce O’Connell, Sr. and C. Mildred O’Connell (nee McGhee).  Bruce was the oldest of three children, graduated from Clifton High School where he was a member of the band and track team. After graduation, Bruce proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957-1963.

Bruce married his high school sweetheart, Alice O’Connell (nee Heinold) in 1961 and they resided in Wayne, New Jersey where they raised their children, Glenn and Kathleen. While living in Wayne, Bruce was a member, Deacon and Youth Leader at the Preakness Reformed Church. After moving in 1988 to “Victoria” in Marmora, NJ, he became a faithful member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City, NJ.

Bruce retired in 1991 after 30 years of service as a regional communications and service manager for AT&T. After retiring, he became the communications manager for National Freight, Inc. in Vineland, New Jersey.

Bruce enjoyed a second retirement, balancing his work schedule with frequent family and friend visits.  He loved spending time with family, (especially his grandchildren) sharing stories, planning pirate adventures for his grandchildren and fishing on his boat along the South Jersey coast.  Bruce made everyone know they were special.  Over the years, he frequented the Wonderland log flume with each of his grandchildren for an action photo with their “Pappa”, along with memorable trips to the famed Frog Hollow Donuts.  Bruce loved his family and he and Alice hosted many family events at Victoria throughout the years leaving a lifetime of memories.

Upon full retirement from his careers, he became actively involved in serving the Marine Corps League, Detachment #676, Cape May Court House, NJ.  While in detachment #676 he served as Assistant Chaplain for 6 years and Sr. Vice Commandant for one year.  He was Marine of the Year and received numerous awards for his outstanding efforts.  In 2017, Bruce relocated to Mechanicsburg, PA and transferred to Detachment #524, in Carlisle, PA.  Bruce selflessly served Cumberland and Perry Counties as their Toys for Tots coordinator, organizing and distributing toys to thousands of children from 2018 – 2021.  Bruce was once again awarded Marine of the Year in 2021.  In July, 2022, Bruce was awarded the second highest state award, the Distinguished Citizens Silver medal.  In addition, he received  the MCL state award, given only once a year called the Mary Cody Award for outstanding service to veterans.  His greatest honor was being presented with the Four Chaplains Award, recognition reserved for very few Marines. Bruce O’Connell was a gentleman of the highest order and respected by all.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Alice I. O’Connell, son Glenn S. O’Connell (Laura), of Pequannock, New Jersey, and daughter, Kathleen A. Sheely (Andrew), of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, his sister Susan Southern, of Rutherford, New Jersey, and brother James J. O’Connell, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey.  Bruce loved spending time and sharing in the lives with his grandchildren, Heather, Brooke, Dan, Aidan and Anna, especially on the beach in OCNJ or Thanksgiving family fun trips in OBX.

In lieu of Flowers, please consider contributing to The Marine Corps League-Det. # 524.  PO Box 1078 Carlisle, PA 17013. http://www.mcl524.com

Thomasina “Tam” Gullotta, age 70, Naples, FL, formerly of Wayne, passed Sunday, July 31, 2022.

She was born to Andrew and Thomasina Meli in Queens, New York and raised in Cresskill, New Jersey. She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Angels High School with the Class of 1969.  She went on to receive her Bachelors Degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck with the Class of 1973 and went on to get her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Montclair State College with the Class of 1975.

During her high school years Thomasina worked at Hofstetter’s Bakery in Tenafly. During her college years she worked in a secretarial capacity for the Alpine Country Club.  After graduating with her undergraduate degree, she found a position teaching with the Westwood Regional School District where she taught from 1973 through her retirement in 2008.  During her years with the Westwood Schools, she mainly taught Mathematics and Advanced High School Mathematics in the 11th and 12th grades. For many years she enjoyed coordinating the Color Guard, attending any games where they performed, and was often chosen to be a Prom Chaperone. Her heart was devoted to teaching, she loved the kids and they loved her back.

Tam had a passion for cooking and was always willing to try something new.  The love she cooked into all her food, but especially her eggplant and meatballs, will be dearly missed. She had a very outgoing personality, made friends easily, could speak Infront of a crowd with ease, was caring and compassionate, and never gave an answer to something she had not thoroughly thought through.

Thomasina met Joseph Gullotta through mutual friends. They began dating in their early 20’s and after securing her dad’s permission, proposed at a friend’s apartment.  They married on August 22, 1976, at Saint Therese of Lisieux Church in Creskill and honeymooned in Bermuda.  They have had a loving and devoted marriage of forty-six years.

Thomasina was the loving wife of Joseph Gullotta; devoted mother of Michele Stoffel and her husband Dave of Denville; cherished grandmother of Adriana, Ava, and Olivia Stoffel; loved sister of Robert Meli of Richmond, VA, Theresa Millan of Clearwater, FL, and Ken Meli of Mahwah.  She will be dearly missed by her sister-in-law Rita Gullotta of Chester. She will also be missed by her six nieces and nephews, three great-nieces, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Edmund J. Froude, age 93, of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2022, while in the loving and caring support of his family.

Ed was eldest child of Edmund W. and Muriel (Watson) Froude. He was born in Jersey City and raised there in the family’s home at 167 Virginia Ave. Soon after graduating from Snyder High School in Jersey City. Ed went to work for Otis Elevator, a job he was able to obtain thanks to some prior electrical knowledge coupled with a good word put in by his Uncle Al to help him land the job.  It wasn’t too long after being hired that Uncle Sam called Ed’s number. Answering that call, Ed, bravely, yet humbly served in the U.S. Army in South Korea as a radar technician in the radar tower just a mile from the front lines during the Korean Conflict. For his service to his country, Ed was awarded the Korean Service Medal with One Bronze Service Star, and the United Nations Service Medal. A funny thing happened while Ed was away. Just prior to being drafted, he had purchased a brand-new Studebaker. Forced to leave it behind while training in Texas, Ed caught wind that his brother Donald was driving his car in his absence. This did not please Ed so he had his dad drive the car all the way to Texas so that his brother couldn’t drive it anymore. After his honorable discharge from military service in 1953, Ed returned to civilian life. The morning after setting his feet back on American soil, he returned to his job at Otis Elevator.    

Ed had the good fortune of meeting his wife L. Carmen Ouimet through one of her classmates in nursing school who happened to be married to Ed’s brother Donald. His first date was set up by that classmate and it took place at a dinner dance in commemoration of the Jersey City Medical Center’s fiftieth anniversary. As Ed explained, “we danced a lot that night!” Ed and Carmen ended up dating for about a year at which time Carmen decided it was time for marriage. After a trip with a family heirloom diamond to a local Jersey City jeweler to have the diamond set in a ring, Ed and Carmen set a date and exchanged their wedding vows before God, family and friends on Saturday, June 27, 1959 at St. Peter and Paul R.C. Church in Jersey City. They celebrated with a reception at a Journal Square hotel before setting off for a honeymoon in Bermuda.

Ed and Carmen’s first home as newlyweds was an apartment in Jersey City. They stayed there for a very short time while awaiting completion of a brand-new home being constructed in a recent development of the then-sleepy town called Wayne. They moved into that new house the same year they married and called it “home sweet home” throughout the rest of their lives. Ed and Carmen were blessed with five beautiful children and, while they were growing up, Carmen poured herself into their care while Ed commuted into Manhattan every day to work that job as an elevator mechanic for Otis Elevator. His career with Otis spanned almost forty years until retirement in 1992. The final twenty-eight years were spent working exclusively as an in-house elevator mechanic at the New York Hilton Hotel in Manhattan.

A couple years after Ed’s retirement, Carmen retired too, affording the blessing of more time together. Throughout their lives Ed and Carmen enjoyed trips to Ireland, Spain, and Italy and four times a year, they would trek north to Canada to visit some or all of Carmen’s 56 first cousins. They enjoyed sampling fine local wines from wherever their journeys would take them. When their grandchildren were available, Ed and Carmen loved to have them join them on their traveling adventures. Since they especially loved their experience in Ireland, they chose to go again, sharing the trip with their grandchildren. They were also welcomed to join Grandpa and Grandma on vacations to Ocean City Maryland and to Cape Cod Massachusetts.

As a young man, Ed enjoyed his cars. There was the formerly mentioned Studebaker which was followed in 1964 by a fresh-off-the-assembly-line black Ford convertible with red leather interior. It was a very sharp car and Ed had a lot of fun with it but, since he commuted to work by bus, he and Carmen only ever had need of one car to share during their entire marriage! When child number three came along, the cool convertible had to go and was replaced by a station wagon. Ed’s other hobbies included swimming and conducting genealogical studies. As children, Ed and his younger siblings, Muriel and Don would spend large portions of their summers hosted by their Uncle Al and Aunt Vera at their house in Glen Wild Lake in Bloomingdale. The kids enjoyed swimming, canoeing, ice skating and other aquatic activities. As a boy, Ed had his own canoe at the lake which be dubbed “The Black Stealth” because he liked to sneak up on his brother while canoeing in the dark. Ed loved Glen Wild Lake so much that one time he rode his bicycle all the way from Jersey City to get there. Ed took a real liking to swimming. It became a lifetime love and he swam on his high school’s swim team at the People’s Palace in Jersey City and later at the YWCA and town pool well into his late eighties. Ed was conducting genealogical research on his family way before the advent of the internet and Ancestry.com. He would often physically visit cemeteries and town health departments requesting birth, marriage and death certificates to help put the pieces of his research together. He really caught the research bug and, while discovering the Froude family ancestry all the way back to the sixteenth century, he’d often come home exclaiming with wide-eyed wonder, “I was blown away by what I found out today!”

Next to his greatest love for his family, Ed was devoted to his faith in God. When he and Carmen moved to Wayne in 1959, they soon became charter parishioners of the new parish in town – Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church of Wayne.

Ed should be remembered as a great husband, father, provider, brother, grandfather and uncle. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

While Ed’s family acknowledges the sadness they feel, they are grateful of Ed’s life, love, and positive influence, and for the fact that he’s now reunited with his beloved Carmen.    

Ed was the beloved husband of Carmen (nee Ouimet), blessed in marriage for 60 years until her passing in 2020. He was the most loving father of: Aimee Zschack and husband Mark of Franklin, Edmund Froude and wife Susan of Milton, DE, Roger Froude of Malta, NY, Keith Froude and wife Lisa of Oxford, PA, and Suzanne Froude of Wayne: cherished grandfather of: Jessica MacLeod and husband Sean of Vernon, William Zschack and wife Amy of Newton, Edmund Froude and wife Lauren of Hamburg, Keith Froude of Oxford, PA, Julia Cordaro of Wayne, and Christopher Cordaro of Wayne; cherished step-grandfather of Amanda Clohessey and Andrew Clohessey; adoring great-grandfather of: Maggie MacLeod, Connor MacLeod, Charlie Zschack, Danny Zschack, and Lilliana Froude; dear brother of the late Donald Froude, and Muriel Murphy and her late husband Arthur of Shrewsbury. Uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.

In celebration of Ed’s life, friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Edmund’s name are asked to consider: Wounded Warrior Project.

To donate online, CLICK HERE

To download and print a mailable form, CLICK HERE

Alexa “Lexi” Piotrowski, age 22, of Wayne passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

Lexi was raised in Wayne, NJ and was one of two children to Robert and Vicki Piotrowski. From as far back as her parents can remember she has always had a deep love for sports. As a young girl she played baseball, soccer, flag football, and above all, her favorite sport, basketball. While a student at Wayne Valley High School, she was a member and the captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team from freshman to senior year, winning the Passaic County Girls Basketball Championship in 2018. This was Wayne’s first championship in forty one years. She was also active in the Italian Club and the Gardening Club while a student at Wayne Valley High. In addition to the girls’ varsity basketball team, she traveled and competed with the Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) Girls Basketball teams through her young adult life playing in countless tournaments and winning a variety of championships.  She also played with the “Gym Ratz”, the “Sharp Shooters Basketball”, and “Bulls” basketball teams.

After graduating from Wayne Valley High School in 2018, Lexi enrolled at the University of Tampa where she studied Allied Health Concentration in Medical Sciences. There she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in June of this year.  While studying at the University of Tampa, Lexi was a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, the PPAA and the Dean’s list during her freshman year in college. Lexi also received her certification as a Licensed Nursing Assistant and was working toward her degree and certification as a Physician’s Assistant.

Lexi recently accepted a position at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL as a Licensed Certified Nursing Assistant. Previously, Lexi held positions as a Medical Assistant in Tampa, FL and a Camp Nurse for the YMCA-Montclair in 2021. She truly enjoyed the field she worked in and was sincerely loved and respected by her co-workers and colleagues. Lexi was certified in a variety of different procedures including CPR, BLS, EMR, and CITI. Lexi was also a firm believer in giving back to her community. She participated in a number of different community services. She worked with BayCare Kid Wellness and Safety Center as a CPR volunteer, and the Police Athletics League where she coached the 3rd grade basketball travel team. She also participated in the Relay for Life and Wayne Valley Basketball “Lace It UP” (both fundraisers for cancer victims).

Lexi was an easy-going person who loved spending time with family and friends.  She was oftentimes selfless to a fault, always putting others and the needs of others before her own.  She enjoyed listening to music, Mac Miller being her favorite musical artist, and treasured spending time with her dad target shooting and Skeet shooting. Lexi had beautiful smile along with an infectious personality that lit up any room she walked into. She was the kind of person that you couldn’t help but want to be around. Lexi was adventurous, fun loving, and “A Ray of Sunshine.” Her greatest passion was clearly her family. Nothing in the world meant more to Lexi than spending time with the people she loved. Lexi was a truly special person who touched the lives of all the people around and will be sorely missed by everyone that knew her.  

Lexi lived by the quote “No matter where life takes me, find me with a smile” - Mac Miller

Lexi is survived by her parents Robert and Vicki Piotrowski of Wayne, one sister Olivia Piotrowski of Wayne, her grandmother Helena Piotrowski of Cape Coral, FL, her aunt Kakool Khan of Hackensack, NJ, two uncles; Danny Piotrowski and his fiancé Pat MaCabe of Cape Coral, FL, and Tony Piotrowski and his wife Halina of Cape Coral FL, five cousins; Nadina Minassian of Hackensack, NJ, Christina Piotrowski of Edison, NJ, Samantha Piotrowski of Golden, CO, and Amanda Piotrowski of Cape Coral, FL, Zachary Piotrowski of Colorado.  She was predeceased by her grandfather Edward Piotrowski in 2021, and her maternal grandparents Abul Mahmood in 2008, and Akhtar Mahmood in 1997.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lexi’s name may be made to American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, PO Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 http://www.cancer.org

Kathleen Marian Sanders (nee Fredericks), age 102 passed away peacefully on Friday, July 29, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Marian was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Olaf and Ann Marie Fredericks who move the family to Jersey City when Marian was seven.  As a member of the "Greatest Generation" she lived through and was witness to so many of the amazing, often sad and troubling, events and changes our country has experienced over the last hundred years.

From growing up in the Great Depression, to watching the Hindenburg go overhead on its fatal voyage, to waving to Franklin Roosevelt as his train passed their home, to meeting and marrying her husband, Rex, of over fifty years in 1942, Marian's first twenty-three years would fill most lifetimes.  World War II had already begun and Rex was an artillery lieutenant in the US Army.  Marian moved with him to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and then on to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  And, when his orders moved him to yet another post, she traveled across half the U.S. on her own, by train, while pregnant with their first child, Jim.  

Upon Rex's return from Europe following the war's end, they welcomed a daughter, Barbara, and moved to Wayne.  In Wayne, Gordon, Jean, and Katie joined the family.  A devoted mother, Marian focused on raising the children through more turbulent and exciting times, namely the fifties, sixties, and seventies.  She lived in Wayne for 77 years with the last 64 years in the same home on Shore Road which Rex built.

Marian returned to the work place as part of the municipal government of Wayne Township.  She was a founding member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church.  As a member of the "Twiggs", she and co-members created arts and crafts for patients at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.  An enduring love of gardening led her to longtime involvement in the Riverview Community Garden Club.  And not the least of her favorite activities was her love of the once-a-month meetings with neighborhood friends to play Canasta.

One of Marian's favorite activities was traveling.  She and Rex took many car trips including both East and West coasts.  They enjoyed cruises with Bermuda being a particular favorite.  Also high on the list of favorite activities was dancing.  She and Rex enjoyed going to dance classes and any event where they could enjoy dancing.

Sadly, in March of 1997, Rex passed away while battling colon cancer.  In September of 2013, tragedy struck again as her son Gordon lost his battle with cancer.  Nothing meant more to Marian than spending time with family which grew from children to grandchildren to great grandchildren.  Her love of traveling did not cease and many trips with family members were part of her senior years.  She was an outgoing, social lady with a sharp sense of humor who touched the lives of many people and who will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.

Marian is survived by her three daughters;  Barbara Hanenberg and her husband Alan of Whiting, NJ, Jean Sanders of Wayne,NJ, and Katie Sanders of Wayne; son Jim Sanders and his wife Christine Allen-Sanders of Export, PA; nine grand children including James A. Sanders and wife Tracy of Plum, PA, Jennifer Sanders-Mink and her husband Jim of Greensburg, PA, Christopher Sanders and wife Michelle Stewart of Monroeville, PA, Joshua Sanders and wife Tiffany of Trafford, PA, Nicholas Sanders of Export, PA, Jason Trovy of Export, Carolyn Mayers and husband Scott of Ocean, NJ, Andrew Hanenberg and wife Michele of Indian Trail, NC, and Maxwell Sanders of Wayne. Grandson Michael Hanenberg is greeting his grandmother in heaven now.  There are six great grandchildren, Olivia Sanders, Finley Hanenberg, Elysia Mink, Aidan Sanders, Zachary Sanders, and Matthew Sanders.

Gladys Van Wyk, (nee Van Ostenbridge) age 93 passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Whitehall, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Wilbur Van Wyk, in 1984.

Gladys is survived by her children, Richard Van Wyk (Denise) of Bethlehem, PA, Janice Cross (Mark) of Fairfax, VA, and Kathryn Pitt (Bill) of Hamburg, NJ.  She is also survived by five grandchildren: Lauren Haramic (Jason) of Pittsburgh, PA, Nicholas Van Wyk of Bethlehem, PA, Kati Rosario (Ulysses), of Sparta, NJ, Aubrey Arnette (Cory) of Richmond, Virginia, and Allison Cross of Sydney, Australia; and six great-grandchildren: Nathan and Aaron Haramic, Elijah and Averil Rosario, and Connor and Daniel Arnette. Gladys was predeceased by her brothers, James and Edward, and her sisters, Agnes Myer and Dorothy Gerritsen.  She counted among her closest friends Douglas and Dianne Fromm now living in East Orleans, MA, Carol Freeman of Wayne, NJ, and Frances Alexander of Warwick, NY (a friend for over 80 years).  Many nieces and nephews were also loved dearly.

Gladys was born and raised in Hawthorne, NJ.  She and Will raised their family in Wayne, NJ, and they later relocated to Greensboro, NC and Dayton, OH. Gladys was the church secretary at the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne and a secretary at KLS Sales Associates in Fairfield. After leaving the area, she was employed at Burlington Industries in Greensboro and at NCR in Dayton.  After Will’s death in Dayton, she returned to the Passaic/Bergen County area and worked at Cytec and then as church secretary at the Upper Ridgewood Community Church.  She retired at the age of 75.  Her most recent years were spent at Traditions of Hanover and Fellowship Community in the Bethlehem, PA area.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Preakness Reformed Church (131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470) or to Fellowship Community (Attn: Tracy Bozik, 3020 Fellowship Dr., Whitehall, PA 18052. Please note on check:  For Benevolent Fund in memory of Gladys Van Wyk).

Bernice M. Gloor, age 90 of Totowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Bernice was born to John and Estelle Maas and was raised in Paterson and West Paterson. She graduated from St. Bonaventure High School in Paterson with the Class of 1948 where she proudly received the Academic Excellence Award. She received her undergraduate degree in Education from William Paterson University with the Class of 1953 and went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Education from Montclair State University with the Class of 1956. She was a member of the Zeta Delta chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, a member of the National Educators Honor Society and the Future Teachers of America. As an alumna, she proudly served as the secretary of William Paterson University's Alumni Association.

Bernice worked as an Elementary School Teacher in Totowa and is fondly remembered by many former students. In 1964 she became a partner in the family business, Boro Supply Co., in Totowa where she worked until the company closed in 2012.

Bernice met Frank E. Gloor, the love of her life, at her best friend’s wedding. Their first date took place the night that the Two Guys from Harrison store in Totowa burned down.  Frank was serving as the Assistant Fire Chief and was called to the scene. When the Fire Chief arrived, Frank told him he had to leave, as he had a date that night.  They fell in love and married on August 8, 1959, at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson. They drove to California for their honeymoon, sparking a shared life-long passion for travel. Bernice and Frank were married for 53 years and had two children, Sharon Marie and Frank Anthony.  

A devout Catholic, Bernice was a faithful parishioner at St. James of the Marches Church in Totowa. She was a member of the Rosary Society for many years and was honored with the Angel of Light Award in 2015.

Bernice will be lovingly remembered for her astute, detail-oriented, and caring approach to life. She was quiet around those she didn’t know but had a distinct laugh and was always humorous. Bernice was inherently selfless, serving as a caretaker for members of her family. For many years she would also donate her time to friends in need by helping with food shopping, distributing church bulletins and providing rides to doctor’s appointments for those who could not drive themselves.

Bernice was a life-long baseball fan and avidly rooted for the New York Mets. She was a proud member of the Totowa Happy Seniors group. Above all else, Bernice was dedicated to her grandchildren and attended activities and endeavors they were involved with.

Bernice is survived by her sister, Joan (Maas) Laurice of Oakland; son, Frank Anthony Gloor of Totowa; son-in-law, Anthony Hoffman of Totowa; daughter-in-law, Lorella Gloor of Totowa; her grandchildren: Lisa Nicole Hoffman of Bloomfield, Jessica Lynn Hoffman of Lincoln Park, Erin Nicole Gloor of Caldwell, Elizabeth Anna Palaima and her husband Jonathan Palaima of Randolph, Daniela Franca Maria Gloor and her fiancé Timothy LeCras of Westfield, Michael Anthony Hoffman of Parsippany, and Frank Aniello John Gloor and his companion Jessica Cajal of Totowa; her great-grandchildren: Sofia Gloor and Jakob Gloor; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Bernice was predeceased by her husband, Frank E. Gloor (d. 2012); her daughter, Sharon Marie Hoffman (d. 2019); and her brother-in-law, Salvatore Laurice (d. 2020).

Bernice will be laid to rest with her husband, Frank E. Gloor, in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lincoln Fire Company, 93 Lincoln Avenue, Totowa, NJ 07512,  and/or the Totowa First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 619, Totowa, NJ 07511, www.totowaems.org.

Jean Donhauser (nee Thompson), age 88, of Pompton Lakes NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.

Jean was born in Newark to Gertrude and Howard Thompson and raised in Belleville. She graduated Belleville High School in 1951 and went on to work several years as a secretary for Prudential Insurance Company, Newark. After marriage she moved to Monroe NY for several years and in 1962 she and her family relocated to Pompton Lakes NJ where she remained until her passing.

Jean worked several years for the Pompton Lakes Board of Education as a school secretary, first in Lakeside Middle School and then Lincoln Elementary School. In 1983 she accepted an Administrative Assistant position with NJEA UniServ, retiring in 2000.

Jean enjoyed travelling extensively around the country, Hawaii, Canada and Europe with her favorite destination being Scotland. Upon retirement she joined the Pompton Lakes Golden Age Club serving several terms on its board. There she very much enjoyed the company of old friends and neighbors, arranging day trips, playing cards and attending weekly luncheons at local restaurants. Jean also kept in close contact with other retired NJEA colleagues.

Jean was a member of the Bloomingdale Methodist Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Eutermarks and son in law Raymond, Trudy Butchko, Jean O'Connell and son in law Chris of Pompton Lakes. She is also survived by a son, John Donhauser.

She leaves behind nine dearly loved grandchildren and nine cherished great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s name may be made to National Processing Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090  http://www.alz.org or Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106 http://www.mskcc.org

Joan Socolof, née Gallagher, age 95, of Pompton Plains, NJ, died Wednesday, July 20, 2022.  She was the daughter of Dr. John Wesley Gallagher and Edith Gallagher. She grew up in Perry, NY with her sisters, where her father was the small-town doctor.

Joan’s father died shortly before Joan’s 17th birthday, leaving behind Joan and her two younger sisters weeks before Joan graduated from Perry High School where she was salutatorian. She left Perry to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles where she received a scholarship, but moved back east after 3 semesters. Joan quickly plunged into work as an assistant to the publicity director for Asbury Park, NJ. This laid the groundwork for a job at “Park East” magazine in New York City where she had the opportunity to conduct interviews and write copy, and was given a much-loved 6-week leave of absence to attend the Bread Loaf campus writer’s conference of Middlebury College. Subsequently, Joan worked as the advertising director of Steinbach Company, Asbury Park, NJ, where she enjoyed using her talents in writing and art. During this period of her life, she met and married her husband Murray Socolof, who predeceased her in 2013.

She raised her children with Murray in Bethesda, Maryland, where she finished her college and law degrees. Joan received her Bachelor of Arts from American University and her Juris Doctor from Catholic University in Washington D.C., while at the same time raising her 5 boys, staying active in the local Presbyterian church, and continuing to write. The family moved to Franklin Lakes, NJ in 1973, where they lived until Joan and Murray moved to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, NJ in 2005. During her many years in Franklin Lakes, Joan remained actively engaged with the community by working on the environmental commission, serving as president of the League of Women Voters, and founding The Decorative and Fine Arts Society of Bergen County.  She constantly read about and corresponded with scholars and artists that she might convince to come and speak at monthly lectures, and to discover events at museums, galleries, sculpture grounds and historic homes that might engage members for excursions.  She arranged many greatly appreciated lectures by scholars and experts in the arts as well as numerous fascinating trips to galleries, historic homes and sculpture grounds. She would recruit her children to help with stuffing envelopes to send out the newsletters and announcements she was constantly writing. She also practiced family and real estate law in Franklin Lakes as Socolof Associates. While doing all this, she also enjoyed cooking wonderful meals for her husband and five sons. She enjoyed spending her time with friends who shared her many interests, especially in music and the arts, regularly went to concerts and plays, and also enjoyed lunch gatherings with her “French Club” friends practicing French together.

Joan continued to write throughout her life from age 9 when she shocked her family by ghostwriting the autobiography of the family’s housekeeper full of poverty, abuse, children in prison, and children born out of wedlock for a competition in “True Story Magazine,” which earned Joan a concerned visit by the magazine publisher to her parents.  She continued memoir writing into her 90s. She always made sure to honor any occasion for friends and family with homemade cards including clever line drawings and humorous poems.

Joan is survived by her children Stephen Socolof and his wife Cristina Corona and their children Giulia and Vittoria; Elias Socolof and his wife Roslyn and their children Rachel and Thomas; David Socolof and his wife Maria and their children Michaela and Camille; Jonathan Socolof and his wife Christine; and Joseph Socolof and his wife Virginia Lolley and their daughter Eve. She is also survived by her nieces Pam Davis and Marsha Yarbrough.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to one of her charities would be appreciated:  the Scholar’s Fund at Cedar Crest Village, 1 Cedar Crest Drive, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444; the Adler Aphasia Center, 60 West Hunter Avenue, Maywood, NJ 07607; or West Bergen Mental Healthcare, Development Office, 120 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.

Mario Paredes Lardizabal, 66 years old, of Wayne, New Jersey passed away peacefully on Monday, July 18, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.

Born and raised in Tagudin Ilocos Sur, Philippines to Solomon and Josefina Lardizabal, third of four children. He attended St. Augustine’s School in his hometown and was active in sports especially basketball. Joining the Jokers Basketball team forged lifelong friendships with other youngsters which have withstood the test of time. They will go the distance and across the globe to give support or celebrate milestones. After graduation in 1972, he attended FEATI University in Manila for nearly four years. Mario left school to assist his mother with managing their family business. He worked closely with relatives and local folks producing, processing, and buying a wide range of agricultural products to sell to commercial traders. These ventures enabled the locality to earn a livelihood since agricultural fields abound in the area.

Since kindergarten, Mario grew up with Cresencia Villanueva, a sweet & pretty girl. Their friendship bloomed further during their college years. Through the benevolence of God, they fell in love and married on July 10, 1982, recently celebrating their 40th anniversary. As newlyweds, Mario stayed in the Philippines while his wife worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia. Mario and Cresencia welcomed the births of their daughters Kriezl and Karell. In 1992, Mario and his daughters joined Cresencia in the United States as another step in their journey for a better life together.

The Lardizabals initially settled in Clifton, NJ where they lived for four years. During this time, they welcomed the birth of their first son Mario Jr. (JM). The family moved to Wayne, NJ in 1996 where they celebrated the birth of their second son Krizmar. Wayne has been their home ever since. He worked at Troy Chemical for seven years. However the needs of the growing children compelled him to sacrifice and manage their daily necessities at home. Like any immigrant family, this arrangement was needed in order to survive and thrive in a foreign land. Mario treasured making his family his full-time job and was always there whenever his children and grandchildren needed him. He had always placed his loved ones, his most significant passion, first in every circumstance. They meant the world to him—his joy and inspiration.

Mario was a past President of the Eastern Tagudinians Association of the tristate area. He was always a vital link to his hometown, updating fellow townmates here of current events there as well as bringing back delicacies yearned by Tagudinians. He was not only devoted to his family but also to his Catholic Faith. His family are parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley and the Holy Cross Church in Wayne for many years.

Mario’s favorite pastimes were cooking and entertaining, reflecting not only his culinary skills but also being personable, kind, and generous. An accomplished chef, he specialized in cooking delicious dishes from the Philippines especially the Ilocos region. He cherished hosting parties to celebrate special milestones for family and friends. It’s awe-inspiring how he can prepare an array of dishes, practically a feast with little help which was truly a labor of love. Guests did not only have an enjoyable time but also left with loaded take out containers he provided. Aside from the served food, he would give away precooked frozen delicacies and bundles of fresh saluyot (jute) leaves, a rarity in Jersey.

He was not only a strong father figure for his close knit family, but his care and compassion extended to his distant relations and to those in need, no matter where he was. His support and guidance uplifted many families especially back home.

He had an infectious, signature laugh as well as an outgoing personality, practically lighting up the room wherever he went. He was able to captivate an audience with his vivid memory and engaging storytelling, reflecting life experiences and observations. Mario was truly special and exceptional, and graced the lives of countless people. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Mario is survived by his wife Cresencia, their children: Kriezl and her husband Jason Liaban of Wayne, Karell and her partner Mike Panara of Honolulu, HI, Mario Lardizabal, Jr. and his fiancée Erica Malacas of Belleville, NJ, and Krizmar of Wayne. Four grandchildren (with the fifth grandchild due in October) Ava Grace, Alexis, JJ and Jett Liaban. Left to also carry on his memory are brother Romeo Lardizabal and his wife Edna of Pomona, CA, and sister Fatima Bolosan of Artesia, CA. He was predeceased by his sister Juliet Mariano.

This obituary can only capture a modicum of the great love, faith, and enduring spirit that Mario Paredes Lardizabal bestowed to those he shared his singular life with. His joy and wonderful laughter will always echo and never be forgotten. Though the light in his eyes may have dimmed, it will never be extinguished in those beloveds who will forever carry his lessons, compassionate legacy, and devoted heart.

Vernon R. McClure, Jr., age 73 of Wanaque, NJ, died on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Vernon had been a Senior Computer Programmer with Dial America in Mahwah. He enjoyed a career of thirty-six years there before retiring in 2016. He had a mind for problem solving and strategy that suited his career perfectly.

Vernon grew up in Haskell, the second eldest of six children. When he was thirteen years old, his parents moved the family to Butler and Vernon missed his buddies so much that he would ride his bike all the way back to Haskell just to visit them and go to St. Francis school to finish 8th grade. He went on to graduate from Butler High School in 1967, where he had been a hurdler on the track team. His hurdling technique was uniquely his own and earned him the nickname “crazy-legs.” He had a competitive side to his personality that seemed to contradict with his otherwise calm and quiet persona. If you ever played volleyball or ping pong with him, you likely experienced his intense focus firsthand. Vernon was also passionate about playing unique, strategic board games with a few local groups of enthusiasts. Prior to the Pandemic, he was traveling three days a week to play in Summit, Bridgewater, and Scotch Plains, often with many of the same people. These were not your typical board games, but specialized games that were usually from European countries. Vernon was always prepared wherever he went and traveled with board games in his car. He just loved to play games. He also enjoyed being a prankster and you never quite knew when he was pulling your leg. His deadpan delivery could fool anyone until you noticed the subtle smirk on his face. Vernon had a bit of a sweet tooth and he knew just about every bakery along the eastern seaboard, with Villabate Alba in Brooklyn among his most favorite. Whenever Vern had cookies in the house, he would tell his children that they were “diet cookies,” so they wouldn’t eat them! He kept his stash on top of the refrigerator, safely out of the kid’s reach.

Vernon met his wife, Patricia McLean, at St. Mary’s church in Pompton Lakes. They had both been attending the church’s “young adults” volleyball games and they hit it off. Their first date included dinner at Taco Maker in Wayne, and they quickly hit it off. Vernon proposed on Valentine’s Day at Emerson’s Restaurant, and they were married on June 13, 1981, at St. Gerard’s Church in Paterson. Since their honeymoon in the Poconos, they’ve enjoyed forty-one years of a loving and devoted marriage, filled with “more fun than anything.” They lovingly raised four children together, and Vernon was particularly thrilled to be a grandpa. He was devoted to his grandchildren, loved teaching them to play games and simply spending time with them brought him more joy than he could have imagined. He was surely blessed, and they will all miss him dearly.

Vernon is survived by his beloved wife Patricia of Wanaque, his four children; Gregory and his wife Jill of Oak Ridge, Glenn and his fiancé Kerri of Wayne, Caitlyn Batche and her husband Ryan of Burlington, VT, and Thomas of Wanaque, nine grandchildren: Madison, Chase, Noah, Paisley, Alexis, Luna, Archer, Layla, and Oliver, five siblings: Marianne Kunz and her husband Larry of Murrels Inlet, SC, Martin McClure and his wife Joann of Wilmington, DE, Rex McClure and his wife Paula of Stuarts Draft, VA, Chris McClure and his wife Dina of Pompton Plains, and Brenda Arnowitz and her husband Mark of Warwick, NY, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated toward Vernon’s Catholic funeral and burial costs. A GoFundMe has been set up here.

Dena Van Grouw (nee Vander Wiele), age 92, of Frelinghuysen, NJ, died peacefully at home on Thursday, July 14, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. Her faith in the Lord guided her daily life, and even as Alzheimer’s disease increasingly altered her state of mind in recent years, she never stopped praying for her family and loved ones, often out loud.

Dena grew up in the Dutch Hill section of Clifton, and after marrying William Van Grouw in 1953, they moved to Wyckoff. It had always been Dena’s dream to live on a farm, so in 1979, she and William moved their family to Frelinghuysen, NJ. Dena was truly devoted to her husband and her family. Dena enjoyed crocheting and made many blankets for her children and grandchildren.

Dena is survived by seven children: Linda den Hollander and her husband Gary of Michigan, Sandra Van Sweden and her husband John of Mississippi, William Van Grouw and his wife Nellie of Frelinghuysen, Gregory Van Grouw and his wife Jenny of Hope, Mark Van Grouw and his wife Linda of Frelinghuysen, Donna Kelderman and her husband Mark of Michigan, and Bruce Van Grouw and his wife Jennifer of Lincoln Park, forty-nine grandchildren, one hundred and nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband William in 2011, by her son Leonard, a grandson; John Van Wageningen, one great-granddaughter, and one great-grandson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Netherlands Reformed Christian School. 164 Jacksonville Road, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444

John Markowski, age 94, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 13, 21022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

John was born in Bierdziez, Poland where he also spent his formative years.  As a young boy, John enjoyed playing sports, particularly soccer, and volleyball, and later boxing while he was in the military.  He was the middle child of three children to Stanislaw and Marianne Markowski.  As a teenager growing up in Europe during World War II, John, his older brother Marion, and his father were taken from their homeland and forced into a labor camp in Germany.  After spending several years in the labor camp, they were ultimately liberated by the United States Armed Forces.  Following the war’s end, John was given the opportunity to join the Polish Guard Company.  This company was organized in order to protect the United States Army personnel stationed in Poland.  John served proudly and honorably in the Polish Guard Company from 1945 until 1949.

During his time living in Germany as a young man, John and a lady friend of his attended a local dance.  While at the dance, met another attractive young lady by the name of Leontyna who was also with a date of her own.  John, although attending the dance with another lady, went up to Leontyna and told her, “You and I are going to get married!”  Leontyna looked at him a little funny and told him he was crazy.  However, as fate would have it, John and Leontyna  started dating after the dance and fell in love.  They later became husband and wife in October of 1946.  After getting married, John and Leontyna settled in Heidelberg, Germany where they lived for a few years and welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Lucia.

In 1949, while still serving in the Polish Guard Company, John’s superior officer asked him if he would like to immigrate to the United States of America.  John and his family jumped at the chance and sailed across the Atlantic to the USA on the USS General R.M. Blatchford, a Squier-class transport ship.  Upon arriving in the United States, the family settled in Riverhead, NY in Long Island.  While living there, Catholic Charities assisted him in finding work as a farmer on a farm in Long Island.  Because the work was seasonal, his employment was limited, so John needed to relocate and find work elsewhere to support his family.  They then moved to Paterson, NJ.  While living in Paterson, John and Leontyna welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Jeanette.  John found work quickly in Paterson at a local dye factory.  He worked there for a short time then left and accepted another position as a Maintenance Mechanic for Kelling  Nut Company also located in Paterson.  Kelling Nut eventually closed and John needed to find other employment.  John again found work quickly as a Maintenance Mechanic at Contract Packaging in Wayne.  John held this position until his retirement at age seventy-seven.  John was not one to sit still and took part time work at the Chocolate with Love Company where he packaged chocolates and candies.  John and his family lived in Paterson, then moved to Hawthorne before eventually moving to Wayne in 1977.  They called Wayne their home for the rest of their lives together.

John loved tinkering around his house working on things and fixing them.  He was also an accomplished gardener and was famous for his tomatoes and his yearly home-grown pumpkin patches which entertained his grandchildren and great grandchildren throughout the years.  Aside from all of John’s talents, hobbies or interests, his greatest passion in life was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to John than providing for and spending time with his family.  He treasured being with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren through the holidays and traveling on their countless day trips to the Jersey Shore destinations which included Belmar, Asbury Park, and Wildwood.  He and his wife Leontyna cherished forty-six years of loving and loyal marriage together until Leontyna’s passing in 1992.

John was truly a devoted family man.  He was not only devoted to his family but also to his Catholic Faith.  John and his family were parishioners of St Hyacinth in Paterson, St Theresa Church, St Anthony Church in Hawthorne and most recently at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne.  John was a quiet and private man who loved his family deeply.  He was also genuinely selfless, often dropping whatever he was doing to help his family, friends, or neighbors.  John was a very special person who touched the lives of everyone around him and will be sincerely missed by all that knew him.    

John is survived by his two daughters; Lucia Behrens and her husband Walter of Oak Ridge, NJ, and Jeanette Gallo and her husband Carmine of Wayne, NJ, four grandchildren; Scott Behrens of Florida, NY, Jason Behrens and his wife Mary of Bloomingdale, NJ, Dr. Christopher Spagnuola and his wife Vanessa of Fair Haven, NJ, and Ralph Spagnuola and his wife Danielle of Middletown, NJ, and twelve great grandchildren; Kati Behrens of Mexico, Austin Behrens of Wayne, NJ, Baileigh Behrens of Wayne, NJ, Brooke Behrens of Wayne, NJ, Finn Behrens of Wayne, NJ, Allison Behrens of Bloomingdale, NJ, Jack Spagnuola of Fair Haven,NJ, Connor Spagnuola of Fair Haven,

NJ, Braiden Spagnuola of Fair Haven,NJ, Leo Spagnuola of Middletown, NJ, Mae Spagnuola of Middletown, NJ, and Grace Spagnuola of Middletown, NJ.  John was predeceased by his wife Leontyna in 1992, as well as by his brother Marion , and his sister Janina.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorials Processing 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 http://www.stjude.org

Joseph “Joe” Beshara Skaff ,77, of Franklin Lakes, formerly a forty-three year resident of Wayne, passed away Sunday, July 10, 2022.

He was born to Joseph and Esperanze Skaff in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Joe graduated High School, where he played on the basketball team with the Class of 1964.

Joe worked for the John Hancock Insurance Company in Brooklyn which led him to work at Fanning Personnel where he began placing employees in various job functions.  He found his career there realizing this was something he could do.  When they met with Joe, he told them “I want to work here because I can do what you do.” Joe was hired and found he loved this type of work and was soon placing people into their dream jobs. After Fanning Personnel, Joe later worked for Whitney-Paige Personnel before striking out on his own. He started his own executive search company in 1974 called Salem Associates, which began in the basement of his home in Brooklyn. Joe soon rented office space in Manhattan and his business prospered. Through the 50 years Joe ran his company, it became Salem Executive Search and he worked until the day he passed away.

Joe met the love of his life, Rosemary Tutunjian, at a church dance in Brooklyn. Their first date was at Nathan’s Hot Dogs in Coney Island, followed by the Sonny and Cher movie Good Times, which appropriately featured the song “I Got You Babe”, and ended the night with pizza. Neither wanted the date to end. After a one-year courtship and asking Rosemary’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage, Joe took Rosemary out for drinks where he hid an engagement ring in her glass. They married on September 21, 1968 at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and honeymooned at the Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda. Joe and Rosemary had a fun, loving, and devoted 54-year marriage where they worked together to raise the three children they had been blessed with.

Joe’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. His family meant everything to him. His family cherished the Sunday barbecues by the pool, watching Jets games, and recounting stories of his childhood in Brooklyn. He loved spending time with each of his grandchildren, and by recognizing each of their personalities, he would spoil them. He was a true family man. In his free time, he enjoyed singing doo-wop, being an avid golfer, a card player, and providing for his family despite his humble roots. He will be lovingly remembered by them for his easy-going charismatic manner. His kindness and sense of humor gave him the ability to see the best in others. Joe made everyone around him feel special. His presence and smile lit up a room. Joe was welcoming, warm, faithful, funny, and could talk to just about anyone.

Joe was the loving husband of Rosemary; devoted father of Joseph Skaff of Wayne, Maria Camina and her husband Nestor of Wayne, and Brian Skaff and his wife Yvette of Waldwick; he was the cherished grandfather of Christian, Miranda, Alexander, Yasmin, and Mariana; he was the beloved brother of Barbara Akel, Adele Bache, Mary Vassile, and Victoria Hansen. Joe will be dearly missed by his brother-in-law John Tutunjian and his sister-in-law Florence Tutunjian. He will be dearly missed by his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Jude Children's Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

Jean Elizabeth Marc, age 95, of Wayne passed Friday, July 8, 2022.

She was born to Ernest and Elizabeth Zober and raised in Garfield.  She graduated from Garfield High School with the Class of 1944.

It was through Jean’s best friend in high school that she met Francis Marc.  WWII was raging and Francis was going into the US Air Force, when he returned, they were inseparable and were married on April 4, 1948 at Saint Johns Lutheran Church in Passaic. Jean and Francis had an “excellent marriage” of fifty-one years that was blessed with one daughter Pamela.

Jean was dedicated to her Christian faith and was an active member of both St John Lutheran Church in Passaic and later Saint Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne.

Jean and Francis lived on Cecilia Drive for over 65 years where neighbors became a close-knit family of lifelong friends.  Her house was the gathering place for all the family holidays, the door was always open.  They loved company and hosted many super-bowl parties, 4th of July celebrations and impromptu gatherings.  On many Saturday evenings, friends joined them for lively games of Trivial Pursuit.  Jean was sociable, talked to everyone, even strangers in the department store changing rooms.  Jean had many life-long friends.  She was a gentle soul who loved all animals and had dogs her entire life.  

For years Jean and Francis spent vacation time at Long Beach Island where they rented various houses and family and friends were always welcomed to join them. In their retirement Jean traveled annually with Francis’ 379th Bomb Group and enjoyed cruising with Francis visiting Alaska, Hawaii and many Caribbean Islands.    After Francis passed, Jean continued to travel, attending the 379th Bomb Group gathering in Seattle, Washington, and Jean, Pam & David attended the Washington DC gathering.  Jean, Pam, David & Marc traveled to England to visit David’s family and visit Kimbolton where Francis was stationed during WWII.

Jean’s first job was with the Railway Express Company in New York City, and she later worked as a Head Cashier for the Sears Roebuck & Company before dedicating herself to raising her daughter.  In 1960 Jean and her husband Francis bought the Bloomingdale Dry Cleaners Company at 60 Main Street in Bloomingdale.  Several years later they purchased the laundromat next door and ran both businesses until retiring in 1984.

Jean was the loving wife of fifty-one years to the late Francis (d. 2005); she was the devoted mother of Pam Richardson and her husband David of Wayne; she was the cherished grandmother of Marc Richardson and his wife Lauren of Jersey City.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Timothy Memorial Fund, 395 Valley Road, Wayne NJ 07470 or the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad would be greatly appreciated.

Dianne Marie (nee DiMauro) Butler, age 64 of Wayne, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2022 after a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Dianne was one of the most “giving” people you might have known, and among the most thoughtful. It brought her so much joy to think of the perfect little gift for every single person in her life, for each special occasion. She would spend hours at Christmas time, making lists of all the people she loved and wanted to give something to. It was no short list either. Her daughter Christine and niece Gina would wrap sometimes over seventy gifts at the Christmas season! While living at Regency Gardens she made sure to have a gift for every single person who worked there, brightening everyone’s Holiday.

Dianne had grown up in Wayne and was a Majorette, twirling batons with the Wayne Valley High School Marching Band. She graduated with the Bicentennial class of 1976 and went on to attend cosmetology school. She took great pride in her appearance, always looking her best, and found a niche as an esthetician. She remained living in Wayne most of her life, spending about fourteen years in Belmar, before returning to Wayne in 2018. She was blessed to spend most of her years living with her mom.

Despite her battle with MS, Dianne maintained a positive attitude and made the best of every day. Many years ago, when her son, Dan, was in high school, she enjoyed riding her electric wheelchair (with the orange flag!) down to Wayne Valley High School to watch him play soccer. Dan remembers wearing white cleats so she could follow him on the field more easily, and then they would enjoy the walk back to their house together. She loved being able to cruise down to the school to watch him play. She was especially grateful when her kind and thoughtful friends had an assessable van donated to her. This gave her a wonderful independence that she truly appreciated.

Dianne wanted nothing more than for there to be a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. She tried every possible option to be well again, and she’s grateful for all the hard work being done by the researchers at the Tisch MS Research Center of New York. Just a few days ago she asked her daughter, Christine, to look into some different things in hopes she could get better. Throughout all this time, Dianne never stopped smiling. If you happened to ask her “how are you?” she would often reply with “I’m just zippy!” or “I’m dancing around over here in my tu-tu!” It was her extremely strong faith in Jesus that carried her every day. She rested on the assurance that even if a cure was not found during her time here, she would one day be free and enjoying the eternal paradise we know as Heaven.

Dianne loved her family and friends so much. Her children and her grandson provided her with endless joy and she looked forward to their visits. She never allowed her circumstances to defeat her, and has been an inspiration to all of those who knew her. She will be dearly missed by many.

Dianne is survived by her two children; Christine Marie Butler and Daniel Butler; her beloved mom, Rosalie DiMauro, her grandson; Xander Kai Butler, two brothers; Salvatore and Anthony DiMauro; her sisters-in-law; MaryEllen, Ruth and Claire DiMauro, her Uncle Frank Siragusa; many nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends.  Dianne was predeceased by her sister, Marie (1956), brother Thomas (2006), and her father, Louis (2003), her sister-in-law Debbie DiMauro (2014) and her best and dearest friend, Barbara Jesch.

In Lieu of flowers please send donations in Dianne's name to Tisch MS Research Center, www.tischms.org.

Eileen Marie Saveriano, age 88, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 4, 2022.

Eileen was born and raised in the Riverside section of Paterson. She was the beloved wife of the late Modestino “Cuz” Saveriano who she met while passing the firehouse with her girlfriends on Van Houten Street in Paterson where he was stationed. Cuz asked Eileen out and on their first date to the movies he told Eileen that he was going to marry her. He was right! They married on July 16, 1955 and enjoyed the loving bonds of matrimony and the greatest of friendships for 25 years until Cuz’ passing in 1980. They were blessed with three beautiful children and four adored grandchildren.

Eileen was a Passaic County Sherriff's Officer from 1974 to 1989 spending most of her career working in the courthouse. She took great pride in her work, always finding it fulfilling and rewarding, and she made many life-long friends while with the department.

Inquisitive and always hungry to learn new things, Eileen was just as bright as she was beautiful. One of her favorite pastimes was watching Jeopardy. She rarely missed a night and everyone knew not to call Eileen’s house between 7 and 7:30 PM. When longtime host Alex Trebek was sick, she prayed for him daily. She also loved murder mysteries and was truly proud of her Irish Heritage.

Above all else, Eileen adored her family. She loved her grandchildren to the moon and back and was always so funny and fun to be around. During her lifetime, she also gave lots of love and affection to her many cats and dogs.

Eileen was the loving mother of: Christine and husband Robert Brown of Wayne, Barbara and husband William Saulenas of Wayne, and Gregory Saveriano of Manchester; cherished grandmother of: Robby Brown, Christopher Brown, Aileen and husband James Rottinger, and Kate Saulenas; dearest sister of the late Bernadette and husband Walter Rajczyk, the late Sister Claire Reiman, and the late Rosalie Tarricone; dear aunt of: Marion, Stephen, Walter, Joey, Jackie, Jimmy, Judy, Kathy, Antoinette, Jimmy, Mark, Robbie, Brianne, Dustin, Jordyn; and dear friend of: Keiko, Steve, Dot, Joyce, Laura, and Denise.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Eileen’s name are asked to consider an animal rescue organization of your choosing.

Following a beautiful life full of love and family Julia Dumpert (nee Strobel), age 66, of Stockholm, NJ passed away peacefully on Thursday,  June 30, 2022 with her family by her side.

Julia was born in Jersey City, NJ and was the oldest of five children to Jack and Kay Strobel.  When Julia was only a baby, her family moved to Wayne, NJ where she grew up.  As a young girl, Julia’s family provided her with the gift of music.  Julia learned to play the piano in her youth and continued to enjoy it throughout her life.  As a young girl she attended DePaul High School in Wayne, NJ where she excelled in academics and began to develop her interest in what would become her calling to medicine.

After graduating from DePaul High School in 1973, Julia enrolled at the St Francis School of Nursing in Jersey City. There, Julia earned her degree and certification as a Registered Nurse.  After earning her nursing degree, Julia found her calling as a RN at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pompton Plains, NJ.  Over the years she became the Emergency Room Nursing Manager, and later managed the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU).  Julia’s career at Chilton Memorial Hospital (now part of the Atlantic System) spanned more than thirty years.

Julia eventually left Chilton Memorial Hospital and accepted a position at Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, NJ as a Critical Care Coordinator caring for Cedar Crest residents admitted into several of the local medical facilities. Julia attended rounds daily and maintained personal contact with each patient. She developed and executed a specific and detailed plan of services and support for each patient being released back to their home or a sub-acute facility to assure best outcomes upon return. Julia held this position for over a decade until her retirement in October 2020.  Julia genuinely treasured the work she did and the people she served. Julia was truly loved and greatly respected by her colleagues, her patients, and her peers. Julia dedicated her life to helping and caring for others.

As a young teenage girl during high school, Julia worked at a local Stop and Shop supermarket.  While employed there, she worked alongside a colleague by the name of Larry Dumpert.  The two got along wonderfully at work and decided to go out on a date.  For their first date, Larry called upon a friend who owned a large white Cadillac to chauffer Julia and he to Larry’s sister’s diving competition at William Paterson College. Julia, at age 16, and Larry, 17, bonded and dated for about four years. As fate would have it, they fell in love and on October 16, 1976 Julia and Larry became husband and wife.

In 1978, the newlyweds settled in Stockholm, NJ where they raised their two children, Jessica and Matthew.  After their children grew up, Julia returned to school part-time at Felician College in Lodi, NJ where she earned her bachelor’s degree.  

As a young woman, Julia enjoyed the beach, particularly on Long Beach Island where she, her family and Larry spent a couple of weeks each summer while dating and then continued throughout their life together.

Julia extended her summer tradition to include her children, frequenting Long Beach Island at the Jersey Shore every year.  Julia also enjoyed the beaches of North Carolina and Florida while visiting with family and friends.  She made very special post-retirement long trips with her husband Larry in 2021 & 2022. One exploring the Great Smokey Mountains of NC and TN. Another, (their final vacation) expanded to beach resorts and waterfall sites on the entire East Coast; with side trips to Colonial Williamsburg; the Everglades of Florida; Mt. Airy, NC (a.k.a. Mayberry); Gettysburg, etc. while enjoying fine dining, shows, plays, and music festivals along the way.

As everyone who knew Julia could attest, it was clear that Julia’s true calling in private life was to be a mom and grandmother (called Mama & Grandmama).  Being a mother is where Julia truly flourished and dedicated herself.  Julia’s greatest passion in life was her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Julia than providing for, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Julia and Larry cherished fifty years together including forty-six-plus years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Julia was her daughter’s cheerleading coach, and never missed attending any of Jessica’s or Matthew’s activities or sporting events.  Besides being a dedicated mother, Julia was an extremely dedicated grandmother.  Whenever Julia’s family got together, Julia could always be found playing, reading, crafting, swimming, etc. with her grandchildren. She sincerely cherished family events.  Julia was a genuinely selfless person, nearly to a fault, who would put the needs and wants of others before her own.

Given her decades of experience in emergency and intensive care medicine, Julia was acutely aware of the need for organ donors, particularly those languishing on long waiting lists. So when Julia fell ill, she held to her commitment to give the “Gift of Life” through organ donation. Julia was a truly special person who touched the lives of everyone around her and will be profoundly missed by her family and friends alike. She continues to help those in need even after her passing.

Julia is survived by her husband Larry Dumpert of Stockholm, NJ, her daughter Jessica Rostami and her husband Rey of Stockholm, NJ, her son Matthew and his wife Katie of Oakland, NJ; three sisters - Cathy Trentacosta and her husband Gary of Georgia, Susan Weiss and her husband Jay of North Carolina, and Carol Cangiano and her husband  Vinny of Florida, her brother Jack Strobel and his wife Barbaraof Nort h Carolina; five grandchildren - Cyrus, Darius, Colin, Kaia, and Julianna Jeanne, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Julia’s name may be made to:

Sharing Network Foundation, 691 Central Ave, New Providence, NJ 07974 https://www.sharingnetworkfoundation.org/contribute,

Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr, Tampa, FL 33607 http://www.lovetotherescue.org,

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorials Processing 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 http://www.stjude.org

or Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation 636 Morris Turnpike Suite 3A, Short Hills, NJ 07078 http://www.christopherreeve.org

Mario Martin Vojvodich, age 90, of Pompton Plains and formerly of Parsippany, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Mario was born and raised in Union City, NJ and was the ’’kid brother” of Mary and loyal son of Martin and Jaka Vojvodich.  As a young boy, Mario was interested in a variety of sports including baseball and basketball.  While in school he excelled in academics and had a fascination with the way things worked.  While he was a teenager at St Michael’s High School in Union City, Mario’s father passed away after being ill. Upon graduation from St Michael’s with the class of 1948, Mario found work quickly to help his mom and sister make ends meet.  Mario worked in the mail room of a local company and also drove a truck delivering beer.  In 1952 Mario felt the urge to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army.  While serving in the US Army, Mario was deployed to Korea where he was assigned to the 8th Army as an ordinance Secretary.  Mario served in the US Army from 1952 until 1954 when he was honorably discharged.  He received the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Service Stars, the ROK Presidential Citation, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Following his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1954, Mario enrolled at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ under the GI Bill.   In 1958 Mario earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.  Over the next two years, Mario worked for an engineering company in Connecticut.  In the mid 1960’s he returned to New Jersey where he accepted a position as an Electrical Engineer with Kearfott Guidance and Navigation in Wayne, NJ.  His career as an Electrical Engineer spanned more than thirty years with Kearfott until retiring in 1997.  During that time, Mario was responsible for securing a variety of Radar Patents associated with the JFK Aircraft Carrier, as well as crafts used in the Apollo program from 1968 until 1972.  Subsequent to his retirement in 1997, Mario remained a consultant for Kearfott for a few years.  Mario was truly well loved and respected by his colleagues and his peers throughout his career.

In 1971, Mario was introduced to an attractive young lady by the name of Barbara Zecca by a mutual friend. Barbara and Mario met up at the house of their mutual friend on Thanksgiving weekend and hit it off. As fate would have it, they fell in love and on October 21, 1972 Mario and Barbara became husband and wife at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Maplewood, NJ.  After getting married the newlyweds settled in Little Falls, NJ where they lived for about two years.  During that time, Mario and Barbara welcomed the birth of “their one and only”, their daughter Laura.  In 1974 the family moved to Parsippany and called it their home for the next forty-four years.  In 2018 Mario and Barbara moved to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains.

Over the years Mario had a slew of different hobbies, interests, and talents. He liked to tinker, putter, take apart and build things. He could often be found working in the basement or in his ‘hobby room’ on any number of projects. Some of his interests included woodworking and photography.  Mario designed and constructed small tables, toy cars and pens from wood.  He also built a grandfather clock from scratch.  While learning and practicing the art of photography, Mario commandeered his bathroom as his photographic dark room.  Being an engineer, it came as no surprise that Mario could fix just about anything from electronics to internal combustible engines.  Mario also enjoyed hunting, as well as trap and skeet shooting.

He was a devoted husband and father.  He was also a dedicated uncle (known as ‘Unc’) to his nephews John and Joe, especially after his sister’s husband passed away.  Aside from all of Mario’s interests and hobbies, his greatest passion was for his family.   Nothing in the world meant more to Mario than providing for and spending time with his wife, daughter, nephews and grandchildren.   He and his wife Barbara have cherished fifty years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Mario was not only devoted to his family but also to his Catholic Faith.  He and his family were parishioners of St Christopher’s Church in Parsippany for many years.  

Mario was a quiet and shy man, humble yet very strong.  But when Mario got to know you or felt comfortable around you, it could be hard to get him to stop talking. Being an intellectual with many interests, Mario was able to talk to anyone about anything.  He was strong willed, patient and tenacious, and had an outstanding work ethic that began at an early age.  He was well loved in his neighborhood and would drop whatever he was doing to help his neighbors and friends fix something, find the right tool or help clear the snow.  Mario was a truly special person who touched the lives of all the people around him.  He will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him.

Mario is survived by his wife Barbara (nee Zecca) of Pompton Plains, NJ, his daughter Laura Eisen and her husband Dave and two grandchildren Ben and Olivia of Weston, MA; brother-in-law Barry Zecca of Bridgewater, NJ, nephews David Zecca and Michael Zecca and his wife Keeley and grandnephew Jackson and grandniece Brooke of Monterrey, CA; nephews Joseph Ihne of Cedar Grove, NJ and John Ihne and his wife Bernadette of Wayne, NJ, grandnephew John Ihne, Jr., and grandniece Gina Maria Fernicola, great grandnephews Jack and Nicholas and great grandniece Madison and another great grandnephew “on the way.”  Mario was predeceased by his sister Mary Ihne in 2020 and his sister in law Maryann Zecca in 2020.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Mario’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorials Processing 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Mary J. “Jane” Blair, age 96, of Wayne, passed Saturday, June 25, 2022.

She was born in Akron, Ohio to Henry and Lila Gill. Jane was raised in Orwell, OH and Burton, OH where she graduated from Burton High School with the Class of 1943.

Just out of high school Jane worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a secretary in their Terminal Tower building in downtown Cleveland.  Just next door was the Southern Railway offices where a young man named John Blair worked.

It was through a mutual friend, whom they stayed in contact with for many years, Jane met her future husband, John Blair.  They dated for a short while and married on September 30, 1945, in the living room of Jane’s parents’ home in Burton, OH. The “Wedding March” was to be played from a record on a Victrola Phonograph and someone broke the record before it was played. Jane’s dad, after a frantic search, found another copy of the Wedding March.  Jane saved the broken record, and the family still has the Victrola Record player their wedding march was played on. Jane and John have lived in New York City, Cleveland, OH, Boston, MA, and Pittsburgh, PA before settling into Wayne, NJ in 1966 where they have lived since. They had a loving and devoted marriage of fifty-nine years that has been blessed with three children and one granddaughter.

Jane was dedicated to her Christian faith and through the years she has been active in the local churches in the towns where they lived.  She has been a longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Wayne where she has been active with countless committees and groups within the church including the Grieves Memorial Garden.  Jane was not only dedicated to her church but also gave back to the community belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star where she served a term as Worthy Matron and donated her time and talents.

Jane will be lovingly remembered for being direct, loving, adventurous, energetic, caring, and a warm presence wherever she went. She dedicated her life to caring and loving her children as well as her husband John who she cared for during an extended illness. He lovingly called her “his Angel.”  Her adventurous side is exemplified by her taking a trip to Alaska and a helicopter ride so she could walk on a glacier. She also joined “The Y” while in her 80’s.

Jane was the loving wife of the late John Blair (d.2004); devoted mother of Kenneth Blair and his wife Lillian of Rockaway Boro, Bonnie Gray of Garrettsville, OH, and Deborah Sparks and her husband Patrick of Pompton Plains; she was the grandmother of Jennifer Gray; devoted sister of JoAnn Podany of Chardon, OH, and the late Betty Hosmer, Richard Gill, and Bobby Gill.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the: United Methodist Church, 99 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470 or the Alpha 1 Foundation by visiting www.alpha1.org/donate or by mail to: Alpha1 Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, FL 33134. Alpha 1 Antitrypsin is a genetic condition that may result in serious lung disease in adults and/or liver disease at any age.

Amanda Bellusci, age 36, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Amanda was the second of Arthur and Annette (Bolcato) Cetrulo’s two children, born in Belleville and raised in Wayne. She was a graduate of Wayne Hills High School Class of 2004.

The youngest of 16 grandchildren, Amanda’s childhood was filled with family vacations, holidays around crowded tables piled high with her favorite home-made dishes and gatherings marked with the happy chaos of the big, crazy family she adored. Growing up with cousins who were more like siblings made for stories and memories that will be shared for generations to come. Many of those cherished memories were forged in summers on the beaches and boardwalks of Wildwood NJ where Amanda’s family would visit each summer.  She also loved her time up at her grandparent’s house in the Poconos.  Amanda loved weekends “up the lake” spending her days fishing, exploring the woods, having bonfires and ending with her and her cousins “camping out” in the living room of the little house sleeping elbow to elbow in their sleeping bags. Amanda even made the local paper for catching the biggest catfish in Birchwood Lakes!  Amanda was an active kid and enjoyed her years playing soccer with her dad coaching her team.  Holidays with her family were one of Amanda’s favorite traditions and Christmas Eve was the highlight of the year.  Gathering at a relative’s house, everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, quality time playing with cousins and of course gifts! Being the youngest, Amanda got to open hers first!

Although Amanda met her husband Tom in high school, they didn’t start dating until 2007. It didn’t take long after their first date to a movie for them to fall for each other and a relationship to grow.  It is fitting that the couple got engaged at one of Amanda’s favorite family traditions of apple picking at Masker Orchards. Tom’s plan to propose at the orchard was delayed however, when Amanda’s hand was stung by a bee causing her ring finger to swell well beyond the chance of the beautiful engagement ring fitting. Patience prevailed and they left the orchard with delicious apples and a sweet memory. Amanda and Tom were married on November 22, 2013 at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes. Their wedding and reception was a beautiful celebration that joined not only Amanda and Tom as husband and wife, but two big, loving extended families into one.  Amanda considered herself to be extremely fortunate to be welcomed into Tom’s family as one of their own and cherished her relationship with them.

Anyone who knew Amanda, knew about the soft spot in her heart for cute furry animals. It was no surprise that, three weeks after getting married, Amanda adopted a kitten she named Charlie. And since Amanda thought Charlie needed a dog, he was soon joined by Freya, a clumsy but loving Golden Doodle. With the addition of Charlie and Freya, it was clear their little family needed more space, so they bought their first home in Wayne.

During the beginning of their marriage, Amanda and Tom continued to build their life with their families, including a close-knit group of friends who had become family. Being a bit of a dare devil, Amanda would tell Tom, “I’ll keep you wild, you keep me safe.” Her adventures included skydiving and snowboarding down a double diamond trail – despite being only a beginner. Even though she had lost her way and unintentionally ended up on that trail and ski patrol had to be called to get her down the mountain by toboggan, Amanda had a blast! She also loved horror movies – the more “horror-able” the better, and she was an avid reader of mysteries, suspense and (of course), dark horrors. She often mixed her love of a good book with another favorite pastime - taking a road trip, while listening to those books via MP3 recording. She loved being pretty and expressing her creative side with makeup. This creativity, a love of makeup, and a fascination with horror made Amanda the go to girl to have your makeup done for a Halloween costume party. Not one for idle conversation Amanda preferred communicating through social media and had a knack for bringing people together through her regular posting of photos or stories, usually revolving around the antics of her beloved kids and pets. On the home front, she could often be found outdoors getting her daily dose of vitamin D, out in the sun, while tending to and being creative with her vegetable and flower gardens.

Although Amanda and Tom had made a beautiful life together, it wasn’t complete until they welcomed their daughters into the family. The most cherished part of Amanda’s world was, without a doubt, being “Mommy” to her two incredible daughters Aria and Averie. She considered them her greatest life achievements in more ways than one. Amanda reveled in her first time mom moments with Aria, patiently navigating the challenges of parenthood with a baby who quickly grew into an energetic toddler and a precocious preschooler. Much to Amanda’s delight, Aria eventually became big sister to Averie. Averie was a joy to her parents and absolutely adores her sister Aria and recently brought her family together to celebrate her first birthday. Amanda was an awesome Mommy mixing a lot of love with just the right measure of wisdom and guidance. She was also a passionate aunt who adored her niece and Goddaughter Addriana, her niece Aubrey and her nephew Gianni. She often referred to Addriana as her first-born and would do anything for her.

When asked to use the first words that came to their minds to describe Amanda, without hesitation, her family showed how they truly felt with words like, “dedicated, reliable, dependable, the voice of reason, honest, passionate, loving, selfless, kind, considerate (she meticulously and thoughtfully picked out the best gifts and was generous to a fault), empathetically excellent at engaging people while never ever considering herself better than anyone, giving, and FUN – laughing all the time, she always had a smile on her face.”

Amanda loved looking up in the sky on a clear night to behold the stars. She had a fascination with stars and anything with stars on it. Now she’s a star herself, shining down from above!

Amanda, the adored wife of Thomas, was blessed in marriage for not long enough. The adoring mother of Aria and Averie; precious daughter of Arthur and Annette Cetrulo of Wayne; loving sister of Anthony Cetrulo and “sister”-in-law Kimie of Wayne; dear aunt of Addriana and Gianni Cetrulo and Aubrey Parella; dear daughter-in-law of Tom Bellusci and the late Sharon Bellusci of Wayne; and dear sister-in-law of Shannon Parella and husband Brian of Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Amanda’s name are asked to consider:

World Wildlife Fund

1250 24th Street, N.W.

Washington DC 20037

To donate by phone call 1-800-CALL-WWF

Friends of Wayne Animals Rescue (FOWA)

PO Box 3701

Wayne, NJ 07470

To download the mail-in form click here https://fowarescue.org/wp-content/uploads/fowa-mail-in-donation-form.pdf

PLEASE INDICATE THAT YOUR GIFT IS IN MEMORY OF AMANDA BELLUSCI

Richard Gerard, Jr. age 59, of Wayne, passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 after a long illness.

The second of Richard and Elvira “Dolly” Gerard’s three children, Rich was born in Newark and raised in Bloomfield where, before graduating with the Class of 1981, he played football, basketball and baseball for the Bloomfield Bengals.

After completing his education, Rich initially worked in his father’s business at the Daily Deli in Carlstadt. Soon after he began attending trade school and embarked upon a career as a union sheet metal foreman. His first job was with Richard’s Sheet Metal in Hawthorne. He worked at K.F. Mechanical in Fairfield for over 20 years before retiring last year.

While out at the Half-Penny Pub on Centre Street and Franklin Ave in Nutley, Rich met Cynthia Fata. He liked her and soon asked her out for a date to see the movie Dirty Dancing. They fell in love and one day while out on a horse-drawn carriage ride in New York City, Rich proposed marriage. Their wedding took place on Saturday, October 14, 1989 at the Westmount Country Club in West Paterson (now called Woodland Park). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and, after the wedding and reception, they honeymooned in Hawaii. Rich and Cynthia began married life in a townhouse in East Rutherford located at 26 Willow Wood Square. Remaining there for the first four years of marriage, in 1993 they moved to their present home in Wayne.

Outside of work, Rich and Cynthia enjoyed beach vacations with family and friends to North and South Carolina, a trip to Mexico, closer to home down the Jersey shore, and a cruise to the Bahamas. Going out to dinner as a family or with friends was something he truly enjoyed.  Rich also loved sports and was a big fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. For about fifteen years in a row, he and friends made it an annual tradition to see an away-game at one of the NFL stadiums. At home, life was never better than when he could relax with his family by the pool, including Cooper, his faithful Jack Russell Terrier.

In cannot be overstated that Rich’s family was the most cherished and important part of his entire life. Blessed with three beautiful children, Erica, Cassandra and Christopher meant the world to Rich. He was ever present for all of Erica’s dance recitals, Cassandra’s softball games including those as a third baseman for Rowan University, and he enthusiastically coached Christopher in Wayne Little League, the Wayne Warriors traveling baseball team and Boys & Girls Club traveling basketball.  When Erica married a year ago, he was truly the proudest father of the bride in the world. He was so excited for Christopher making it to professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinal’s and he and Cassandra were like-minded in almost every way and shared a special bond. Rich was a throwback kind of guy who loved embracing longstanding traditions like having family gathered for dinner. It wasn’t Sunday if macaroni wasn’t served and it wasn’t Christmas without Lasagna! He loved all the big holidays and spending them together with those he so dearly loved.

Genuinely kind and fun spirited, Rich was a significantly loved presence in the lives of those who called him family or friend.

Rich was the beloved husband of Cynthia (Fata) Gerard, blessed in marriage for 32 years. He was the cherished father of: Erica and husband Brad Mills of Lincoln Park, Cassandra Gerard of Wayne, and Christopher Gerard of Wayne; dear son of the late Richard and Elvira “Dolly” (Nigro) Gerard; loving brother of: Cynthia and husband Gregg Thompson of Hillsborough, and Cheryl and husband Bill Strother of Brick Township; dear son-in-law of Nick and Marie Fata of Lyndhurst; dear brother-in-law of Melissa and husband Marc Cotugno of Livingston; and dear uncle of: Nicholas, David, Julia, Olivia, and Adrianna.

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Those planning an expression of sympathy in Rich’s name are asked to consider:

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Richard Gerard Jr’s. name to support Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Checks, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to:

Attn: Community Fundraising

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Office of Development

PO Box 27106

New York, NY 10087

Please indicate on the check memo line that the gift is in memory of Richard Gerard, Jr.

Catherine Patricia Lavelle Guttroff – February 1940 – June 2022 Catherine Patricia Lavelle was born in February 1940. She was the second of four girls raised by her parents Martin and Nora Lavelle.

They lived in a lovely Brooklyn brownstone in a neighborhood full of family, friends and faith.

In 1955 Catherine met Frederick “Ricky” Guttroff at Von Dolans IceCream Parlor and their 50 plus year marriage began. Catherine worked at AT&T and as the administrator to the President of Brooklyn College after graduating high school. Cathy and Rick were married at Saint Rosa of Lima church in Brooklyn in 1962 and moved to Georgia where Rick was stationed in the army after graduating from Saint Peters College.

They moved back to Brooklyn and started to grow their family. Their daughter Patty was born in 1964 and their daughter Lisa was born in 1966. They moved to Packanack Lake in Wayne NJ and raised their girls in a place they felt was a little slice of Heaven on Earth.  Catherine worked as the children grew for Executive Enterprises and later for William Paterson College.

In retirement Cathy and Rick joined the snow birds Marco Island Florida for several months of the year where they were fortunate to make some wonderful new friends and meet up with other Packanack snow birds.

You would often see Catherine walking around Packanack Lake once or twice a day or at Zumba class as she loved exercise and spending time with good friends. She was a devout Catholic and member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

Catherine is survived by her three sisters Margaret McCrea, Ann Boccellari and her husband Eddie and Frances McLeer and her husband Gordon. Her daughter Patty resides in Pennsylvania with her husband Ted and Catherines’s four granddaughters. Catherine’s daughter Lisa resides with her husband Richard and their boys in Armonk New York.

Hikmat Sabeh, age 85, of Clifton passed away peacefully on Monday, June 20, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Hikmat was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria and was one of ten children to Abboud and Wadia Sabeh.  As a young man in Syria, Hikmat learned the trade of a tailor and was self employed for many years.  In the late 1950’s Hikmat was introduced by some mutual friends to a beautiful young woman named Houda Zalat.  Hikmat and Houda hit it off great and as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on May 1, 1960.  Hikmat and Houda remained in their homeland of Syria for about twenty years.  While there, they welcomed the births of all five of their children, Albert, Sylvana, Gilbert, Alan, and Aurore.  In 1980, Hikmat and his family immigrated to the United States of America in search of a better life, a brighter future, and the American Dream.  The family settled in Clifton and have called it their home ever since.

Upon arriving in America, Hikmat continued to work and utilize his skills as a talented tailor.  In 1984 Hikmat went into business for himself.  Over the years Hikmat owned and operated his own clothing manufacturing company based out of Garfield, NJ.  A few years later he shifted his businesses into a retail location in Passaic NJ selling baby, tots, teens and adult furniture up to present time. He had so much passion and loved going to his place of business, Lion Tots n Teens, each and every day and continued to go to work until the last day he was able to.  Hikmat had an outstanding work ethic and never entertained the idea of retirement.  He worked tirelessly day after day devoting himself to growing and nurturing his businesses.  Hard work and determination were also values and traits he instilled in his children.

In his spare time, Hikmat enjoyed watching professional football and basketball.  His favorite teams were the Golden State Warriors and the Kansas City Chiefs.  He was a truly devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.  He was not only devoted to his family but also to his Catholic Maronite Faith.  He and his family were parishioners of St Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Somerset for many years.  Traveling was another of Hikmat’s favorite past times.  He and his wife Houda throughout the years have travelled back to Syria on several occasions to visit family and friends and have vacationed to such destinations as Hawaii and Florida.  They also treasured their Caribbean cruises together, and summer vacations to the Jersey Shore.  But aside from all of Hikmat’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Hikmat than providing for and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  He and his wife Houda were the glue that kept their family strong.  He cherished fifty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage to his precious wife Houda until her passing in 2017.  Houda’s health started to decline nearly twenty years before her passing and  Hikmat devoted himself to caring for her, never leaving her side through it all.

Hikmat only gave love and laughter wherever he went.  He cherished his large family get-togethers, Barbeques, holidays, and events.  He was funny, energetic, and his infectious personality brought smiles to faces of the people around him.  Hikmat never complained about anything and never had a bad word to say about anyone.  Hikmat was a truly special individual and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

Hikmat is survived by his five children; his son Albert Sabeh and his wife Rimonda of Parsippany, his daughter Sylvana Sabeh of Clifton, his son Gilbert Sabeh and his wife Najla of Wayne, his son Alan Sabeh and his wife Mayla of East Hanover, and his daughter Aurore LoRe’ and her husband Derek of Wayne, eighteen grandchildren; Hikmat Albert Sabeh, Nadia Albert Sabeh, Elias Baladi, Lila Baladi, Diana Bodnar, Selena Baladi, Nadia Gilbert Sabeh, Hikmat Gilbert Sabeh, Jessica Sabeh, Jennifer Sabeh, Crystal Sabeh, Andrew Sabeh, Houda Marie Sabeh, Lani Ann Sabeh, Hikmat Paul Sabeh, Mia LoRe’, Alana LoRe’, and Vienna LoRe’, and six great grandchildren; Ethan, Kataleah, Elias, Jr., Connor, Leia, and Suraya.  He was predeceased by his siblings Khlil Sabeh, George Sabeh, Waheda Sabeh, Joseph Sabeh, Sabhi Sabeh, Alyce Sabeh, Janette Sabeh, Berta Sabeh, and Josephine Sabeh.

Lena Basile (nee Ingenito), age 97 of Clifton, died peacefully at home on Thursday, June 16, 2022. She had lived in Clifton for seventy years.

Lena grew up in Lodi, the daughter of Michael Ingenito, who had emigrated from Sarno near Naples, and Grace Siano, who was born in the states but whose family had also emigrated from Naples.   She was the second oldest of seven children and the oldest daughter, and from her teenage years on she helped her mother raise her five younger siblings. Although the family was not wealthy, Lena had a happy childhood and spoke fondly of the time. She remained close with all of her siblings through the years and spoke with her sisters on the phone nearly every day.

She began working at the Marcal Paper Plant in East Paterson, in the packaging department.  At Marcal she met her husband, James Basile.  They were married on April 27, 1947, at St. Joseph RC Church in Lodi and honeymooned at Niagara Falls, NY.  Lena left Marcal to become a full-time homemaker, cooking and caring for her husband and daughter Marie.

Lena was a naturally gifted cook. Her meals were superb, and she could recreate any dish she saw on TV from memory. She always enjoyed baking for the holidays. Lena shared her love through the food she made for others, and nothing made her more happy than to see her big family enjoying a good meal together.

Lena was a strong woman. When her husband died, after sixty-seven years of marriage, she ably managed the household on her own.  Her strength and fortitude have always been admired by her daughter, her three granddaughters, and her five great-grandchildren.

Lena is survived by her daughter, Marie McKenna and her husband Timothy of Wayne; three granddaughters: Emily McKenna and her husband John Kennedy of Vermont, Claire McKenna of Cambridge, MA, and Margaret Weil and her husband Matthew of St. Louis, MO; and five great-grandchildren: Lena, Giuseppe, Colin, Caleb, and Anna; two sisters: Marie Marakovitz of Lodi and Helen Fatuova of Garfield; and many nieces and nephews.  Her husband James died in June 2014.

Vivian K. Fersch, of Kinnelon and formerly a longtime resident of Little Falls, passed away with her loving family by her side on Monday, June 13, 2022, exactly 73 years from the day she entered this world.

The fifth born child of Vincent and Mary (Melus) Vivinetto, Vivian grew up in Passaic and graduated from Passaic High School with the Class of 1967.

After high school, Vivian secured a job as a medical receptionist with a local Passaic doctor. Vivian had a tender heart for all the patients and, working side by side with the doctor, you could almost say that she was the forerunner of the present-day physician’s assistant.

Vivian was the beloved wife of Anton Fersch. They met each other via a blind date which took place at the President Palace in Passaic and together made a beautiful pair.  They married on Saturday, June 15, 1974 at Holy Trinity R.C. Church in Passaic and had a reception at the same place they first met – The President Palace, fittingly located at 115 President Street in Passaic.

As newlyweds Vivian and Anton embarked on a journey and adventure of love together, hand in hand. Their first home was a two-family house on 179 Ackerman Avenue in Clifton. Anton and Vivian lived downstairs and Vivian’s mother lived upstairs. About a year after getting married, they were blessed with their firstborn, a baby boy which they named Anthony James. Anthony was soon joined by a little sister named Melissa Mary. In 1979, the family moved to 240 Cedar Grove Road in Little Falls and there Vivian remained until two months ago when she moved to Kinnelon.

Devoting herself to the loving nurture of her children, Vivian left her medical receptionist position and focused all her energy on being a great Mom. She gave her kids precious childhood and adult memories like swimming in the town pool in Fairfield, family trips to Florida and St Thomas, playing sports with Anthony in the back yard, going on a Caribbean cruise with Melissa, going for rides together to nowhere in the car, and enjoying the longstanding tradition of being together on Christmas Eve. One of the greatest gifts Vivian “brought to the table” was her great cooking. Family favorites included her roll-up lasagna, chicken cutlets, and, to satisfy her husband Anton’s German palette, her homemade Kielbasa. Vivian put her great cooking skills to use as assistant head cook at Clifton High School and later as head cook at Clifton’s Christopher Columbus Junior High School. During her 25 years as a school cook, Vivian provided delicious lunches always making it her mission to lovingly make sure that less fortunate students were provided the best of nutritious food. Concurrent with blessing the school children, she also tenaciously advocated for her fellow workers by getting involved and ultimately becoming president of the Clifton New Jersey Education Association Cafeteria and Transportation Workers. She was a Godsend helping to make sure that those coworkers received the fairest salaries, benefits, rights and privileges.

Vivian was a pro at keeping herself busy and in her spare time, she always managed to find fun ways to entertain herself with the simple pleasures of life. She loved to go food shopping, especially to Shop Rite in Little Falls but, always out for a good deal, she’d shop at other food stores too. Any time she could be with her best friend Janet was to Vivian, a great time! Vivian and Janet enjoyed many a trip to visit Janet’s brother in Daytona Beach, Florida, and they loved to check out the great bargains or browse together at different shops. Vivian also found the simplest joy in being with her daughter, Melissa, and son in law, Sean, and being around them made her so happy.  From the time she was a young lady, she held a soft spot in her heart for numerous dogs and even one cat throughout her life. First there was Judy, then her cat named Cali, then more dogs – mostly rescue dogs and Pitbull mixes including Tilli Mae, Blaze, Max, Bella, and Dunkin. Most recently, she fell in love with Little Jack, her grandpup.

Ask her family to describe Vivian and they would use words like kind, selfless, gentle, loving, motherly, determined, a bit stubborn, energetic, a hard worker (“don’t hire someone if you can do it yourself”), and easy to adore. She truly lived her life by the time-tested reality that it’s better to give than to receive. As a young woman in her twenties, this philosophy inspired her to be a teacher of Confraternity and Christian Doctrine (CCD) by teaching communion classes with love and kindness at Holy Trinity Church in Passaic, and for numerous years she was a caregiver of a child with special needs who loved and adored her.

Surely, Vivian’s brother James best summed up her life when he described her as follows:

“Our family and friends have been blessed to have Vivian in our lives. She was a loving and compassionate mother, caring and faithful sister, a tender and nurturing aunt, and a most loyal friend who has truly been over the years, our ‘Rock’.  To all the other souls Vivian has known throughout her life, she has touched them in her actions and deeds with a righteousness and devotion of love from our God in following and belief in His teaching. In the words of the holy bible, ‘Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least Brothers and Sisters of Mine, you did for Me! Well done Vivian, good and faithful servant!’ We will always love you and remember your kindness and gentle love. In our hearts and in our dreams and when we as family come together, we will always remember and cherish your kindness and gentle love.”      

Vivian was the beloved wife of Anton “Tony”, blessed in marriage for over 25 years until his passing in 2001. She was the loving mother of Anthony James Fersch of Kinnelon, and Melissa Mary and husband Sean Mirrer of Wayne; dear sister of James and wife Rosemary Vivinetto of Flanders and dear “Aunt Viv” and “Aunt Vivie” to her nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her grandpup Little Jack and granddaughter, who will enter this world in a few months.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Vivian’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

(www.stjude.org)

Christopher Joseph Seltenheim, age 71, of Pompton Lakes, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

Chris was born in Paterson and raised in Lincoln Park and Oakland. He was a graduate of Indian Hills High School in Oakland with the Class of 1969. While in high school, he played on the school’s football team. Chris entered the workforce where he worked first as an extrusion machine operator with Poly Plastics in Oakland. He later worked as a service technician for Precision Screen Printing of Hawthorne and then with M&R Screen Printing in Lincoln Park. Chris retired in 2020.

Chris met his wife Irene Iuele one night when they were both at Goody’s, the place where all teenagers wanted to be, in Butler. They started dating and, as fate would have it, they fell in love. One Easter Sunday, while sitting together in Chris’ 1969 dark blue Chevy Camaro in front of his parent’s house, Chris proposed marriage to Irene. She said “Yes” and they joined the rest of Chris’ family in the house for an Easter celebration where they announced the good news and Irene showed off her engagement ring to everyone. They married on Saturday, September 8, 1973 at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. After celebrating with family and friends at Neal’s Restaurant at 88 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Riverdale, they set out on their honeymoon to Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and up to Niagara Falls on the New York side.

Chris and Irene’s first home as husband and wife was a house they rented in the Lions Head Lake section of Wayne. They stayed there for a couple of months then moved in with Chris's mother in Oakland. Ten months later, in 1974, they moved into their present home in Pompton Lakes. Soon after, Chris and Irene became proud parents of a baby girl which they named Karen followed by a baby boy which they named Christopher, Jr. “C.J.”.

When Karen and C.J. were young kids growing up, Chris would often take them up to the Orange County Fair in Middletown. Chris’ favorite part of the fair was going to the speedway to watch the modified stockcars race. The kids also have special memories of regularly spending summer days as a family down the Jersey shore in Seaside Heights, trips to Busch Gardens and Six Flags Great Adventure where riding on the roller coasters together, making funny faces and putting their hands over their faces when they took your picture always made them share a laugh. Chris and C.J. enjoyed going fishing together near Chris’ mother’s house along the Ramapo River. Chris’ work required quite a bit of travel. His daughter Karen would always ask her mom when he was coming home. Over time, a tradition was established where Chris would always bring back a commemorative pin and a postcard from wherever he went for work. It was Chris and Karen’s special thing and it was always a way for Karen to look forward to when he got home. To this day, she has every pin he had ever given her.

Chris’ other favorite pastime was watching television. He especially liked to tune into the Giants games, Daytona races, episodes of Law and Order, Fox News, and old-time westerns like Bonanza and Gun Smoke.  He was always out for a bargain and he looked forward to taking Sunday drives to discount stores. In all these activities, it wasn’t unusual to see him spending his leisure time with his dog Bandit and later Harry by his side. As a young man, Chris purchased a 1974 Honda CB550 motorcycle. He loved taking it out for a cruise but, over the years and with the arrival of his children reprioritizing his life, the motorcycle lay dormant in the garage for many years. When Chris’ son C.J. purchased a motorcycle, it inspired Chris to pull his old bike out of mothballs. He dusted it off and got it running again. Together, Chris and C.J. entered their motorcycles in the Pompton Lakes car show and, wouldn’t ya know it? They took first and second prize! Ask C.J. who won first and who won second.

Chris was a loved father! Whether he knew it or not, he raised his kids to be independent. He taught them many life lessons for daily living, like how to fix things, how to mow the lawn, and how to change the oil in their cars. He could always be counted on and was always there to help when needed. Blessed with so many memories, one of Karen’s most special memories was when her dad walked her down the aisle at her wedding. Chris was also an awesome grandfather! One of the greatest highlights of Chris’ life was the birth of his grandson Dominick. He loved when Dominick came over and, when Dominick would come to visit him, Chris would just light up! Chris and Dominick could often be found down on the floor to playing together. It was very apparent that they shared a special bond.

Chris was the beloved husband of Irene (Iuele) Seltenheim; loving father of: Karen Hansen and husband William Hansen of Pompton Lakes, and Christopher “CJ” Seltenheim, Jr. of Pompton Lakes; proud grandfather “Poppi” of Dominick Hansen; dear brother of: Lynn Smith and husband Alfred Smith of Franklin, and Karl Seltenheim and his late wife Susan of Wayne; and dear uncle of Diane Goode, Jo Ann Ewasko, Steven Ewasko, and Scott Seltenheim.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Christopher’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing,

501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959

John Schlachter, Jr., age 73, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 11, 2022 while in the presence of his loving family.

The first-born son of John and Anna (Tom) Schlachter, John was born in Kempten, (suburb of Munich) Germany and lived there for just one year before emigrating to the United States. His family settled in Clifton where John was raised. He was an altar boy at St. Brendan’s church in Clifton and a Herald-News newspaper carrier for 4 years. He played freshman basketball and 2 years of varsity football at Clifton High School where he ultimately graduated with the Class of 1967. He enlisted in the US Army Reserves for 6 years as a company clerk, completing his basic training in Kentucky. Back home in Clifton, John attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. After college, John joined his father in the family plumbing business, Schlachter and Sons Plumbing Contractors.

48 years ago, John met Barbara McBride, and they married on Friday, August 10, 1984. The wedding took place on a slightly cloudy day in the back yard of Barbara’s family’s home in Wayne. John and Barbara lived for a couple of years in Clifton before moving to Wayne in 1986 where they have remained to the present.

The blessing of three daughters, Laurie, Jessica, and Amy soon arrived and John could not have been more thrilled. He was the ultimate girl dad. Like any good father, he did his best to provide for his family, working every day with his own father in the plumbing business. Meanwhile, his spare time was filled with living the best life he could think of with his family. Memories were made through multiple visits to Disney World, down the shore in Ocean City, and even a family trip to Germany to visit John’s extended family. Thank goodness for Barbara and the girls, John’s parents taught him the German language as a young boy. John’s interpretation skills came in handy on that vacation!

Being a fan himself, John instilled a love of sports in his daughters from a very young age. He proudly served as their coach when they played in the Christian Youth Organization (CYO) Basketball League and, when they played in the Wayne PAL League, he sometimes drove the van to bring the team to away games. Eventually the girls began playing on traveling teams. John never missed any of their games, even the championship games in Nevada and Florida. Sometimes his whole day was taken watching Laurie’s game in the morning, Jessica’s game after that, and Amy’s after that, and for John that was a day well spent. He was always their greatest fan, doing his best to give them pointers and always cheering them on. One of John’s proudest moments was when all three of his daughters were on the basketball court at the same time for a regular season varsity game at Wayne Valley High School. He enthusiastically cut all their articles and box scores out of the newspaper and kept a scrap book for each one of them.

In 1993, John left full-time work in the family business to take a job as head plumbing supervisor for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. He remained in that that position for thirteen years until 2006 when he went to work as a facilities manager for Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains. After fourteen years at Cedar Crest, John retired fully in 2020. In his spare time, he was always available and more than willing to help family and friends.

John’s leisure time was mostly spent on two of his greatest passions, working in his yard and following his beloved New York Yankees and New York Giants. John’s yard was for him, his little piece of paradise. He took great pride in a nice lawn and gardens adorned with beautiful flowers. Every spring he was out there planting his annuals. Then, for the cost of just a little bit of daily maintenance, he got to enjoy their beauty throughout the summer. John’s love of his yard was closely matched by his love of the Yankees. He hardly ever missed a game on television and to honor their dad, his daughters established a fun tradition of taking him to a game at Yankee Stadium every year as a Father’s Day gift. It was a special tradition for just John and his girls. John’s all-time favorite Yankee player was number 15, Thurman Munson and probably his biggest thrill was being present at the games when Yankee greats Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter retired. John was also a big Giants fan. If you were looking for him on a Sunday afternoon, you could be confident that you’d find him at home watching the game. Through the good years and, more recently, the bad years, John always remained a devoted fan.

Throughout his entire life, John enjoyed animals. From the young age of 8, he spent most of his summers on his grandfather’s chicken farm in Flemington, NJ, helping to take care of 6,000 chickens, pigs, cows and horses. They would even let him drive the tractor. Throughout his entire life he always had rabbits, Albert, Lucky and Gibbs being his favorites, and in his twenty’s, he had a golden retriever named Rusty and a mixed breed named Daisy when the girls were growing up.

In the end, faith and family were the hallmarks of John’s life. A faithful parishioner at Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church in Wayne, John was always present at the 8 AM mass on Sundays, and he considered his Catholic life to be of foundational importance. Next to his wife and his daughters and sons in laws, John’s four grandchildren were his greatest treasures. As their “Opa”, it’s no exaggeration that he visited them daily and was always ready to fix their toys or to read them a story. He was given the nickname “Baby Holder” because when frequently called upon, he was always more than happy to oblige.

John was a dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Mixing a keen intellect with his mild-mannered kindness, John was so supportive and always willing to lend a hand. He was a great mentor for his daughters and grandchildren and they considered him the greatest Dad and Opa. He was a genuinely good person who enjoyed a good conversation and spending quality time with those he knew and loved. He never complained during his recent years of health challenges and, no matter how bad he was feeling, he would always say that others had it worse. Know you were so incredibly loved John!  The loss is immeasurable but so is the love left behind.

John was the beloved and devoted husband of Barbara (McBride) Schlachter, blessed in marriage for 37 years; extremely loved father of: Laurie and husband Austin Holman of Clifton, Jessica Schlachter of Wayne, and Amy and husband Christopher Gnida of Oakland:  cherished grandfather of Kennedy and Cameron Holman, and Nicholas and Ryan Gnida; dear older brother of Anthony and wife Denise Schlachter of Wayne; and dear uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in John’s name are asked to consider:

American Cancer Society

P.O. Box 22478

Oklahoma City, OK 73123

Click here to download the mail in form

You can also donate by calling 800-227-2345

Jill A. Russo, 55 of Pompton Plains, NJ, died tragically on Saturday, June 11, 2022. She has lived in Pompton Plains with her three children since 2007.

Jill was currently working for Cipla, USA in Warren, NJ and had previously worked for Dr. David Runfeldt in Lincoln Park, Data Scope in Fairfield, NJ, and Teva (Actavis) in Parsippany.

Jill was raised in Saddle Brook, graduating from Saddle Brook High School with the class of 1985. As a kid, she swam competitively and loved to play softball. She played ice hockey in an adult league at Floyd Hall Arena, and more recently enjoyed playing tennis at several area racquet clubs. In the past year or so, she took up running and absolutely loved it. She would go for a run just about everyday at 8 AM. She had recently completed her first 5K and was training for the Disney World Marathon in January, which she planned to run with her daughter, Abby. “Jillybean,” as she was affectionately known by many, was a tenacious woman, and accepted every challenge that came her way. Among her favorite sayings was “I can do it!” and no one was going to tell her otherwise. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she battled and beat it. When it came to home repairs and remodeling, she learned how and did it herself. Of course, YouTube videos came in handy most of the time. She was an inspiration to many people, and her ‘can do’ attitude motivate others. Her ever-present smile, coupled with her ability to make you laugh in almost any situation, were among her trademarks.

Jill was also known as “Mighty-mom,” and her three children brought her a world full of joy. She was their number one fan in everything they did, and Jill poured her heart and soul into raising them as best as a single mom possibly could. The sacrifices she made for them are immeasurable, and her kids know it. She was so proud of their academic and athletic successes in college that she was motivated to get herself into better physical shape. She had begun to eat healthier, lose some weight, and exercise daily. Her morning run of three miles was something she looked forward to everyday, and she would text her kids after each run to share her accomplishment with them. Jill was currently at the happiest time of her life, making this heartbreaking tragedy so impossibly difficult to comprehend. Her children have lost not just their mother, but their biggest fan, their greatest motivation, and their best friend in the whole wide world.

Jill leaves her three kids; Abby, Reagan and Jesse, all of Pompton Plains, her mother; Sandra Altman of Saddle Brook, her sister; Sharon Colca of Fair Lawn, and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Jill was recently predeceased by her father, Charles Altman, in January of this year.

Donations would be greatly appreciated to the GoFundMe account established for the benefit of Jill’s three children.

It is with great sadness that we mourn the peaceful passing of Roy DeFranco Sr. after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer on June 7, 2022, at the age of 77.

Roy was born in Paterson, NJ on March 7, 1945, to Philip and Gertrude (nee Tschopp). He moved to Wayne, NJ with his family when he was 13. He was graduated from Wayne Senior H.S in 1962. After high school Roy enlisted in the US Naval Reserve and after graduating in 1966 from Paterson State College, now known as William Paterson University, he served two years active duty in the Navy based in Norfolk, VA. Roy was very patriotic and proud to be a veteran. He supported veterans throughout his life.

Roy began his teaching career in Pequannock Township where he taught social studies for 18 years. During his time in Pequannock Township, he continued his education and received his M. ED from Seton Hall University. He then furthered his education at Montclair University receiving several more educational certifications.  In 1987 his career took a turn when he took a position with the Hopatcong Board of Education working in the central office and subsequently became the high school principal. He remained in that position until he retired from education in 2001.

After his retirement from education Roy was fortunate to have a second career with Catholic Charities. He became the development director for the Department of Persons with Disabilities. This position was lifechanging. Roy was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Francis Koch Council 6343 in Echo Lake, NJ for almost 50 years and he was a Past Grand Knight. Being strongly influenced by the United States Navy, Roy became a member of the Naval Order of the United States, New York Commandry where he held the position of treasurer.

Roy met the love of his life, Linda, in 1966 in the A&P where they were both working during their college years. They were married four years later on April 18, 1970. They settled in Parsippany and then Wayne and after their sons, Roy and Matthew, were born they moved to West Milford where they remained for the rest of their 52 year marriage. Roy was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.  Nothing was more important to him or brought him more joy than his family and spending time with them. He was extremely proud of his sons and the men they became.

Roy is survived by his wife Linda (nee Bufardeci) of West Milford, two sons, Roy DeFranco Jr. and his wife Stephanie of Astoria, Queens, and Matthew DeFranco and his wife Camille of Pompton Plains, his grandchildren Lucia, Amelia, Rocco , and Cameron, his brother Philip and his wife Randee, and his sister-in-law Andrea Cardelfe and her husband Scott.

Roy was a truly special person who touched the lives of countless people. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Roy’s name may be made to Catholic Charities, Department for Persons with Disabilities, 1 Catholic Charities Way, PO Box 2539 Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 http://https://ccpaterson.org/dpd, or Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 84 Presentation Way, New Windsor, NY 12553 http://www.sistersofthepresentation.org

John M. Giangiobbe, age74, of Haskell, passed Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

He was born in Brooklyn, NY and the family moved to Wayne, NJ in his youth.  John graduated from the Wayne High School with the Class of 1966.

John soon found employment with the Township of Wayne where he worked as a draftsman his entire career which spanned forty-three years having started on August 29, 1966 through March 31, 2009.  He would recall how he drew maps by hand and later by computer. He loved photography and would take pictures for the township as well as the Wayne Police Department.

In his free time he enjoyed photography as well. He enjoyed watching television and movies.  The show NCIS and Yellowstone were some of his favorites. Although his personality could be characterized as quiet and reserved, he often had a funny quote or twist regarding just about any topic of conversation.  He dearly loved his two Cockateels Ricky and Blondie.  Ricky was always kissing John and could make the smack sound of a kiss.

John was the loving husband of Mary (Genova) Giangiobbe; dearly loved brother-in-law of Joseph and Maria Genova of Franklin Square, New York and cherished uncle of Jennifer (Jimmy), Melissa (Mike) and Joseph. He was also the loving cousin of Joanne and her husband Danny DeSantis of Staten Island. .

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Frances W. Richardson, age 87, of Orlando, Florida, formerly of Totowa, NJ and Sloatsburg,  NY, passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 surrounded by her devoted husband and loving children.

Frances was born at her family home in Totowa, NJ, to Peter and Wilhelmina (VanderSluys) DeVries. She went on to attend Passaic Valley High School, where she excelled in many areas of school, including the marching band. After graduating in 1952, Fran worked at NJ Bell Telephone Company.

She met Robert through her cousin and they married on June 21, 1958 at the Third Christian Reformed Church in Haledon, NJ. Frances and Robert were blessed with sixty-four years of a loving and devoted marriage.

Fran will be remembered as a loving, caring, and artistic person. She could always be found knitting, cross stitching, or baking her famous cookies for her family, friends, and community. Fran’s love reached far beyond her family and friends, overflowing to almost fifty foster children she cared for and cherished through Bethany Christian Services from 1974 through the early 1980's. Fran and Bob enjoyed many years of traveling, cruising, and camping in many places around the world; most frequently at Ocean Grove and Skyway Campground.

Fran was a member of Preakness Valley United Reformed Church in Wayne, NJ for 50 years. She enjoyed singing in many choirs and being involved in the life of the church.

Frances is survived by her loving husband Robert Richardson; her daughter, Sharon Verbeke and her husband Robert of Wayne, NJ; daughter, Linda Andela and her husband Andrew of Orlando, FL; son, Scott Richardson and his wife Michelle of Huger, SC. She was the cherished grandmother of Laura Everett (James), Peter Andela (Reizel DeLeon), Kelly Andela, Kimberly Vandervalk (Kevin), Benjamin Richardson, Steven Verbeke (Rita Vander Stad), Kayleigh Ciullo (Douglas Carl III) and Kristine Verbeke; and the dearly loved great-grandmother of Rachael, Alicia, Tyler, and Luke Everett, Aidan Vandervalk, and Kenzie Verbeke. She is also survived by her beloved brother Donald DeVries and his wife Danielle of Lake Worth, FL, and brother-in-law Adrian Blum of Spring Hill, FL; Frances is pre-deceased by her sister Carol Jane Blum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Preakness Valley URC, 480 Valley Road, Wayne NJ 07470 or Bethany Christian Services 12-19 River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.

Shirley I. Vander Stad, age 85, of Pequannock, passed into eternity on Monday, June 6, 2022.

Born on July 21, 1936, she was raised in Northern New Jersey and graduated from Butler High School with the Class of 1956.

During her high school years she met Cornelius (Neil) Vander Stad, a brother of her dear friend Ruth.  They were married at his parent’s home in Oak Ridge, New Jersey on September 24, 1956.  They honeymooned in Nova Scotia and have been married for sixty-five years by the grace of God.

Shirley was a loving mother and devoted wife.  She had a very generous heart, and was often giving gifts of time and presents to her children, grandchildren and people she met near and far.  

Because of her gifts of sewing and a desire to help others, Shirley founded and managed the Cloth Cabin in Newfoundland, New Jersey, where she sewed clothing, sold fabric, notions, and patterns, and made many long-term friendships.  Later she worked at the Rag Shop in Wayne.  An expert seamstress, she could craft gorgeous clothing seemingly without thinking, and often without patterns.  Shirley regularly made wedding gowns and outfits for entire bridal parties, including wedding gowns for her own children.  It seemed her Singer sewing machine was busy night and day.

Shirley was dedicated to her Christian faith and was a faithful member of the Ebenezer Netherlands Reformed Church in Haledon, the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Clifton, and more recently the Heritage Reformed Church in Kinnelon.

Shirley was the loving mother of John Vander Stad and his wife Mary of Oak Ridge, Sue Rose and her husband Allan of Wayne, Brenda Vander Valk and her husband Steven of Pompton Plains, Lisa Sniegocki and her husband Michael of Leesburg, FL, Ada den Hollander and her husband Reverend Henry of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada, and Ruth Tanis and her husband William of Bloomingdale.  She was the cherished grandmother of twenty-seven grandchildren and sixty-two great-grandchildren.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Shirley’s memory are asked to kindly omit flowers, but consider making a donation for the furtherance of the gospel to the Trinitarian Bible Society, 927 Alpine Commerce Park NW STE 100, Grand Rapids, MI 49544 or at  www.tbsbibles.org under “Donate”.

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”  1 Peter 1:24-25

George W. Naporlee, Sr., age 76, of Wayne and formerly of Queens and the Bronx, NY, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

George was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. He was the youngest of Frederick and Florence (Gorton) Naporlee’s four children. After graduating with the Class of 1962 from Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, George launched right into a long, prosperous, and dedicated career in the paper industry. Over the course of a career spanning more than fifty years, George rose to the position of Vice President of Andrew Nelson Whitehead in New York City and had most recently worked as a paper specialist with Gould Paper in New York City before retiring fully in 2016.

George met his wife Helen by means of a mutual friend introducing them. Their first date was on August 12, 1961, to a former amusement park in the Bronx called Freedom Land. Helen recalls that the weather was picture perfect that day and, while at the park, they were entertained by a concert featuring Paul Anka. After many more dates, George proposed marriage to Helen one night at her parent’s house. They made their wedding promises to one another on Saturday, June 12, 1965, at St. Lucy Roman Catholic Church on Mace Ave. in the Bronx. After an intimate reception in Helen’s parents back yard in the Bronx, the newlyweds enjoyed a weekend honeymoon including catching a show at Radio City Music Hall.

George and Helen started married life in an apartment in the Bronx where they were soon blessed with two fine sons, George, Jr. and Anthony. They eventually needed more room, so they moved to a bigger apartment where this time they were blessed with the birth of their beautiful daughter Carolyn. Eventually, they moved to the Whitestone section of Queens, New York where they remained until moving to Wayne, NJ in 2008.

By nature, George was rather competitive. He was always up for a challenge and he fulfilled this hunger through various pursuits. As a young man, he derived great enjoyment from racing his 1964 aqua blue Chevy Impala Super Sport at the track in New York. He also loved horse racing and was a regular placing wagers on the horses at the Yonkers Raceway, the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, NY, and the NJ Meadowlands Racetrack. He and Helen also enjoyed regular trips to Atlantic City where George loved testing his luck at the tables playing craps or at the slot machines. Gambling was great fun but George and Helen were also drawn to the great shows at the casinos and they liked taking strolls on the boardwalk.

Growing up in the Bronx, it should come as no surprise that George was a New York Yankees (aka “The Bronx Bombers”) fan. For many years, he and his family made it a tradition to get tickets for the annual Old-Timers Day games and the Mayors Trophy games between the Yanks and their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets. George just loved the game of baseball, watching his sons playing in little league was such a source of pride and so much fun for him to see.

Above all else, nothing was more important to George than his family. He loved taking walks with Helen, watching his sons play baseball, and talking business with his daughter Carolyn who he encouraged and mentored to become a CPA. George and Carolyn also enjoyed a love of cats and they were known to send each other cat videos. When the blessing of grandchildren came, George could not be prouder. He loved it when they came to visit and they made the holidays even more special.

Since moving to Wayne, George and Helen have been faithful parishioners at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne. Growing up in the catholic church, George’s faith was important to him, and in many respects, it shaped the loving, caring, giving man that he consistently was throughout his life who always put the needs and wants of his family and others before himself.  

George was the beloved husband of Helen (nee Milano), blessed in marriage for 57 years. He was the loving father of: George Naporlee, Jr. and wife Mary Beth of Old Bridge, Anthony Naporlee and wife Rania of Wayne, and Carolyn Sekosan and fiancé Sal Cipolla of Hicksville, Long Island, NY; cherished grandfather of: Kim and husband Chris, Brianna, Christopher, Christian, Gianna, Thomas, Gabriella, and Aidan; adored great-grandfather of Kaylee Michelle; dear youngest brother of: Doris Glenzer and husband Ronald of Lake Forest, CA, the late Fred Naporlee, and the late Patricia Thomas; and dear uncle of Christine Grandstaff and Ron Glenzer, Jr.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in George’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

2361 Hylan Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 10306

To download the Printable Donation Form, click here

Nicole D. Toulas (nee Magoulis), age 48 of Wayne, died on Saturday, June 4, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She grew up in Ringwood, NJ, loving all outdoor activities around the lake.

Nicole graduated from Lakeland High School with the class of 1992, and attended the University of Tampa, eventually earning her bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University.

Nicole interned for MSNBC, initially pursuing a career in journalism before switching to marketing.  She was the Director of Marketing for Rehabilitation Specialists, a company which focused on brain injury rehabilitation for several years before assuming a full-time devotion to her family. Nicole met Andy Toulas while she was sitting as a juror on a case that he was trying. The verdict was favorable, and their marriage ensued in 2004. They welcomed two children, Marisa and Leo, and lovingly built their family together in Wayne. They shared many glorious vacations, sampling the lobster rolls and chowders at some of their favorite destinations like Montauk, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island, Kennebunkport, Dewey Beach, Williamsburg Virginia, and more recently at Kiawah Island, SC. They have enjoyed eighteen years of a very loving marriage together, and Nicole will be deeply missed.

Nicole enjoyed many interests and hobbies, and she was a black-belt martial artist. She loved doing yoga, all physical fitness activities, reading, relaxing at the beach, all simply spending time communing with nature. She is sure to be enjoying the flowers and dream van in Heaven now.

Nicole is survived by her devoted husband, Andy, their children; Marisa and Leo, her parents; John and Sandy Magoulis, sister; Sherrie Magoulis, nieces; Alexis and Haley, mother-in-law; Bella Toulas, sister-in-law Vicki and her family, and so many loving and caring aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Donations in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated to the compassionate volunteers at the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, NJ, or to the wonderful caregivers at the Madison Dog Resort and Spa in Wayne.

Loretta Sandford (nee Van Splinter), age 86, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 4, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Loretta was raised in Little Falls, NJ and was the older of two daughters to Richard and Loretta Van Splinter.  While growing up in Little Falls, Loretta attended Passaic Valley High School and following graduation in 1953, immediately enrolled at Mountainside Hospital Nursing School in Montclair.  While in nursing school, she began dating James Sandford, also a Passaic Valley High School Graduate and resident of Totowa, who was attending Lafayette College.  Following a three-year program at the nursing school, Loretta earned her Registered Nurse’s Certificate.  Loretta and James married on August 31, 1957 at St. James Church in Totowa and settled in Wayne.

As a career nurse, Loretta worked in various hospitals and care centers and spent many years working as a visiting nurse in Passaic County.  Loretta had 4 wonderful interruptions throughout her career with the birth and raising of her 4 children.  

Loretta dedicated herself to her family, always putting her career as a Registered Nurse on hold when one of her children were born.  Loretta was a truly devoted mother and grandmother.  She was not only devoted to her family but also to her Catholic Faith.  She and her family were very active parishioners at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne for many years.  Loretta was also a member of the Harmony Singers and Friends of the Library in Wayne.  She was a voracious reader of Historical Fiction Novels and “Reader’s Digest.”  She treasured her British television shows and was a member and donated regularly to the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

Aside from all of Loretta’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Loretta and James cherished an amazing sixty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together.  She was a wonderful cook and loved to bake.  She was famous throughout family and friends for her Cheesecake.  Loretta was also a talented dressmaker and seamstress.  Loretta was a quiet and private woman who often kept to herself but loved to get together with family and friends.  Her family has had many memorable vacations throughout the years traveling by RV to various destinations throughout the United States including Virginia Beach, Yellowstone National Park, and Texas.  Loretta and James took the trip of a lifetime to Italy during their retirement years. Loretta was truly a special person who touched the lives of everyone around her.  She will be sincerely missed by her family and friends.

Loretta is survived by her husband James Sandford of Wayne, NJ, her son Thomas Sandford and his wife Angella of Hopewell, NJ, her daughter Kathryn Coyman and her husband Robert of Ringwood, NJ, her son Peter Sandford of Clifton, NJ, and her son Paul Sandford and his wife Heidi of Bel Air, MD, nine grandchildren: Joseph Sandford, Nicholas Sandford, Christian Sandford, Rachael Coyman, Colleen Coyman, Lauren Coyman, Matthew Sandford, Owen Sandford, and Austin Sandford.  Loretta was predeceased by her sister Mary Ellen Bakker.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Loretta’s name may be made to National Processing Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090. http://www.alz.org

Dr. Henry J. Petersen, from Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains (formerly of Wayne) passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Henry was a teacher for over 40 years with most of his career teaching math at Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills High Schools.  During this time, he received his PhD from Columbia University in Education and was instrumental in bringing computers to the classroom and the Wayne Board of Education Administration in the 1970’s.  He retired from the Wayne School system in 1985 after heading up the Math department for K – 12 for over 10 years.

Family was very important to Henry and is survived by his daughter Nancy Tambe and her husband Nick of Ringwood, NJ and son Henry Petersen and wife Lynn of Somerville, Mass and Granddaughter Nicole Mueller.  He is also remembered fondly by his stepchildren Heather Kahl, Peter Mohn, Douglas Mohn, Jonathan Mohn, Dwight Mohn and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Henry also leaves behind his partner Betsy Meeder from Cedar Crest.  Betsy was always by his side during the last 6 years taking care of him.

Henry lived an amazing life and enjoyed so many activities.  He loved teaching and mentoring kids, was an Eagle Scout and became a Boy Scout leader before he had children.  He loved the outdoors, camping, hiking, and gardening.  One of his biggest passions was woodworking and making furniture for his family.

Donations can be made to the American Heart Association.

Maria Torres, age 81, of Siena Village in Wayne, passed Friday, May 27, 2022 peacefully at home.

She was born in Caibarien, Cuba and came to the United States when Fidel Castro was letting people leave the country.  She initially settled in Miami then moved to live in New York City.

Maria worked as a seamstress in New York at 34th and Broadway sewing bathing suits in the wintertime and blouses and pants during the summer months.  During school breaks she would bring her daughter Sonia with her to work to show her she should study and not follow in mom's footsteps.

Maria left her family and siblings behind in Cuba so she could give her family a better life in America.  She was proud that she was able to see her daughter, and her two grandchildren all get college educations.  After her husband Ralph passed away, she cared for his parakeet whom she was sure had a little of his spirit in it.

Maria will be remembered as a humble, simple, loving person who was always helping.  As she grew up with nothing, she was appreciative of many things that are normally taken for granted. Most of all Maria’s life revolved around her grandchildren. Maria was dedicated to her Catholic faith and for many years attended Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne.

Maria was the loving wife of the late Jose Perera (d. 1967) and the late Rafael “Ralph” Torres (d. 2013); she was the devoted mother of Sonia Ceccarelli and her husband Ray of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Mitchell and Eric Newman; and beloved sister of Olga, Dalia, Florita, Angel, Pedro and Jesus.

David J. McLean, age 61 of Wayne, died on June 1, 2022. Dave had lived in Wayne his whole life and graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1979.

Dave worked for many years in the furniture refinishing business, restoring antiques and fine furniture. He had been employed by Colonial Restorations of Wayne, and he had his own business as well, All American Refinishing. He later worked as a custodian for the Wayne Board of Education.

Dave had an amazing green thumb, and always kept a garden. On his apartment balcony he could grow vegetables that would rival the finest produce you could find in a store, with big tomatoes, gorgeous cucumbers, and large green beans. He was especially good at growing hot peppers, and the hotter they were, the better he liked them.

Dave was among the most likable and friendly people you could have known. He had a large group of loyal friends that he remained close with since grade school, and every one of them would agree that he was just a great guy. He loved going fishing in Canada with his buddies, deep sea fishing, and hunting. He was generous to a fault, always ready and willing to help others in need, and a sincerely good man with a big heart. He will be missed by all.

Dave is survived by his loving sister, Patricia McClure and her husband Vernon of Wanaque, by his nephews; Gregory McClure and wife Jill, Glenn McClure and fiance Kerri, Thomas McClure and wife Irene, and his niece; Caitlyn (McClure) Batche and husband Ryan Batche, and 5 great-nieces and 4 great-nephews. He was predeceased by his bother; Jim McLean, and by his father; James McLean, both in 2013, and by his dear mother; Marian McLean, in 2015.

William J. Boyle, age 81 of Wayne, died on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. He has lived in Wayne for nearly fifty years. Bill was employed as a computer programmer for Bank of New York for more than twenty years and retired in 2000 as an Assistant Vice President in their Human Resources department.

Bill was born in Queens, NY and grew up in Waldwick, NJ. He graduated from Ramsey High School with the class of 1957 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army for the next four years. He served as a munitions specialist at Fort Dix and in Germany before being discharged in 1962. Bill was an avid enthusiast of auto racing, and he particularly loved the dirt-track stock cars. He frequented racetracks throughout the area and wrote a regular column in “Area Auto Racing” magazine, using the pen name “Dr. Dirt.” During race season, he would go to the racetrack in Orange County, NY every Saturday, leaving home around 2 PM and returning home around 2 AM! He enjoyed interviewing the teams, the drivers, and writing the stories. He was a devoted fan to the sport. An article was recently published in RaceProWeekly about Bill's legacy as "Dr. Dirt," and you can read that article by clicking here. He also liked to keep his mind sharp by doing crossword puzzles, playing Sudoku, and building puzzles. Playing poker was also high on his list as a favorite pastime, and he would frequently drive out to Bethlehem, PA with friends to play cards. He enjoyed a ‘bucket list’ trip to Las Vegas a few years ago, where he played poker and took in some of the world-class shows the city had to offer.  He also enjoyed his time out at breakfast where he would frequent Crossroads of Wayne nearly every morning with the same group of folks for the last 20 years.

Bill met his wife, Barbara (nee Carlile) when they worked together at the First National Bank in Totowa. Bill bowled on the bank’s team, and Barbara recalls what a good bowler he was. They hit it off and were eventually married on July 13, 1969, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. After a honeymoon to Bermuda, they lived at Bill’s apartment in Totowa before buying their home in Wayne, where they have lived ever since. Together with their two sons, they vacationed at Disney World, Key West, the Jersey Shore, and Bill’s favorite trip to Las Vegas. They have enjoyed fifty-two years of marriage, and Barbara will miss him very much.

Bill is survived by his wife, Barbara (nee Carlile) of Wayne, their two sons; Christopher Boyle and his wife Jenny of Wayne, and Carl Boyle of Wayne, and three sisters; Eileen Stone of Florida, Lorraine Cody of South Jersey, and Kathleen of Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory would be appreciated to the ASPCA, www.aspca.org, or the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad, www.waynefirstaid.com

Doris Battinelli, age 90, of Pompton Lakes, passed Monday, May 30, 2022.

She was born to James and Francesca Gennarelli October 15, 1931 in Paterson New Jersey where she was raised and graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1949.

Doris was a partner of a Hair Salon on Madison Avenue in Paterson NJ with her dear friend Rose Salvati.  She worked there for several years before getting married and having children.  After her children were of age Doris worked for the Sears Corporation selling insurance on appliances at their Fairfield Administrative offices. She worked at Sears for decades until working in the customer service and sales department of the Bradley Pharmaceutical Company Fairfield retiring only when they closed in 2008.

Doris will be remembered for being a caretaker of everyone.  She was a very high energy person who would take care of her children while also helping other family members get to doctors’ appointments, hair appointments, and grocery shopping etc.  She was an excellent cook of all kinds of Italian Specialties, could make anything taste good by putting her tomato sauce on it. She loved BINGO, word search puzzles, going to casinos, watching the Golden Girls, and didn’t want to be bothered when her other favorite show Dancing with the Stars show was on.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Edward Battinelli, sister Carmela, brothers in law Joe Piastrelli & Emil Gaveglio, son in law Craig Bowes, daughter in law Edna Cupples-Battinelli,  grandson in law Kevin Sherman & grandson David Simonds

She is survived by her children Janice Battinelli of PA, Joyce Bowes of New Jersey and Jody Colfax and her fiancé Dan Stamm of  PA;

cherished grandmother of Christopher Bowes and his fiancé Jerry of New Jersey, Alec Bowes and his fiancé Kate of New Jersey,  Dana Sherman-Chakan and her husband John of PA, Justin Salvati of PA, and Christy Simonds of NH, she was the loved great-grandmother of Brady, Lucas, Piper, River, Lexi, Jared & Lily; she was also the great great-grandmother of David.  Doris is also survived by her dear sister Gaynell Gavaglio of New Jersey as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Marys Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 would be greatly appreciated.

Nicholas Joseph Hickey, “Joe Hickey” age 89, of West Milford and a longtime former resident of Wayne, passed peacefully on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

The fourth child and only son of Nicholas J. and Sadie (Kane) Hickey’s six children, Joe was born in Paterson and grew up in Hawthorne in the family’s home at 150 Buena Vista Avenue. He graduated from Hawthorne High School and promptly enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was assigned to the Mediterranean theater aboard the USS Rich, a destroyer, during the Korean Conflict. He proudly served his country from 1951 to 1955 and for his brave service, was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.

One night in 1954, while home on leave from the Navy, Joe made the acquaintance of an attractive young lady named Gloria Profita. That night Joe asked Gloria if he could call her in the future but, having to return to Navy duties he didn’t get the chance to call till almost a year later when the next New Year’s Eve party came around. For that party in 1955, Gloria was Joe’s date and he told her that very night that he was going to marry her. As things worked out, Joe was right! They exchanged wedding promises on a Saturday which Joe described as gorgeously sunny and beautiful. It was October 12, 1957, and the wedding took place at St. Paul’s Church in Clifton.

After a honeymoon to Montreal in Québec, Canada, Joe and Gloria stayed briefly with Gloria’s parents on 130 Clinton Avenue in Clifton. While there, Joe recalled eating a lot of beans and macaroni. They moved several times after that, ultimately settling in 1962 in their ­­­home in Wayne.

After the war, Joe worked for a brief time as a painting contractor before taking a job in the accounting department at Curtiss-Wright Corporation and then Singer Kearfott. In the evenings Joe studied business management and accounting at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. Because he worked full-time by day to support his wife, daughter and three sons, it took Joe ten years of night classes, but in the end, he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Having achieved this accomplishment, he sought better opportunities and worked for various firms, culminating with Prudential Insurance Company before retiring fully at age 61 in 1994.

A love of sports simply put, was part of Joe’s pedigree. He played football and baseball at Hawthorne High School and one time even pitched a no-hitter in fast pitch softball. Baseball was his favorite sport. In the words of Joe’s daughter Anne (aka Chick), “My dad lived for baseball!”

As a father, Joe enthusiastically coached his sons and other boys in baseball and basketball for more than ten years in the Catholic Youth League and at the Wayne PAL. His three sons have fond memories of Joe piling way more young athletes into his bright red Ford Pinto than the law permitted, to take them home after games. Probably Joe’s only regret was not doing sports with his daughter Anne, but he beamed with pride watching her perform in the Wayne Monarchs Drum and Bugle Corps.

Joe grew up a Brooklyn Dodger fan and even remained one when the team moved to Las Angeles, California in 1958. For the next four years, he had no home team to cheer for (he HATED the Yankees), but in 1962 he began rooting for that hapless new expansion baseball team from Flushing Queens – the New York Mets. Joe plugged for his Dodgers and Mets and as he’d say, “Any team that was playing the New York Yankees!” In 1969, when the Mets, hapless no more, won the World Series, Joe was given two tickets to Game 5. This was an unheard-of opportunity for a guy like Joe and he was thrilled to say the least. It did however pose one dilemma – which one of his kids was he going to take with him for this once-in-a-lifetime chance?  If you really want to know what Joe decided, you’ll have to ask them 😊. Joe also loved watching Notre Dame and New York Giant football games and St. John’s basketball games. He always watched these games with the volume turned all the way down because he thought the announcers were universally terrible and, if his team was losing, it wasn’t unusual for him to turn off the game in disgust.

Joe was a much-loved and respected father who would do anything for his kids. As already mentioned, he was a great mentor to his three boys teaching them the virtues of hard work and competition as one of their coaches in youth sports. He’d do anything for his daughter Anne too – even go ice skating with her when she was a Girl Scout. Once, when Anne missed the bus to go on a Girl Scout field trip to see the circus as Madison Square Garden, Joe drove her in his car so she wouldn’t miss the trip. This was a true act of love as everyone knew how much Joe hated and dreaded driving in New York City. He loved to play with his kid’s minds too. For example, his son John, being the youngest, always seemed to get the short end of the stick so, just to bring sons Joe and Mike down a few notches, he told them that he took their younger brother John to the moon and that he wasn’t going to take them. The older boys were furious! If Joe were a politician, he’d be the kind who would kiss all the babies. He adored his own grandchildren and great-children, kissed them as babies and enjoyed being at all their activities and milestones and witnessing them growing into what God created them to be. He enjoyed many afternoon picnics and holidays with his and Gloria’s siblings and their families, always with many nieces and nephews running around having fun.  His wife Gloria was his best friend and together, they liked taking car trips to Rhode Island to see their daughter Anne and her husband Vince where they’d hold hands while enjoying a stroll or drive along Ocean Drive.

Joe was a real character. He always rooted for the underdog and if you said black, he’d say white. One of the main rules that he lived by was that rules were meant to be broken. An unspoken understanding in the house was that his wife Gloria’s yard was her paradise. This was fine because Joe always preferred watching sports on TV compared to working in the yard. That said, on those rare occasions when he did put on his landscape hat, he’d usually break the rules which would get him in trouble. One time Joe bit off more than he could chew when, while Gloria was shopping, Joe messed with her outdoor paradise by chopping down all the bushes in front of the house. His vision for improvement ended there so when she came home, it was curtains for Joe. Oh yes! Gloria was angry but not nearly as angry as another time when Joe pulled a George Washington and cut down Gloria’s glorious cherry tree. That move inspired the bestowment of the title “Landscape Undertaker” and for three days Gloria refused to talk to Joe. Talk about awkward silence at the nightly family dinner table! Joe was a numbers guy. He loved playing Yahtzee and he was great at remembering phone numbers which came in handy when he wanted to order a pizza from Tony’s in Pompton Lakes.

Joe and his dear wife Gloria were always people of faith. As husband and wife, they regularly engaged in prayer to the Holy One but, in the 1970’s, Gloria and Joe experienced a spiritual awakening.  Gloria was endlessly nourishing and growing her faith. Joe’s journey took a slightly different path than Gloria’s, a genuine walk all the same. From that time going forward until his passing, Joe quietly read his bible which helped him to the joy of leaning on the Lord and applying God’s truths to his life in practical, tangible ways.

Joe was a real people’s peep! After retirement, he’d often walk the neighborhood. Walks that should have taken a half-hour took Joe two-and-a-half hours because he’d talk to anybody and everybody along the way. He loved getting to know people, loved hearing their stories, and loved sharing a laugh. This became a regular pastime and one that was missed by so many around his house when his body stopped cooperating in his later years. For his final years Joe, and Gloria, were supported by loving caregivers at home; caring individuals who became beloved family friends. As well as five grandchildren all took turns on the schedule to care for there grandparents. Joe eventually ended up living at Milford Manor in West Milford and, for the last year, he won the hearts of so many fellow residents and very special  staff. He was so popular that, if they had an election for “The Mayor of Milford” Joe would have won it! One of Joe’s greatest gifts was being a good listener, encourager, and offer-er of sound advice. Whether it was giving his kids or grandkids or a bit of guidance about how he’d go about a challenge or encouraging a friend or acquaintance with a problem, Joe was a natural restorer of hope and renewed inspiration to many.

For the last twelve years of his life, Joe refused to succumb to a diagnosis and battle with Parkinson’s. He was a true warrior, and, like any warrior, he fought this battle with the help of many a caregiver during his last years in his home in Wayne as well as the good people at Milford Manor. To all those caregivers, and you know who you are, a huge THANK YOU, from Joe’s entire family.  

Joe was the beloved husband of Gloria, blessed in marriage for 62 years until her passing in 2020. He was the loving father of: Anne and husband Vince Traglia of Middletown, RI, Joseph P. Hickey and fiancé Tina Belis of Oak Ridge; Michael and wife Alieda Hickey of Franklin Lakes, and John and wife Kathy Hickey of Mendham; cherished grandfather of Kristen and husband Chris, Ashley, Joe, Jade, Sydney, Sarah and husband Charlie, Nick and fiancé Alexa, Michael, David, Nina, James, and Alana; cherished great-grandmother of Julianne, Michael Kevin, and Brooklyn; dear brother of five sisters: Sally Burke (deceased) and her husband Joe of Vero Beach, FL, Mary Diehl (deceased) and her husband Paul (deceased) of Sebastian, FL, Irene Rossi of Montville and her husband Vince (deceased), Patricia Harris (deceased) and her husband James (deceased) of Elmwood Park, and Sharon “Sherry” Stella and husband Bill Cass of Mount Laurel; the much-appreciated uncle of numerous nieces and nephews, and a beloved connection to old Hawthorne and family friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joe’s memory would be appreciated to:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s

Donation Processing

P.O. Box 5014

Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014

To Donate by Phone: 1-800-708-7644

John Brugaletta, age 87, of West Milford, passed peacefully at home on Friday, May 27, 2022.

He was born and raised in Paterson having graduated from Eastside High School then Passaic County Technical High School in Paterson.  As a matter of fact under his yearbook photo he stated he wanted to own his own auto repair shop.

As a young man he entered the workforce as a pin-setter at a bowling alley in Paterson. Through the years he has worked as a ticket checker for the NJ Transit Train System, on the assembly line at Ford Motor Company’s Mahwah Plant and from 1969 forward he was a partner in W&J Transmissions in Bloomingdale.

John met the love of his life Mary “Betty” E. Leobold just out of high School and they married on July 12, 1958 at Saint George’s Church in Paterson.  They honeymooned at the Jersey Shore and had a loving marriage that was blessed with three children: Doreen, John, and Kathy. John and Betty were married for fifty-nine years before Betty’s passing in 2017.

John will be lovingly remembered as the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. Everything with him was a lesson and taught responsibility.  He enjoyed joking around with the kids, loved boating, and enjoyed his home at Chadwick Beach at the Jersey Shore. He was a family man who loved a good time.  He also enjoyed motorcycles having had a Norton, BSA, Ducati, and Harley Davidsons.

John was the loving husband of Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Brugaletta (d. 2017); he was the devoted father of Doreen and her husband Tom of Vernon, John Brugaletta, Jr and his Fiancé Joy Schilling of Haskell, and Kathy McCormick and her husband Kevin of Durango, Colorado; he was the cherished grandfather of Deena Anderson and her husband John, Alyse Watson and her wife Enis, Janell Caruso and her wife Rayna, Kyrsten Brugaletta and her fiancé Danny Osmun; Heather Brugaletta, Connor McCormick, and Braydon McCormick; he was the dearly loved great-grandfather of John Michael Anderson, and Lorenzo John Caruso;  loved brother of Lucille Satnowski of Neshanic Station.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the West Milford First Aid Squad, PO Box 387, West Milford, NJ 07480 would be greatly appreciated.