Joseph J. Milano, age 89, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 21, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Joe was born and raised in East Rutherford, NJ and was the oldest of three sons to Joseph and Margaret Milano.  At a young age, Joe learned to play the piano.  Joe played the piano by ear, and although not being able to read music he still performed in his school assemblies and school music ensembles.  Playing the piano was a talent that stuck with him throughout his entire life.  While attending East Rutherford high School, he performed as a soloist on the piano and with the high school musical ensembles.   He was also a star of the Varsity Track and Field Team at East Rutherford High.  After graduating with the class of 1950, Joe found work quickly but in 1952 he felt a calling to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army.  While in the US Army, Joe was a communications specialist and was educated in the field of electronics.  Joe served honorably and proudly in the US Army from 1952 until 1954.

After being honorably discharged from the US Army, Joe put his skills in electronics to work and opened up a business with his father called J&J Radio and TV Repair.  Joe worked closely with his dad for about four or five years.  Joe and his dad closed up shop and Joe accepted a position at General Electric in Caldwell, NJ where he was employed for nearly fifteen years.  Joe left General Electric to accept another position with Raytheon, a defense contractor company based in New Jersey which manufactured weapons, and military and commercial electronics.  Joe remained employed with Raytheon until his retirement in 1994.  Retiring did not stop Joe from working, he then rekindled his piano skills and spent his weekends performing demonstrations of various digital pianos at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne.  

In 1956, a friend of Joe’s named Richard Ceres brought Joe to his house to see if he could fix a small television that Richard’s family owned.  When Joe arrived at the house he met Richard’s sister, a young attractive lady named Ruth Ceres.  Joe fixed the television, but before he left, he invited Ruth to come and see him play the piano at a local charity event the following Saturday.  Ruth agreed to join him and the two hit it off great.  Joe and Ruth started dating and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on April 27, 1957 at St Joseph’s Church in Carlstadt.

After getting married, the newlyweds settled in Carlstadt where they remained until 1963.  During their time living in Carlstadt, they welcomed the births of both of their daughters, Kathleen and Karen.  In 1963 the family moved to Wayne, NJ and have been there ever since.

Aside from playing the piano, Joe enjoyed working with antique radios.  He was a long time member of the NJ Antique Radio Club (NJ ARC) in Wall Township for many years.  He was a devoted New York Giants and New York Yankees fan.  Joe was also a connoisseur of fine cigars, cognac, and old movies.  He loved watching Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Humphry Bogart movies and treasured watching the Turner Movie Classic channel with his wife Ruth.  Joe also treasured spending time with his younger brothers ever since he was a child.  As a young man, Joe, his brothers, and his dad built a fishing cabin in Trout Creek located in upstate New York.  There, Joe and his family would gather for the weekends to have parties and go fishing.

Apart from all of Joe’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Joe than providing for and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.  Joe and Ruth have cherished an amazing sixty-four years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Joe was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him.

Joe is survived by his wife Ruth (nee Ceres) of Wayne, two daughters; Kathleen Burke and her husband Joe of Oak Ridge, NJ, and Karen Jameson and her husband Michael of Kinnelon, NJ, two brothers; William Milano and his wife Wanda of East Rutherford, NJ, and Frank Milano of South Jersey, four grandchildren; Rhianna Montanez and her husband Christian of Hamburg, NJ, Kelly Burke of Oak Ridge, NJ, Keri Jameson of Kinnelon, NJ, and Joey Burke of Oak Ridge, NJ, two nieces; Sue Wallace and her husband Bob, and Tina Milano, and two nephews; William Milano and his wife Kathleen, and Frank Milano, Jr.  Joe was predeceased by his sister-in-law Sandra Milano.

Kathleen O’Toole (nee Granahan), age 85 of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, November 19, 2021. She had lived in Paramus for fifty-four years before moving to Wayne in 2016.

Kathleen had worked as a secretary during the 70’s and 80’s for several area firms. Her most notable position was with publisher Medical Economics, in Oradell, NJ.

Kathleen grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan, before her family moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx when she was a teenager. Kathleen was in her early 20’s when she met Charles O’Toole at a local dance. They were married on October 29, 1960 at St. Margaret’s Church in Riverdale, NY followed by a honeymoon to Bermuda. They first settled into an apartment in New York City before making a move to the New Jersey suburb of Paramus. Throughout the years, Kathleen and Charles traveled quite a bit, visiting Nova Scotia, California, and Ireland, just to name a few. They celebrated fifty-six years of marriage before Charles passed away in 2016, and Kathleen has missed him dearly ever since.

Kathleen was a hardworking mom and was devoted to raising her four children. She loved taking them to the Jersey Shore and looked forward to their family vacations to Lavallette every summer. They carried on this tradition for many years, and her children all have very fond memories of those weeks at the Jersey Shore. Kathleen enjoyed reading, gardening, and celebrating the holidays at her home. She enjoyed eating, and her favorite meal of the day was dessert!  She was blessed with many lifelong friends and a large, loving family.

Kathleen is survived by her four children; Maureen Cosgrove and her husband Douglas of Wayne, Daniel O'Toole and his fiancé Supon of Hawaii, Deirdre Bua and her husband Darren of Oakland, and James O'Toole and his wife Elisabetta of Kenilworth, six grandchildren; Brendan and Diana Cosgrove, Karina and Sarah Bua, and Keira and Grace O’Toole, and one sister; Beatrice Hurley of New Hampshire. Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Charles in 2016, and by four of her siblings.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Judes Children's hospital at this link.

Carol C. Aboyoun, age 88 of Wayne, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. She has lived in Wayne since 1962.

Carol grew up in Passaic and graduated from Passaic High School with the class of 1951. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Syracuse University. She was an elementary school teacher for thirty-seven years in the Wayne Schools, teaching first grade at A.P. Terhune for approximately thirty years. She then taught at Lafayette Elementary School for the last seven years of her career, retiring in 2000. She had a major impact on the future of countless children who had the good fortune to pass through her classroom. To say she was a dedicated teacher would be an understatement. She absolutely loved kids and especially loved to watch them learn! Her classroom was always decorated beautifully and she could turn any space into a place where children were excited to learn. She was enthusiastic, charismatic, engaging and creative to an uncommon degree, and her energy seemed unlimited. She truly found her calling and enjoyed every year of her career.

Carol’s creativity was evident in everything she did. Her home was decorated as if by a professional interior designer, and perhaps even better! Her cooking tasted incredible and was also eye-appealing. Her table was always set and decorated beautifully. Her holiday décor was stunning. She even designed the addition to their home herself, and worked directly with the contractors to be sure it was done just right. At Christmas time, Carol would bake a literal mountain of cookies – tons of cookies, and she would pass them out to everyone and anyone. At Easter, she loved decorating the house, hiding Easter eggs for the hunt, and her children especially recall when they were very young, seeing paw prints on the floor from the Easter Bunny! Carol would create those prints the night before, using flour and her fingertips, and the kids would see proof that the Easter Bunny had been there in the night! She created countless, wonderful, fun memories for her family to cherish throughout their lifetimes, and they will all miss her dearly.

Carol met her husband, Monroe, in 1951 on a blind date. He was smitten the moment he laid eyes on her; she was “absolutely gorgeous.” She was attending college at the time, and Monroe felt strongly that he had better go to college if he was to be worthy of such a terrific woman. She is the main reason that he decided to go to college and get his degree. Soon after he graduated, he proposed and they were married on June 29, 1957. Monroe will tell you how lucky he truly is to have been married to Carol. He adored her parents and they adored him, treating him as if he was their own. He got “the whole package” he’ll tell you, marrying into a very loving and kind family. He and Carol traveled to Europe, all around the United States, and they enjoyed the theatre, visiting museums, and exposing their children to all the world had to offer. They lived a very full and blessed life together and he will miss her so.

Carol is survived by her beloved husband Monroe, their three 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 and her six grandchildren; Adrienne, Leslie, and Jordan Aboyoun, and Christopher, Benjamin, and Luke LoFrumento.

In lieu of flowers, we are including a link to the JustGiving page we set up to honor Carol’s memory.  The beneficiary is the Humane Society, as animal welfare was a cause close to Carol’s heart.  If you would like to donate, we would really appreciate it and we know that Carol would too.  Click on this link:  Justgiving.com for Carol Aboyoun

Jorgen G. Hedenhag, age 95 of Wayne, died on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.

Born in Sweden, Jorgen earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering in Stockholm, Sweden. He devoted his entire professional career to air pollution control and has been an integral contributor to large scale projects all over the world. He was an owner of Polycon Corporation for many years, and he had worked for Flakt (ABB), REECO, and AirPol, Inc.  At the age of seventy-seven, he accepted a position with a Canadian company, TurboSonic, where he continued to work until just a few years ago. Jorgen was considered an eminent expert on Venturi Scrubbers throughout North America, and the air you breathe today is cleaner due to his hard work.

Jorgen met his wife, Joan Sarra, on the dance floor in what was truly a chance encounter. Jorgen was an excellent dancer and he had approached Joan’s friend and asked her to dance. She politely said “no, but my friend Joan will.” Joan took one look at Jorgen and knew he would be trouble! They danced the night away and never looked back. They married on May 30, 1982 at the Rutherford Presbyterian Church and have enjoyed nearly forty years of wedding bliss ever since. Joan describes their years together as “fabulous” and she considers herself very lucky to have met such a great man. She admired his brilliance, his ability to speak four languages, and his loving heart. They travelled all over the world, and they liked to visit Lancaster Pennsylvania whenever they could. They danced often and he especially enjoyed dining out at fine restaurants. She will miss him dearly.

Jorgen is survived by his beloved wife, Joan Sarra of Wayne, NJ, one son, one daughter, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Fay Rothwell (nee Amico), age 103, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Fay was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and was one of five children to Anthony and Marietta Amico.  She was part of a group in our society that has become known as “The Greatest Generation.”  While growing up in Buffalo, she attended Hutchinson High School graduating with the class of 1937.  Not long after leaving school, Fay and her family moved to Passaic.  Fay found work quickly in the garment industry as an assembly line worker mending fabric manufacturing lady’s hand bags. These skills she passed down to her children and other family members over the years.

During her time as a young adult, it wasn’t uncommon for young ladies to dress up in their “Sunday best” and walk around the town.  One Sunday, Fay and her sisters were approached by a car of several young men.  The young men convinced Fay and her sisters to hop in the car and take a ride to Garrett Mountain.  Being that there were too many girls and not enough seats in the car, Fay had no choice but to sit on one of the young man’s lap.  The handsome young man was George Rothwell.  George and Fay hit it off great and immediately started dating. They fell in love and were married only a few months later on June 9, 1940 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Passaic.

The newlywed couple settled in Passaic.  Fay would devote herself to being a full time homemaker. George enlisted in the United States Merchant Marines. Following his discharge, the couple settled in Clifton where they resided for about two years. While living there, the couple welcomed the births of their first two children.  In 1951, the family moved to Elmwood Park, at that time known as East Paterson. George and Fay welcomed the births of their next four children while Fay was in her forties! Fay and her family stayed in Elmwood Park until 1980 when most of their children had grown and they moved to Rockledge, Florida where they lived until the year 2000.  George lost his vision that year, and Fay decided that she and George would move back to New Jersey and settled in Wayne. After George died, Fay moved in with her daughter, Terry Durr and her family. She lived there for 12 years until Fay moved to Victoria Mews Assisted Living in Boonton.

Fay was a Columbiette, a Catholic Women’s Organization affiliated with the local Knights of Columbus.  She was a member of the Italian American Club while living in Florida where her husband George, although being English and Irish, was President of the organization.  Fay was a devoted member of the Rosary Society and the Golden Age of Wayne. Fay was devoutly catholic and she and her family were parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne, St Mary’s Church in Rockledge, FL and St Anne’s in Fair Lawn, NJ. Fay attended Passaic County Adult Day Care which her family affectionately referred to as “Her Club.”  Wherever Fay went she was sure to make friends. She had a very outgoing personality and was well loved everywhere she went and by everyone that she met.  She enjoyed spending time with friends, playing card games and going bowling and more.  She was a great cook, famous throughout her family for her spaghetti and meatballs, and her braciola and cardona. She was a gracious and wonderful host cherishing family events and holidays.  Fay was always able to see the best in people and would compliment everyone. Fay was blessed with a long and healthy life and was always known to credit her longevity to her daily nip of Scotch whiskey.

Aside from all of Fay’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Fay than spending time with her large and loving family.  Fay and George treasured an amazing sixty seven years of loving and loyal marriage until George’s passing in June of 2007.  Fay was a truly special person who touched the lives of everyone she met and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Fay is survived by her two sons; George Rothwell and his wife Alice of Napa Valley, CA, and John Rothwell and his wife Renee of Palm Coast, FL, four daughters; Marietta Steransak and her husband Steve of Kinnelon, NJ, Betty Bader and her husband Chuck of Nashville, TN, Patty Bullman and her husband Gary of Wayne, and Terry Durr and her husband Gary of Wayne, twelve grandchildren; David Rothwell and his wife Megan of Austin, TX, Dawn Rothwell and her wife Faye of Napa, CA, Steven Steransak and his long-time companion Janet of Haskell, NJ, Tracy Burns and her husband Matthew of Ramsey, NJ, Jill Thompson and her husband Dave of Nashville, TN, Eric Bader and his wife Jessica of Nashville, TN, Lisa Olivo and her husband Dan of Rutherford, NJ, Kelly Durr of Orlando, FL, Ryan Durr and his wife Jenna of New York City, Erin Durr of Wayne, Christine Cuvo and her husband Ben of Springfield, PA, and Michael Bullman of Seattle, WA, ten great grandchildren; Vinnie Rothwell and his wife Hailey of Napa, CA, Krystal Rothwell of Napa, CA, Anastasia Burns of Ramsey, NJ, Mary Charles Bader of Nashville, TN, Charlotte “Lottie” Elizabeth Bader of Nashville, TN, William Thompson of Nashville, TN, Robert Olivo of Rutherford, NJ, Charlie Olivo of Rutherford, NJ, Liam Cuvo of Springfield, PA, and Rowan Cuvo of Springfield, PA, five step grandchildren; Luke and Jake Laibovitz, and Jonah, Jacob, and Josh Robertson. She was looking forward to the arrival of her great great grandchild in December!  She was predeceased by her husband George Rothwell in 2007, and her siblings Mary Cannata, Teresa Weiler, John Amico, and Elvira Petz.  

In lieu of flowers please consider giving to Boston Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Transplant Division, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215, who saved so many children especially our Lilah Durr.http://www.childrenshospital.org

Frances Mary Morro, age 94, previously of Wayne, NJ and most recently of Branchville, passed Thursday, November 11, 2021.

She was born in West New York, New Jersey, spent most of her adult life in Wayne, NJ and recently residing in Sussex County, NJ.

As a young lady she worked at the First Jersey National Bank in West NY then soon dedicated herself to raising her family.  Once the children were older, she worked at Neumann Prep High School in Wayne where she was Head Dietician. She also worked for Thrift Drugs in Pompton Plains, the Cyanamid Wayne Federal Credit Union in Wayne, and Visions Federal Credit Union in Oakland before retiring in 1999.

She loved ballroom dancing with her husband Thomas, playing cards, reading, and playing all types of games, especially Bingo. She was a enthusiastic introvert who never attended a party she didn’t like.  According to her husband Tom, she was always out “gallivanting.”  She was a dedicated Roman Catholic and parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne and more recently St John Vianney in Stockholm.

Frances was the loving wife of the late Thomas A. Morro; devoted mother of Thomas and his wife Joanne, James and his wife Charlotte, Mary Lee Van Hooker and her husband Todd, and Robert and his wife Amy, and Raymond; she was the cherished grandmother of ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; loved sister of Andrew, Myron, and Catherine.

Wayne T. Scott, age 60 of North Haledon, passed away on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

It would be an understatement to say that Wayne had a dynamic and magnetic personality. He commanded every room he entered, made friends everywhere he went, and was known for his bear hug greeting and huge smile.

He grew up at Hilltop Farm in Wayne with his 7 siblings, which likely contributed to the oversized personality that everyone knew and loved.  He was very close with his mom, Betty, more affectionately known as Binga.  One of his favorite memories was Christmas at his childhood home, where the entire family would pile into the greenhouse with all of the presents. Binga is an amazing cook which shaped Wayne’s love and high expectations for food.

In high school, he was known as everyone’s friend.  He played football and enjoyed skateboarding.  He loved skiing and even spent a few years in Colorado as a ski bum, perfecting his backcountry skiing skills. He eventually moved back to New Jersey and started a family. Wayne’s outgoing personality carried him through the Atlantic City nightlife industry and later helped him develop a successful career in Real Estate with Preakness Realty.

Wayne hosted some of the best parties and cookouts and was known as the master griller.  4th of July was always a huge deal and his fireworks display was often better than the local municipality fireworks, except Wayne would forgo all those tedious safety measures. Thankfully he made friends with the neighbors who joined in on the fun. He was always very proud of his home and was meticulous with the landscaping.  He had many hobbies.  He golfed, enjoyed eating out, smoking cigars, competing in shark fishing tournaments, and making homemade wine with the neighbors. Wayne especially enjoyed his years as the Scoutmaster of Troop 170 in North Haledon where his son, Christian, went through the ranks.  He was an amazing and supportive cheer dad to Nicole.  No matter where he was, or what he was doing, Wayne had a good time and so did everyone else with him!

Wayne is survived by his two children; Christian Scott of Ventnor, NJ, Nicole Ver Hage and her husband Ryan of Oradell, his mother Elizabeth “Betty” Scott of Harrisburg, NC, his seven siblings; Glenn Scott and his wife Janine of Wayne, Barbara Wichot and her husband Greg of Wayne, Donna Marie Marchesin and her husband Brad of New York, William Scott of Kentucky, Elizabeth Brady of Lincoln Park, Christopher Scott of N. Carolina, and Victoria Scott of N. Carolina, and his many nieces an nephews..

Filippa Domicoli, wife of deceased husband Giuseppe Domicoli, was born on November 3, 1928 in Gela, Italy. On November 9, 2021 she passed away peacefully in her sleep with family by her side.

Filippa was the proud mother of two children; Rosaria and Giovanni, and a loving mother-in-law to Emanuela and Giuseppe.

Filippa’s greatest loves was her family. She worked tirelessly raising all five of her grandchildren; Nancy, Phyllis, Joe, John and Daniel. They were all proud to call her “Nonna.” She adored her twelve great-grandchildren and devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to her family members. Although she was so frail at the end, she gave everyone such courage and hope and reminded us of the preciousness of life.  She could spend hours singing, reciting her prayers, sharing stories of her own childhood, and was the best cook! Her love for baking, especially around the holidays will have a special place in our hearts as we continue to pass on our family traditions. She will forever be loved and dearly missed by her family and friends.

Virginia M. Massood, age 87, of Franklin Lakes passed on Monday, November 8, 2021.

She was born to Anthony and Laura Palazzone and raised in Paterson.  She graduated from Central High School in Paterson, where she played on the basketball team, with the Class of 1951.  During her high school years she worked as a soda-jerk at the Sunray Drug Store at the intersection of Main and Market Street in Paterson. After she graduated high school she worked at the Prudential Insurance Company in Newark where she was Secretary to the Vice President.

As a young lady she met Joseph Massood while at a dance held at a ballroom on Main Street in Paterson. Joe remembers driving Virginia home in a 1942 Oldsmobile with a terribly loose front end. As a matter of fact Joe pulled off the license plates and abandoned that car when it broke down by the farmers market in Paterson. Joe and Virginia fell in love and married on May 24, 1959 at the Sacred Heart Church in Paterson.  They honeymooned in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Venezuela before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a cruise ship.  They have had a loving and devoted marriage of sixty-two years that was blessed with four children.

Virginia was a dedicated and devoted Catholic having been raised at Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Paterson and after getting married she joined the parish of the Sacred Heart Church in Paterson.  Most recently she has been a parishioner, Eucharistic Minister, and member of the Rosary Society of the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes.

Virginia was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be remembered for her kind and caring way and always taking care of anyone and everyone. Virginia was always a sports enthusiast having played tennis for over thirty years with the Franklin Lakes Racquet Club.  She was also a long-standing member of the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne. When it came to professional sports teams she was an avid New York Yankee and New York Giants fan.

Virginia was the loving wife of Joseph Massood; devoted mother of Joseph A. Massood, Esq. of Wayne, Dr. Stephen M. Massood of Franklin Lakes, Debra S. Massood of Franklin Lakes, and the late Gregory P. Massood (d. 2016); she was the cherished grandmother of Alec and Kyle Massood; loved sister of Marie Palazzone and Diane Palazzone both of Paterson, and the late Peter Palazzone and Late Gloria Mulé.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to: Mary Help of Christians, The Saint Josephs Hospital Foundation, or the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament would be greatly appreciate

Romeo DeGobbi, age 74 of New York, New York passed away on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. He had lived for many years in Ridgewood, NJ before moving to New York City just a few years ago.

The New York City restaurant industry lost a legend.  As a young Italian immigrant arriving in this country with little more than a heart full of ambition in pursuit of the American Dream, he began working in the restaurant industry over 50 years ago in Manhattan. His charisma led to a Maître-d position at Le Cirque where he established a reputation among the New York elite. He eventually opened and owned the world-famous restaurants LePactole in Battery Park and Limoncello in Times Square.  He was the type of person that if he set his mind to do something, nothing was going to stop him. He was like a machine; hardworking, determined, and committed. He did it all to provide a good life for his family.

Romeo had a magnetic personality that drew him to people. He loved people, loved to serve people, and he loved entertaining. He was generous to a fault, always giving people chance at redemption, and he never complained. He loved to entertain people at his home, and there was never a shortage of good food and hospitality! His children recall one Thanksgiving dinner where there was a strange man at their dinner table. Turns out, the man was a Lufthansa Airlines pilot that Romeo had met in New York City earlier that day. The pilot had a few hours before his next flight, so Romeo invited him to join his family and friends for their Thanksgiving feast! After dinner, the pilot took a taxi back to JFK airport, and they never saw him again! Romeo would open his home to anyone, graciously, not matter what.

Romeo’s family was his top priority. He loved his family more than anything in the world.  He worked tirelessly to give his wife and children everything he could. He provided a beautiful home for them, a summer home in Long Beach Island and many amazing trips to Europe. The story of his arrival in America is a unique one. Romeo was working aboard a cruise ship when he was just a young man of twenty-two years old. He was smitten by a cute passenger named Olivia, with whom he began to correspond over the next ten months. In May of 1970, he was able to come to America and visited with Olivia. Three months later they were married at St. Joseph’s Church in West Milford, followed by a three week honeymoon travelling cross country to California. They settled in Pequannock before living in Ridgewood from 1979 – 2007. Although their marriage ended in divorce, Romeo and Olivia remained devoted to one another. Olivia and their three children will tell you that you’ll never meet anyone like Romeo. He was the most generous person you would ever want to meet.  He was simply unforgettable and truly unique.

Romeo is survived by his beloved former wife; Olivia, their three children; Lauren DeGobbi of Pompton Lakes, Christian DeGobbi of Wayne, and Stephen DeGobbi and his wife Kim of Scotch Plains, and four grandchildren who adoringly called him “Poppy” and “Pop Star;” Robert, Sarah, Sam, and Millie.

In lieu of flowers, donations to ROAR, New York would be appreciated. Visit www.roarnewyork.org for more information and to donate.

Peter Anthony Benigno, Jr., age 72, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Friday, November 5, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with cancer, and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Peter was born in Newton, NJ and was raised in Nutley.  He was one of two children to Peter and Patricia Benigno.  Growing up, Peter was an avid sports fan, particularly of baseball.  He was a devoted New York Yankees fan, Mickey Mantle being one of his favorite players.  Peter attended Nutley High School where he earned a spot on the high school varsity wrestling team.  In his senior year in 1968, Peter led the school to the State Championships.

Following his graduation from Nutley High School in 1968, Peter attended Jersey City State College where he earned his Associates Degree.  Pete found work quickly at a company in Clifton called Woodward-Moorhouse where he accepted a position as a Draftsman.  Pete was employed at Woodward-Moorhouse for about five years when his Uncle Charlie approached him about needing help at his family business in Garfield called Benigno Tire Exchange.  Peter worked part time at the company on Saturdays for a while.  After a few years, his uncle gave Peter the opportunity to join him full time. Peter took a leave of absence from Woodward to explore the chance his uncle had given him.  Peter never looked back, he remained at Benigno Tire Exchange eventually becoming part owner with his cousins about ten years later in the mid 1980’s.  Peter’s outstanding work ethic was an important and critical part of the business’ success over the years.  His hardworking attitude was the reason that Peter could never retire.    

While working as a Draftsman with the Woodward-Moorhouse Company in Clifton, Peter worked alongside a young and attractive Administrative Assistant named Susan Hammell.  Susan and Peter hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and on September 11, 1976 Peter and Susan became husband and wife.  The newlyweds settled in Clifton where they remained for seventeen years.  During their time in Clifton, they welcomed the birth of their only child, Peter.  In 1993, Peter and his family moved to Wayne where they have been ever since.  Being a sports fan, it was no surprise that Peter treasured coaching T-Ball and sponsoring local little league teams with the Benigno Tire business name. He and his family were parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne for many years.

As a young man, Peter had a great love and appreciation for the classic cars.  He owned several classic muscle cars including a 65 Pontiac GTO, a 69 Camaro Z28, a 1965 Chevy Chevelle SS, a Chevy Corvette and a number of different Chevy Impala classic cars.  Peter cherished entering his cars in local car shows and competing with other owners.  Because of his outstanding character, in the mid 1990’s Peter was deemed a Silver Card holder.  This was a very prestigious award and honor that was bestowed upon him by the Garfield Police Department in recognition of his ongoing and unwavering support of local law enforcement. Peter also donated regularly to St Jude Children’s Hospital throughout his life.  

Peter and his family enjoyed traveling throughout the years to various destinations such as Argentina. Nice, and their favorite destination, Aruba, where the family owned a timeshare.  But aside from all of Peter’s hobbies, talents and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Peter than providing for and spending time with his family.  He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  While his son Peter was growing up, he never missed one of his baseball games or school events.  He and his wife Susan cherished forty five years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Peter was a generous man who would stop whatever he was doing at the time to help someone.  He always made it a point to try and give others opportunities just as he had been given. He was straightforward with people and candid.  He always made it a point to tell someone the truth and was an honest businessman.  He would often turn people away when he knew in his heart that they didn’t need his services.  This was something that people would appreciate and talk about over the years.  Peter was a truly special person who touched the lives of everyone around him.  He will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Peter is survived by his wife Susan (nee Hammell) of Wayne, one son Peter A. Benigno, III and his wife Lisa of Ridgewood, NJ, one brother Nicholas Benigno of Clifton, two grandchildren; Olivia Benigno and Michael Benigno both of Ridgewood, and many extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org

Frank Paul Majuri, age 60 of Wayne died at his home on Friday, November 5, 2021. His life was tragically and needlessly taken by another person.

Frank was born in Paterson and grew up at 23 Meadow Drive in Totowa until he was five years old. At that time, he moved with his family to 110 Osage Road in Wayne. That was home through Frank’s freshman year at Wayne Valley High School where he played on the school’s football team – the Indians. In fact, Frank had been playing football since the age of seven when his father started him the peewee league at the Wayne PAL.  By the time his sophomore year of high school started, Frank’s family moved once again, this time to 52 Osceola Road in the Pines Lake section of Wayne. With the move came a necessary change of high schools for Frank. He began attending Wayne Hills High School where, again he made the football team and played the next three years for the Patriots until graduating with the Class of 1979. During those years, Frank was known for two things, his black “Smokey and the Bandit” styled Pontiac Trans Am complete with giant gold eagle decal on the hood, and his love for weight lifting. Frank started lifting weights when he was fifteen. Consequently, he got so pumped, he was often called Rocky after the famous character Rocky Balboa that Sylvester Stallone played in the movie “Rocky.

Frank attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, then went to work as a Bobst Die Cutter for Dane Paperboard Inc., the family business in Wood Ridge that specialized in packaging printing.

Frank was one of the most loving and gentle souls you could ever have the privilege of knowing. His outlook and demeanor was always so positive that you couldn’t help but feel your spirits lift when you were in his presence. He was so genuinely appreciative of little acts of kindness, always asked for so little in life and he never complained about anything.

Frank was a happy person who loved the company of family and friends, and throughout his life he walked hand-in-hand with God his Father in heaven. For the last twenty-five years, he faithfully attended Mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Pompton Lakes. Before the Covid Pandemic of 2020 Frank could always be seen at the Sunday 10:30 mass and since recently returning to in-person worship, he attended both the Saturday night mass at 5:00 PM and the Sunday afternoon mass at 12:00 noon. For the past seven years, Frank served as one of the church’s ushers who always greeted parishioners with his big smile and an encouraging word. When you were greeted at church by Frank, you couldn’t help but experience God’s love which just overflowed out of his heart. He loved volunteering to serve at the church and consequently also enjoyed helping out with counting the weekly collections.  

Many years ago, Frank’s love of people and desire to help others led him to volunteer at the Wayne Public Library. He served there for a time before deciding to offer a hand to help in any capacity desired at the Free Public Library in Bloomingdale. He had been at the Bloomingdale Library for the past 23 years and was very loved and respected. When asked by library staff to share some memories of Frank, he was described as a team player who performed his meaningful chores meticulously while being courteous, gentle and thoughtful to all. It was the little things in life that Frank so enjoyed…a kind smile or tender hug. His compassionate soul and heartfelt friendship will be deeply missed by patrons and borough employees.

Frank had a real ability to enjoy the simple things of life. On Saturdays you could be sure to find him with his father Martin and his buddies Dennis, Ralph and Mario at the Meadowlands Race Track. The day typically started at 10:00 AM and, included lunch, and usually ended around 4:00 PM. Sometimes they’d win and sometimes they’d lose, but you can bet they always had a good time, and it was a great tradition.  He loved music and found that a couple of his favorite venues for hearing live music included the free summer concerts at the Wayne Public Library and going to Vet Fest which was a concert and fundraiser to help homeless veterans who had fallen on hard times in their lives. Frank also liked watching Christian programming on television. A couple of his favorite inspiring and Godly men included the famous evangelist Billy Graham and Dr. David Jeremiah.

When speaking of some of Frank’s greatest loves, one would be remiss if they didn’t mention Frank’s immense love of food. Culinary great Julia Child once said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” Well, if you believe that, then Frank was definitely one of the best people ever known to man! Frank never turned down a meal and there were always plenty of suitors to feed his love of food. Frank enjoyed a regular practice of dinner at his sister Doreen’s house every Sunday and during the week too. He always loved it so much and would be so complimentary enthusiastically exclaiming, “Doreen! This is the best! This is so good, it’s restaurant quality!” Family friend Dawn Dellavecchia must have been a great cook too because Frank never turned down an invitation from her either. Frank will also always have fond memories of picking up his Uncle Butchie on Sunday morning to take him to church. Afterwards, they’d head over to Frank’s parent’s house to pick them up and then off the four of them would go for a nice lunch at Portobello’s in Oakland, Monica’s in Pompton Lakes or Positano’s in Wayne. Of course, all that good food had a tendency of putting on the pounds but Frank had the solution for that too. Did you ever hear of an organization called Weight Watchers? Well, Frank did. He was a regular member and since he generally liked to be in the company of groups of people, Frank figured that his eating habits no only afforded him the immense joy of eating, it also gave him the excuse to join another group. Talk about a win-win! Frank originally belonged to the Weight Watchers group that met at the Elks Lodge on Hinchman Ave in Wayne. More recently, he had been attending the group that met at the Route 23 location in Riverdale. He would go every Wednesday at 9:30 with his sister Doreen. Frank would secretly confide to Doreen that he loved the female to male ratio at his meetings but, being a bit shy, he would always admire from a distance. He loved seeing the results of his efforts and was feeling better and better. In search of his inner Rocky Balboa and coinciding with his participation at Weight Watchers Frank was currently working with a personal trainer at LA Fitness. He attended twice a week working out for thirty minutes each on the treadmill and stationary bicycle, then working one-on-one with his personal trainer. He was getting stronger and he was loving it.

Along with God and people in general, Frank held an immensely special place in his heart for his family. His parents meant the world to him. As they got on in years, he was always concerned for their welfare and happiness. He would speak often about genuinely enjoying the time spent with them and he always desired to bring a little joy into their lives on a daily basis. He adored his sisters too. He loved eating over their houses and going with Doreen to Weight Watchers. Fond memories also included riding dirt bikes together with his sister Donna through the woods behind their house in Pines Lake, racing go-carts with Donna at the RPM Raceway in Jersey City and going with Donna, Dawn Dellavecchia, and Uncle Butchie to catch the NJ Jackals play a NCAA division 3 minor league baseball game at Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State University.

Frank will be missed for his huge smile, generous heart, and gentle soul. He was content with little that this world tries to tempt us with choosing instead to focus on the important things of life like letting his light shine for God wherever he went and with whomever he met.

Frank was predeceased by his very loving parents Roseann Majuri (nee DeFrancesco) in 2015 and Martin Majuri in 2017. He leaves behind his heartbroken and adored sisters Doreen Majuri of Wayne and Donna Majuri of Pompton Lakes; his dear niece and nephew: Tina Rose Calafiore and fiancé Nate Debos of Landings, NJ, and Doren and wife Jaclyn Calafiore of Pompton Plains; his sidekick Uncle David Quinn, Jr. (aka “Uncle Butchie”) of Pompton Lakes, his dear elderly Aunts Jean Rizutti and Grace Cooper both of Spring Hill, FL; and his awesome cousins: Tony and wife Rita Tuminello, Joe Tuminello and partner Joan Boylan, Theresa and husband Bill Poindexter, and Diane and husband Bryan Turner. Frank was also predeceased by his dear Aunt Olivia Tuminello and his Purple Heart recipient Uncle Frank Paul Majuri who Frank was named after and who lost his life during World War II when the U.S. Navy destroyer ship he was serving aboard, the USS Harden, was lost in the Pacific when it came upon a Japanese Kamikaze attack on April 16, 1945.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Frank’s name are asked to consider one of two charitable organizations:

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
17 Pompton Avenue
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Frank Majuri

Bloomingdale Free Public Library
101 Hamburg Turnpike #1
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Frank Majuri

Yolanda Violante, wife of the late Gabriele Violante, of Wayne and formerly of Clifton New Jersey, passed away on the evening of the 4th of November 2021. Yolanda is survived by her daughter Nancy and grand-daughter Nicole. She was 86 years old.

Giuseppe Silvestri and Iginia Chiulli welcomed their beautiful daughter, Yolanda, into the world on the 27th of August 1935, in their modest farmhouse in Cugnoli, Italy. This close-knit pastoral community would serve as a backdrop for the many wonderful memories of Yolanda’s youth. She spent her childhood carefree; running through the farm’s lush, golden wheat fields with her two brothers, Bruno and Enrico, picking ripe, sweet figs from the trees, and feeding dried grain to their many pigs and chickens.

As a girl, Yolanda was vibrant and full of energy. Her free spirit and affable nature earned her plenty of friends, many of whom remained in her life until her passing. With not much in the small-town keeping people entertained, these friends and relatives would take turns hosting parties in their homes. These evenings were full of good food and plenty of music and dancing. She loved the sound of the accordions and guitars, and would dance as late into the night as her mother would allow.

When she got older, Yolanda spent a great deal of time in the kitchen with her mother, learning all of the farm specialties. She helped to cure the pork for prosciutto and dried sausage, jarred tomatoes, baked bread and even tried her hand at cheese making. In addition to her culinary pursuits, Yolanda began learning sewing and embroidery. She worked alongside a number of women in the village refining the skills necessary for such a delicate craft.

In 1955, when she was 20 years old, the Silvestri family left their small Abruzzo town for the United States where Yolanda’s father, Giuseppe, had begun to make a life for them. Barely settled in her new home, Yolanda put her sewing skills to work in one of the many garment factories nearby. She would walk from her home on Hope Avenue to the trouser factory owned by Tumminelli and Sons. The work was hard and the hours were many, but Yolanda kept at it, knowing the tremendous value of every penny she managed to save. The clanking factory machines were a big change from the farm animals she was used to, but Yolanda was good at her job and even managed to make a few new friends. Still, she felt like something was missing.

She looked at the love her parents had for each other and wanted the same thing for herself. Then fate, and a few well-intentioned friends sent Gabriele Violante her way. This shy, blue-eyed boy from Villa Celiera would travel all the way from his home in Ontario, Canada just to meet her. She fixed her hair and put on her best dress, hoping to impress the handsome stranger she had only ever seen in photos. The night they met was her first time preparing a meal on her own. Nervous energy buzzed through her as she chopped, minced and sautéed her way around the tiny kitchen.

Her worries were definitely unwarranted, because after only three months of courtship the two were wed. They exchanged wedding vows on Sunday, the 5th of October 1958 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on St. Francis Way in Passaic. After a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, they started life as husband and wife. The young couple moved into the second-floor apartment of Yolanda’s family home. It would be here, that in just two years time, they would bring home their beautiful baby girl, Nancy.

Yolanda and Gabriele never missed a day of work. While pregnant, and even after welcoming her new baby into the world, Yolanda was still stitching the pants from Mr. Tumminelli’s factory. He would drop off stacks of clothing at her home and marvel at the incredible speed and skill with which she managed to finish her work.

Eventually, the couple saved up enough money to purchase a place of their own. A great deal of love and pride went into the house they bought on Patricia Place in Clifton. In between shifts at her new job at the State Sportswear factory, Yolanda focused on making the new house a home. She filled it with love and scratch-made Italian delicacies, welcoming in friends and family from all around.

In her free time, Yolanda enjoyed walking around her neighborhood and chatting with all of the friendly faces she encountered. She would cook and bake for her neighbors and friends, often preparing ingredients that came from her own garden. In retirement, Yolanda and her husband Gabriele did a bit of traveling. Along with their friends, they darted all around the country; from St. Augustine, Florida to Asheville, North Carolina, to the Jersey Shore and our nation’s capitol. The couple were excited about all of the memories and souvenirs they collected along the way and couldn’t wait to come home and share them with the people they loved most.

She spent 46 years in her tight-knit Clifton community. A lot of life happened in that time. She and Gabriele raised their daughter and watched her grow into a strong and poised young woman who would go on to have a daughter of her own. She passed on as much as she could to the next generations, sharing with them the recipes and traditions given to her by her own mother and grandmother.

After 46 years in Clifton, Yolanda and her husband moved to Wayne, New Jersey where they lived the remainder of their lives with their daughter Nancy, grand-daughter Nicole and beloved dog Murphy. Her loss has left an incredible void in the lives of those that loved her.

Yolanda was the beloved wife to her husband of 62 years, Gabriele. She was the loving mother of Nancy Cakir of Wayne, and cherished grandmother of Nicole Cakir of Wayne.

Louise "Lou" Van Ostenbridge (nee Wuestenhagen) age 90 of Wayne passed away after a short illness on Thursday, November 4, 2021.

Lou was born and raised in Hawthorne and lived there until she moved to Wayne over 65 years ago. She graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1949 where she was co-captain of the cheerleading squad and voted Most Likely to Succeed. After high school, Lou attended Douglass College (now part of Rutgers University) where she studied to be a physical education teacher. She left college in 1952 to marry her high school sweetheart, Jim Van Ostenbridge.

When her husband Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army and shipped overseas to serve in the Korean War, Lou went to work for AT&T initially as an operator and then as an operator trainer. After Jim returned from serving his country, Lou and Jim moved to Wayne where they enjoyed 62 years of marriage and raised their four children. After the children were grown and moved away, Lou went to work providing secretarial support to Jim for his work in the construction industry. The transition from being partners in life to being partners in the working world was natural for them.

Lou’s focus in life was always on her family. She was a devoted wife, a dedicated and loving mother, and a cherished grandmother. Family holiday meals were her specialty. Every year at Christmas, her children and grandchildren looked forward to the large cookie tins she would share filled with homemade treats. It seemed like she had every baking pan and cooking gadget ever invented. She took cooking classes not because she needed to learn to cook (far from it!) but because she was always interested in trying new recipes and cooking techniques.

Although she was quiet, Lou had an adventurous side, too. She and her husband Jim bought an RV in the 1980s and used it to travel around the country. Combined with airline flights to Alaska and Hawaii, they used the RV to accomplish their goal of exploring all 50 U.S. states. The RV was also used for “tailgating” at New York Giant football games for which they had season tickets. Family members and friends were always thrilled to be invited to spend a chilly Fall afternoon watching a game live and then going back to the warm RV for one of Lou’s hot, home-cooked meals.    

Lou and Jim were both devoted to their faith and were active members in the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne. Lou’s involvement at Preakness Reformed Church was highlighted by 50 years of singing in the choir. She served as music librarian for much of that time.

Lou was predeceased by her husband Jim and brother Frank Wuestenhagen. She is survived by 3 daughters: Peggy Presnell and her husband Linn of Farmington, MO; Patricia Lanno of Blowing Rock, NC; Susan Harden and her husband Scott of Wayne, one son: Daniel and his wife Lisa of Malvern, PA, and 7 grandchildren: James, Jay, Matthew, CJ, Mitchell, Thomas and Alyssa.

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In lieu of flowers, donations in Lou's name may be made to Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Barbara Ann Ronnholm (nee Volk), age 87, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 4, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Barbara was born in Teaneck and raised in Jersey City. She was primarily nurtured by her precious mother Henrika Volk (nee Kullberg) and Henrika’s four sisters – Allyce, Isabel, Irene and Theresa. She was extremely close to all of them and would often affectionately refer to her mom, aunts and uncles as “the village that raised her.” Being an only child, she was extraordinarily close to her cousins and recounted many stories of their summers together and working in Uncle Dick’s flower shop. Her mother and extended family always exuded a spirit of optimism which made a great impression on Barbara and became one of her most endearing qualities throughout her whole life. Her childhood was blessed by a loving and truly supportive family.

After graduating from Snyder High School in Jersey City with the Class of 1953 Barbara found administrative employment with various companies in Hoboken. She would look back on those days of early adulthood and fondly recall enjoying frequent lunches at Hoboken’s famous Clam Broth House – often after inviting her boss to come so he would pay for it!

One night in 1963, Barbara, as a young woman, was playing in a Singles Bowling League in Jersey City. While bowling that night, she met a handsome young man named Harold “Harry” Ronnholm. Barbara and Harry hit it off great and started dating. They fell in love and on Saturday, October 2, 1965 they were married. The newlywed couple settled in an apartment in Little Falls for a short time. While there, they welcomed the birth of their first child, Mary Ann. In 1967, they moved to Wayne where they welcomed the births of their next two children, Carol Ann and John. During those early years of marriage, Barbara lovingly and enthusiastically poured all her love and guidance into the raising of her children and the care of their home while Harry supported the family as primary breadwinner. They remained in Wayne for the rest of their lives and cherished fifty-six years of loving and loyal marriage together.

When her children started school, Barbara began working part-time as a knitting instructor. She used that talent to design and knit OLV-themed hats, scarves and mittens that were sold at the school as a fundraiser. She later returned to the workplace full-time first at Thomas’ English Muffins in Wayne and later as a payroll administrator for the township of Wayne. In both places her warm disposition won the hearts and respect of countless colleagues; she was an especially popular lady on payday!

Outside of her home, Barbara kept herself occupied in a myriad of ways. Along with Harry, who was a long-time member of Elks Lodge #2181 in Wayne, she was very active in the Elks Club Ladies Auxiliary, holding several offices including president. When women were finally welcomed to full membership, she became an Elk herself.

A true animal lover, Barbara never met a dog or cat she couldn’t help but love. That soft spot for pets led to the rescue of many dogs who would have otherwise been put down. She was fostering long before it was even a concept! Once during a blizzard, she rescued a three-legged poodle freezing in the cold. With his coat all matted down, he was in desperate need of grooming and veterinary attention. She took the dog in and paid for all his care. Over the years she fostered many pups and ended up keeping several of them! A few of the special ones we remember are Dutchess, Coco, Spec (he was really tiny, smaller than a spot!), Angel, Valentino, Fonzie, Lucy and one cat that stole her heart – Steven.

Barbara was a crafty lady. In addition to knitting, she did ceramics, made curtains, and sewed. She even re-upholstered all of her dining room chairs and was often called upon to fix holes in her grandchildren’s favorite clothes! Her talents, however, did not extend to the kitchen – she was often heard saying that the only thing she did with her stove was to dust it! She enjoyed being a regular at many local restaurants and diners.

Though she didn’t grow up with computers, Barbara didn’t let that keep her from learning how to use them. She embraced the challenge and consequently enjoyed creating all her own greeting cards on the computer. When her son John went on a trip to Japan, he would email her once a day and tell her all about where he had visited and where he was going the next day. Looking those places up on her computer, she would enjoy sharing conversation with him about what she had learned. In essence, it made her feel like she was virtually traveling with him and she loved how her computer enabled her to do that.

Barbara walked very closely with God throughout her entire life on earth. She and Harry were long-time parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church in Wayne. All three children attended school there. Early on in their time at OLV, Barbara and Harry got involved with the church’s Mr. and Mrs. Club where they made many life-long friends. Out of those friendships a club called the “Rowdies of Wayne” was inspired. It was a club made up of life-long friends from church that planned bus trips together and traveled to Florida. The “Rowdies” would always meet for breakfast or lunch after Sunday mass. Later after all were retired, they continued the tradition with the “breakfast club” meeting at the diner. Just this past Sunday, October 31, Barbara attended mass for the first time since the COVID pandemic started. It was such a special day for her as a mass was said for her beloved Harry who passed away just one month ago on October 4, 2021. After church, Barbara joined a few close friends at the diner. It was an especially enjoyable time being reunited and supported by old friends. It was a great day!

Aside from all of Barbara’s talents and hobbies, her greatest passion was for her family. Nothing in the world truly meant more to her than spending time with and providing for Harry, her children and her grandchildren. John will always have fond memories of his mom running up and down the line to cheer him on at his soccer games. That same enthusiasm carried through to her grandchildren. As a testimony to her grandmotherly love, Barbara spent every Friday taking care of Emma and Owen – building a special bond with them while affording Carol Ann a break. She also made sure to attend every sports, school, theater or dance event. No matter what she was going through, she never let it get in the way of doting on her grandchildren, including the youngest A.J. In fact, Barbara’s determined spirit enabled her to enjoy even richer times with her children and grandchildren.

Barbara will be fondly remembered for her many endearing and inspiring qualities. She was the very definition of outgoing and sociable. She had a zest and enthusiasm for life that is rarely seen. Even this past week in the hospital, when asked by the doctor how she was doing, she responded, as she often did, by saying “Hunky Dory!”

While we grieve Barbara’s loss here with us, we are certain there was a joyous reunion in heaven with Harry, her mother, and many members of her family and friends. We are also certain that she is reflecting back on her life here on earth as nothing short of “Amazing”.

Barbara Ann was predeceased by her beloved husband Harold “Harry” Ronnholm exactly one month prior to her passing. She is survived by her two daughters: Mary Ann Ronnholm of Wayne, NJ, and Carol Ann Murphy and husband Brian of West Orange, NJ, her one son John Ronnholm and his wife Maggie of Chester, NJ; and five grandchildren: Emma Murphy of West Orange, Owen Murphy of West Orange, Noah Dyer of Chester, Jonah Dyer of Chester, and Alec Jones “A.J.” Ronnholm of Chester.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Barbara’s name are asked to consider two possible ways to honor her memory. First, because her family was so grateful for the availability of donated blood during Barbara’s recent stay in the hospital, please consider blessing others by going to your local blood bank to donate if you are able. Second, because of her demonstrated love and concern for animal rescue, please consider giving to a local animal shelter of your choosing.

William “Bill” Petrie, age 82 of Wayne, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. His loving family was gathered at his bedside when he passed.

Bill grew up in Paterson and graduated from the carpentry program at Passaic County Vo-Tech High School in Paterson. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Des Moines (CA-134), a heavy cruiser. He sailed throughout the Mediterranean Sea and kept an apartment in Nice, France. Needless to say, he truly enjoyed his time in the Navy. Upon his discharge, he returned to Paterson and began working for Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley, NJ. After encouragement from a colleague and mentor, Bill attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned his Bachelor’s Degree, all while working full-time and raising a family. Over time he served as Production Manager of many pharmaceutical production processes. Eventually, Hoffman-LaRoche moved much of their production to Scotland in the late 1990’s, during which time Bill was able to travel there several times as part of the transition team. Being of Scottish descent and an avid golfer, Bill was more than happy to help! He then retired after 42 years of service.

Bill was indeed a passionate golfer! He played at least three times per week for as long as his family can remember. As a thirty plus-year member of the Farmstead Golf & Country Club in Sparta, he had a standing tee-time of 7:10 am every Saturday, and he was there thirty minutes early, without fail! He had a single-digit handicap and sank four hole-in-one shots over the years. His low round was an even par at Farmstead. He was known as “The Puma” on the links, and he always carried his trusty “Birdie flask” filled with his favorite single malt scotch, Dalwhinnie 15. One of the most memorable golf trips he took was to Scotland. He played thirteen rounds of golf during his fourteen days there, including the St. Andrews Old Course, Royal Troon, and Carnoustie. While his kids were growing up, Bill’s favorite family summer vacation destination was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He loved that the kids had plenty of activities, the ocean was calm and the golf was abundant. He was also a long-time Yankees fan, rooting on the Bronx Bombers through good years and bad.

Bill met his wife, Doris Jochmann, after returning from the Navy. The two ended up on a double date, but with other people! Despite that, they made a connection and love prevailed. Bill proposed to her on Thanksgiving in 1962, just after finishing dinner at her parent’s home. They were married less than a year later, on September 21, 1963, at the Wallington Presbyterian Church. They honeymooned in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands before settling into their first home in Passaic Park. After that they lived in the Delawanna section of Clifton for about fifteen years before moving to Wayne in 1981. Bill and Doris created a loving home for their four children, complete with a pool in the backyard, an abundant garden, and a beautiful lawn that Bill loved tending to. Their house became the family hub and all their children and grandchildren have fond memories of spending time there. Doris and Bill recently celebrated their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary, and Doris describes those years together as “wonderful.” They traveled to forty-seven of the United States, and twenty-seven foreign countries. Bill’s favorite destinations included Alaska and Italy. Bill also enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve celebrations during which he would run his trains under the Christmas tree much to his grandkids’ delight. He also cooked a traditional Scottish Yorkshire pudding at Christmas (the only thing he could cook!), and he sure knew how to do it well! The family is already in discussions as to who will pick up that tradition and carry it onward as a part of Bill’s legacy.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Doris of Wayne, their four children: William Petrie and his wife Margaret of Blairstown, NJ, Robert Petrie and his wife Dana of Wayne, John Petrie and his wife Barbara of Flanders, NJ , and Kristen Attenello of Wayne, as well as seven grandchildren Siena, Holley, Nieve, Blaise, Tyler, Ian and Emma. Bill is also survived by his older brother George of Chester, NJ.

John Hric, age 91 of Towaco passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

John was born and raised in Passaic, NJ and was the oldest of three children to Steven and Anna Hric.  As a young boy, John’s parents instilled a strong work ethic in him that he never lost.  Following his graduation from Passaic High School in 1948, he played semiprofessional football for a short time.  He found work quickly becoming a construction contractor building and renovating homes in the Clifton area.  John continued building and renovating homes throughout his life even after leaving the industry.  John later became a machinist and accepted a position at Magor Car Corporation in Clifton where he aided in the manufacturing of parts for locomotive and railroad freight cars.  After many years of service to the Magor Car Corporation, the manufacturing plant closed up and John was forced to look for a new position.  He, again, found work quickly and accepted another position as a machinist at Remco Foam in Clifton where he worked for many years until his retirement in 2002.

One night in September, John was attending a Billy Graham Crusade and met an attractive young lady by the name of MaryAnn Pickett.  John and MaryAnn hit it off great and started dating.  If there was ever a case of love at first sight, this was it.  John and MaryAnn fell in love and were married only four months later on January 25, 1958.  While on their way to their honeymoon, they pulled over for a moment on the side of the NJ Turnpike so that MaryAnn could give John a birthday kiss since January 26 was indeed his birthday.  Not long after they got back on the road, they were pulled over by a NJ State trooper.  After hearing the explanation and finding out that it was indeed John’s birthday, the officer let them go on their way without any violations.

John and MaryAnn settled in a home in Clifton that John built himself. While living in Clifton, they welcomed the births of their first three children.  The family moved to Passaic in 1965 where the couple welcomed their next two children, twins.  As John’s family grew, they moved again in 1974 to Towaco where they have been ever since.

John and his family were members of the Rutherford Bible Chapel for many years and later Grace Bible Church in Pompton Plains.  John was an avid reader of the Bible and was truly devoted to his Christian Faith.  He was a hardworking man with an outstanding work ethic.  He was critically involved in the Machinist Unions at the places where he worked and was very well liked by his co-workers as well as his employers.

John never lost his love for sports as he got older.  He was a Sports Historian of sorts and treasured sharing historical sports information and stories with his friends and family.  He was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan.  It was well known that he was not a fan of the NY Yankees, but supported his grandchildren for being fans of the ball club.  John was also a fan of boxing. As a young boy, John would shine shoes outside of the pubs and taverns trying to get a glimpse of the boxing matches on TV or a bit of a listen on the radio.

But aside from all of John’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passions were for God and his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to John than his faith and  providing for and spending time with his children and grandchildren.  John and his family cherished their yearly family vacations to Florida and Tennessee.  He and his wife MaryAnn have celebrated sixty-three years of loving and loyal marriage together.  In 2018, John’s heart was broken by the passing of his daughter Deborah.  John was a gentle and humble man who would give you the shirt off his back.  He was truly loved by his friends, family and his community.  He was a sincerely special person who touched the lives of many people.   He will be sorely missed by his family and friends alike.  

John is survived by his wife MaryAnn (Pickett), four children; Jonathan Hric and his wife Caren of Washington Borough, NJ, Becky Holschuh and her husband Paul of Oak Ridge, NJ, David Hric of Lake Hiawatha, NJ, and Daniel Hric and his wife Jeannine of Newfoundland, NJ, seven grandchildren; Jonathan Hric Jr, Jesse Hric, Victoria Hric, Joshua Holschuh, Matthew Holschuh, Samantha Hric, and David Hric, and one brother Joseph Hric of Newfoundland NJ.  John was predeceased by his daughter Deborah Hric and his brother Steven Hric.

Don Dette, age 84, passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Don was the oldest of three children born to Donald and Pearl (Nee Hulse) Dette.  He was raised in NJ where his family lived in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne.  He graduated from Wayne High School and attended Tusculum University in Tennessee.  Don was a member of the armed forces and was honorably discharged.

As a young adult Don relocated to the Washington DC area where he worked for the Department of Defense until his retirement.  He completed his BS Degree at the University of Maryland.  Don lived primarily in Alexandria, VA.

Don was an avid reader of fiction, followed politics closely and thoroughly enjoyed watching sports.  Don had a great sense of humor.  He was friendly, generous and curious about others.  He readily made acquaintances and was warmly recognized at his health club, residence or favorite restaurants.  He traveled in Europe as a younger person.  He enjoyed visiting regularly with his family in NJ and attending Broadway plays and dining out in NYC.  Don never married, but he did have a special lady in his life a number of years ago.

Don is survived by his brother, Robert Dette and his sister, Nancy (Dette) Levy both of whom live in Packanack.  He was uncle to Michelle (Dette) Gannon, Brynne (Levy) Ruiz and Alexa (Levy) Collingwood.  He will be greatly missed by his family and all those who knew him.

Christina E. Strang-Wolf, age 57, of Dumont, passed peacefully with her husband and three children by her side on Sunday, October 31, 2021.

Born in Paterson to Anthony and the late Maria (d. Jan. 2020) Mayer and raised in North Haledon, Christina graduated from Manchester Regional High School with the Class of 1981. Christina continued her education at Montclair State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Language Pathology with the Class of 1985. Passionate about helping others and her studies, she received her Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology with Columbia University in New York City.

Christina dedicated her life to helping others. She started her career as a Speech Pathologist at the Veterans Hospital in East Orange, worked for several local school systems, and spent the majority of her career at the Ridgewood Speech and Language Center in Midland Park before retiring in 2018. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and offer her expertise whenever needed. Her numerous patients and their families are a testament to not only her expertise, but her tremendous heart.
 
Christina met the love of her life, her best friend, Peter, in 1982, while she was working at the Foodtown and he the local liquor store in Haledon. He spotted her, and said it was love at first sight. After a bit of convincing, she agreed to go on a date with him to see ET at the local movie theater. Quickly, the two were inseparable. On October 18, 1986, when she was just 22 years old, they married. A testament to love and devotion, Christina and Pete shared a beautiful marriage of 35 happy years. Their children say that their love was the greatest guidepost to what a marriage should be. For their parents’ example, they will forever be grateful.

The light of her life and her greatest happiness were her three children. Christina and Pete welcomed twin boys, Maximilian and Nicholas, in 1988 and a baby girl, Alexia, soon after, in 1990. Planting their roots in Hawthorne, they spent 30 years as pillars of the community, where they raised their family. Nothing meant more to Christina than spending quality time laughing and having fun with her family. Her sense of humor and quick wit will truly be missed.  Always a figure of warmth for all who encountered her, Christina was quick to open her home and her heart to numerous neighborhood children and their families. Their home in Hawthorne, dubbed “Freeport” by their children’s friends, was a place of laughter and warmth and gathering.

In fact, Christina found home in a variety of places, and loved to travel. She spent part of graduate school exploring Germany, a place that was near and dear to her heart. Likewise, she found great comfort in the Poconos, where she enjoyed curling up beside a fire with a good crossword puzzle, sunbathing beside Locust Lake, or taking in the natural splendor of the foliage. Ever the traveler, Christina also made a home away from home in Singer Island, Florida, where she soaked up the sun and sea air. She was equally comfortable exploring as she was relaxing, she loved learning, and she continued to open those spaces, much like her heart, to her loved ones.

Although it is impossible to capture the beauty of her spirit in words, her family cherished her for always putting her family first, for loving and caring for all who were lucky enough to meet her, and for being an authority on a myriad of different topics. She was equally loved and well-respected. She was funny, brilliant, witty, and a great cook. Christina particularly shone during holidays, where she made everyone feel warm and loved; due to her giving nature, it is no surprise that she loved to play Santa.

Christina was the loving wife of Peter Strang-Wolf; devoted mother of Maximilian Strang-Wolf and his fiancée Jordyn, Nicholas Strang-Wolf and his wife Shaina, and Alexia Strang-Wolf and her fiancé Danny; she was the cherished grandmother of Tristan Strang-Wolf; she is survived by her father Anthony Mayer and was predeceased by her mother Maria Mayer (d. January 2020).

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

Walter M. Puente, age 93, of Wayne and formerly of Paterson, died on Saturday, October 30, 2021 surrounded by the loving presence of his dear family.

Walter was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, the child of Mariano and Celestina (Carballo) Puente. He grew up there and, throughout his life, he was always very proud of his heritage as a Spaniard.

After high school Walter began a career in sales for Swift Corporation, Angenscheidt, Corallo Brother Corp.  and later for General Electric in Uruguay. With his warm smile and magnetic personality, Walter was a natural at sales and a true success. As the old saying goes, he could have sold you the Brooklyn Bridge and left you feeling great for buying it!  

It was while she was teaching that a pretty lady named Blanca Riestra and Walter met for the very first time. Walter quickly asked Blanca out on a date but, to his surprise, she dismissed him! Being a salesman, he was used to occasional rejection and adept at never taking no for an answer. He didn’t give up and after asking her out several more times, Blanca finally agreed to that first date. They saw each other for no less than eight years before Blanca agreed to marry Walter. They exchanged wedding vows on Saturday, April 2, 1955 at the Iglesia de las Carmelitas Roman Catholic Church in Motevideo, Uruguay and, after the wedding and reception they honeymooned in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their first home as husband and wife was in Montevideo where they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Monica, Walter and Blanca decided to follow their relatives to the United States. They settled in the Lakeview section of Paterson, NJ on 65 Raritan Avenue and Walter began working in the local textile mills for Zenith Corporation in Paterson.

In his younger days, Walter loved to dance, especially to the Tango. He was an avid soccer, boxing and Indy/Formula racing fan. He enjoyed rides his motorcycle and taking his daughter Monica on camping trips every July to the Kittatinny Mountains of High Point State Park in Sussex. This was always followed by a week down the shore in Wildwood where they stayed at the Rio Hotel. Blanca would join them and Monica was always allowed to bring a friend.

After retiring in 2004, Walter and Blanca moved in with Monica and her husband August and their four children in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne. This turned out to be a perfect living arrangement as it allowed Walter and Blanca the opportunity to spend much quality time with their grandchildren. They had such fun taking care of them while Monica and August worked. He made a tradition of taking them to the pond in Fair Lawn to feed the ducks. Afterwards, they would always go for ice cream. He and Blanca loved to spoil them with other traveling adventures, and when it was time for them to drive, Walter was their expert instructor.

In his spare time, Walter enjoyed tinkering with cars. He did all his own oil changes, brake work, and other light maintenance on all the family automobiles. His favorite car was his Volkswagen Karmann Ghia which was yellow with a black hard top. One time, in an attempt to turn it into a convertible he began with one of the early steps of cutting the roof off at the posts. Running into some technical difficulties with the conversion kit, he welded the original roof back on and resigned himself to enjoying the car as a hardtop.

Blanca and Walter truly enjoyed themselves and lived a good life. They traveled the world, visiting Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, France, Morocco, Switzerland, Mexico, Hawaii, Brazil, the Caribbean, and many other destinations. They crossed the Equator on several occasions. For their fiftieth wedding anniversary, they toured the Greek Isles where Santorini became Walter’s ultimate favorite destination. They had a wonderful time together on that trip.

Having just celebrated his ninety-third birthday, Walter was blessed with a long and happy life filled with many wonderful experiences. For 63 incredible years, he was a truly devoted husband to his wife Blanca. He was a loving father to his daughter Monica, and a fun grandfather for his four grandchildren. He enjoyed the company of several canine companions over the course of his life too. Walter will forever be loved and appreciated for his beautiful smile and easy-going demeanor. He had need of little but gave a lot to those who had the blessing of knowing him.  

Walter was predeceased by his wife Blanca (nee Riestra) in 2018. He is survived by his daughter; Monica Costanzo (August) of Wayne, and four grandchildren; Dr. Tiffany Greco of Los Angeles, Nicole Greco of Wayne, Brian Greco of Wayne, and August Costanzo, Jr. of Wayne.

Helen Plucinsky (nee Stefaniak) age 89 passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.

She was born in Garfield, NJ on February 28, 1932 to the late Michael and Mary (nee Pluta) Stefaniak.

She attended S.S. Cyril & Methodius R.C. Grammar School in Clifton and Pope Pius High School in Passaic having graduated in 1950.

She was the beloved wife of the late William S. Plucinsky who passed away in 2001. Helen and William were the owners of Garfield Auto Refinishers Auto Body Shop where she worked in the office.  She was the devoted mother of Patricia A. Gray and her husband Robert of Hoboken, the late James M. Plucinsky who passed away on September 27, 2011 and was the former owner of Jimmy’s Service Center in Garfield where Helen also worked in the office, and Nancy Christ of Wayne.  Helen was predeceased by her very dear brother Joseph Stefaniak of Mahwah; and was the loved aunt of Joseph Stefaniak and his wife Jeannie and daughters Lexy and Lainey of Warwick, NY; her niece Karen Brennan and her husband Richard; and her great-nephews Connor and Shawn of Colorado.

Helen and her husband William lived in Elmwood Park and Wayne.  She was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church in Wayne for many years.

Jose “Rafo” Guzman, age 75 of Paterson, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.

Jose was born and raised in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the firstborn child of Fenelon Guzmán and Rafaela Antonia Guzmán.

When Jose was just seventeen, he moved to the United States seeking steady employment and a better life. He started as a humble dishwasher, then he worked at the Marcal Paper Products Company in Elmwood Park. Eventually, Jose opened his own bodega-styled grocery store on Church Street in Paterson. He called his store Guzman Grocery and, through hard work and a lot of determination, he enjoyed such great success that, in 1982 he was able to sell his business at age thirty four and move back to the Dominican Republic where he enjoyed a life of leisure for almost ten years. In 1991, he returned to the USA and again settled in Paterson and took a job with Drake’s Bakeries in Wayne. By the time he retired for good at age 66, Jose had worked for Drakes for over twenty years and, as a supervisor, he had earned the love and respect of all his colleagues.

One day while visiting his home country, Jose spotted a beautiful woman who was a teacher in the elementary school. She was enjoying a cigarette while outside for a break when he laid eyes on her. Greatly desiring to meet her, Jose asked a friend to approach her for a cigarette for him. The funny thing was that Jose didn’t even smoke! He would soon learn that her name was Zunilda Mercado and that encounter marked the beginning of a whirlwind romance with marriage coming a mere twenty-seven days later! They exchanged their wedding promises before God, family and friends on Saturday, September 28, 1968 at the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (Sacred Heart of Jesus) Church in El Mamey Los Hidalgos, Dominican Republic. After a honeymoon at the El Nuevo Suiza Hotel in Constanza, Dominican Republic, Zunilda stayed in the D.R. to work on getting her immigration paperwork so that she could join Jose who had returned to the United States. Over the course of the next six years, Jose and Zunilda became the proud parents of three children – Jose, Jr., Zuni, and Patricia.

Jose was one of the most loving and giving persons you could ever imagine meeting. He single handedly helped more people in their quest to gain citizenship in the U.S. and he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

Jose loved a good time! He enjoyed watching his New York Yankees and he liked getting a bunch of people together to play dominos. He derived great pleasure from playing bingo with his sisters-in-law. His strategy was always the same – play till he’d have all their money, then quit. Then he would stack all the quarters he won right in front of them just to good-heartedly rub it in that he beat them again. With a smile that could light up a room he was the life of the party and an accomplished dancer of the merengue and bachata. Parties were his passion. As his son-in-law Chris would always say, “Any excuse to roast a pig was a good enough excuse for Jose.”

Above all else, Jose’s family was the dearest blessing in his whole life. He adored Zunilda and always treated her like a queen. They renewed their wedding vows on both their 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries and had big receptions at the Grand Chalet and the Venetian respectively after each. For their 50th, they also went on another honeymoon – a cruise to Colombia. They traveled the world together visiting places including Alaska, Columbia, much of Europe, Israel, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Portugal, France, Turkey, Egypt, and India. They were planning a trip to Japan but cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Every year they would spend at least two months back in the Dominican Republic. They loved being together on cruises with their children and grandchildren and also many times with close friends. Jose adored his grandchildren and never missed any of their events or performances.

With his loving smile and always optimistic demeanor, Jose was a joy to know. He was loved by all because he showed sincere love to all. He cared deeply about his family and was always looking out for their best interests. He will be truly missed by those who had the blessing of sharing in his wonderful life.      

Jose was the beloved husband of Zunilda, blessed in marriage for 53 years. He was the most loving father of Jose Guzman, Jr. and his companion Tara Rodriguez of Paterson, Zuni and husband Gadi Piran of Upper Saddle River, and Patricia and husband Chris Storzillo of Wayne; adoring grandfather of nine grandchildren; proud great-grandfather of one great-grandchild (and one on the way); eldest and dear brother of numerous sisters and brothers; and dear uncle of countless nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving parents -Fenelón and Rafaela Antonia Guzman.

Aileen Hagen (nee McDermott), age 92, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Aileen was born and raised in Bay Ridge, NY and was the only child to Charles and Anna McDermott.  She attended Bay Ridge High School in New York and graduated with the class of 1947.  Following her graduation, Aileen found work quickly as a secretary at Crucible Steel where she was happily employed for many years.  Aileen loved going to parties and getting together with her friends as a young woman.  She spent many summers in Coney Island and was an avid roller-skater.  She roller-skated competitively winning a variety of prizes and awards throughout her young adult life.  One summer while at Coney Island, she met a handsome young man working as a lifeguard on the beach named Richard Hagen.  Dick and Aileen didn’t get along so well when they first met, however, fate took over and Aileen and Richard fell in love.  Richard and Aileen got engaged just before Dick shipped overseas with the US Navy to fight in World War II.  Dick being a Naval Pilot, took his pilot’s wings and melted them down to mold them into an engagement ring for Aileen.

Upon Dick's return from the war and after his honorable discharge, he and Aileen eloped to Maryland.  After getting married, the newlywed couple settled in Montclair, NJ and lived there for several years with Dick's family in a three family house.  While living there, they welcomed the birth of their first child, Lynn.  In 1956 Aileen and her family moved to Cedar Grove where they welcomed the birth of their second child, Richard.  After another five years or so, in 1961 the family moved to Wayne where their third child, Glenn was born, and they have been there ever since.
Soon after the birth of their first child, Aileen decided that she would devote herself to being a full time homemaker.  Aileen was a wonderfully dedicated mother to her children for many years.  Once her son Glenn started to go to school full time, Aileen had a calling to get back to the workplace.  She accepted a position as a freelance secretary for the Wayne Board of Education.  She moved from school to school in Wayne Township as a substitute secretary.  This was work that she truly loved, and she was well respected and loved by her colleagues.   Aileen treasured her career with the Wayne Board of Education until her retirement in the mid 1990’s.

In the early days after getting married, Aileen was active in women’s theatrical groups and community theatres in her area.  She was also an active member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Verona for many years.  Aileen was an avid bowler in the local women’s and mixed leagues in her area and enjoyed traveling and cruising with her husband to destinations such as Hawaii, Cancun, and a variety of Caribbean Islands.  One of Aileen’s favorite past times was antiques.  Her home was filled with a countless number of antiques including furniture and other collectables.  Besides her love of antiques and travel, Aileen’s greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Aileen than spending time with her family.  She and her husband Richard cherished fifty five years of loving and loyal marriage together until Richard’s passing in 2006.

Aileen was a non-nonsense kind of girl who took charge of things and led the way for others.  She was wonderfully organized and had an outstanding work ethic.  She always made it a point of surrounding herself with people whom she thought were of good nature and had honorable qualities.  Throughout her life she made many lifelong friendships.  She was a truly special person who will be sorely missed by her family and friends alike.

Aileen is survived by her daughter Lynn Stikna of Lincoln Park, two sons; Richard Hagen and his wife Barbara of Clifton, and Glenn Hagen and his wife Maureen of Flanders: seven grandchildren; Amy Fitzpatrick and her husband Damian of Glenwood, Eric Stikna and his wife Aimee of Celebration, FL, Rebecca Stikna of Lincoln Park, Beth Armstrong and her husband Jaquian of Clifton, Paul Hagen and his husband Justin of Brooklyn, NY, Kerri Kelleher and her husband Steven of Middletown, and Dane Hagen of Bridgewater.  Aileen was predeceased by her husband Richard Hagen in 2006 and by her granddaughter Christine Stikna in 1976.

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

Mary Claire Boyle, age 78, of Wayne, passed Sunday, October 24, 2021.

She was born in Wilkes Barre, PA to James and Louise Boyle.  She was raised in Paterson and graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic.

Through the years Mary Claire worked as a computer programmer at several companies including the Marcal Paper Company in Elmwood Park and the WH Neimann Company in Paramus before retiring.

She will be remembered for her loving way, being quiet and reserved. She was an avid reader who also loved doing crossword puzzles.  Mary Claire learned to cook from her mom and her quiche, chocolate chip cookies, and pumpkin pies will be dearly missed.

Mary Claire is survived by her brother James Boyle and his wife Stasia of Wayne; a nephew James Boyle III and his wife Carmen of Northport, FL and a niece Barbara Boyle of Franklin, TX.

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

There will be a livestream starting Friday at 3:00.  Please click on this link to watch https://livestream.com/aritonvideolive/jeanette

Jeanette Kathleen Gordon, 63, of Wayne, N.J. passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Chilton Memorial Medical Center, Pompton Plains, NJ, surrounded by her loving family.

Born May 30, 1958, in Long Branch, N.J. the daughter of the late William M. Gordon and Dympna C. (Healey) Gordon.

She is survived by her siblings Lynne (Gordon) Hoffman and husband Dean, of Richfield, Pa.; Evan Gordon and wife Jennifer (Winston), of Middleburg, Pa.; Katherine Gordon and wife Lisa Gray, of Pompton Lakes, N.J.; Mary Gordon and husband Matt Kaprelian, of Poughkeepsie, NY; Leigh (Gordon) Clancy and husband John Augustinski, of Greeley, PA; and Christine Gordon of Mifflinburg, PA.  Jeanette was blessed with and most adored by her nieces, nephews, extended family, and her dear friends.  With special acknowledgement to all those “angels” who supported Jeanette as caregivers, doctors, nurses, aides, therapists, and administrators – most recently our sincere gratitude to Julia, Christine, Raquel, Marla, Maria and Ivette – her east coast guardians. The family relocated and settled in Cedar Grove in 1963.  Jeanette graduated from Memorial High School in Cedar Grove in 1976.  She had joined The Jerseyman Club in its inaugural year.  During high school Jeanette was an associate for Bamburger’s department store in Wayne, NJ.

Jeanette attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, IA.  While in college she joined the sorority, Alpha Eta Omega where she made so many lifelong friends.  Her “sisters” lovingly called her Flash.

She returned home to Cedar Grove and worked in the commodities department at Merrill Lynch in New York City at the World Trade Center.

Soon after, the road was calling, and Jeanette began her adventures West.  After visiting a friend in Arizona, she decided to call Tucson her home.   She was employed by Valley National Bank as a loan officer.  She was often called out for the tremendous time she spent with, and the care she offered, the many seniors who needed direction and assistance.  After leaving the bank, Jeanette turned toward the retail world and joined the team of Savon Drugs as manager and eventually transitioned to the CVS Pharmacy Management team.  Jeanette loved the terrain of Arizona and loved to go exploring.  She was the consummate tour guide, many times exhausting her visitors while ensuring all the sights and scenery were explored.  She adopted a palette for the food of the Southwest and shared her delightful culinary experiences with anyone who would join her.  Jeanette believed that one of her greatest accomplishments was graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Political Science.  This all being done over the course of a decade and while working full time at CVS.  Jeanette would confess that her role as student was never easy for her and was so proud of her successful completion at the university.

Jeanette’s dream was to work her way up the West Coast and eventually end in the Northwest.  So, her next journey was a little closer to that dream when Jeanette transferred with CVS to San Diego, CA.  Jeanette role modeled the philosophy of living life to its fullest.  Whenever the opportunity afforded, she would adventure out and explore the world around her.   And if you were visiting, you went shotgun.  She absolutely loved her world in the Southwest.  The canyons and old towns, the treacherous dirt roads, historical museums, and century old churches.  One of Jeanette’s favorite activities was dining out for breakfast “solo” on the weekend.  Just lingering over a phenomenal local dish while reading the Sunday newspaper.  Jeanette’s most cherished destination spot was Catalina Island.  She would pack a duffel for a long weekend, enjoy the ferry ride to “her” island and find, if she could, an old, story-filled, and if possible “spirited” hotel for her short stay.  Time was spent walking the island, meeting up with some bison, speaking to anyone that would come into her purview and soak it all in.

After graduating from the university, Jeanette began her work with the County of San Diego as Administrative Assistant.  She was known for her tremendously helpful and resourceful demeanor, her arranging and supporting events and for painstakingly baking the most delectable treats for the office.

In 2011, Jeanette was in a devastating auto accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down.  She was hospitalized for several months while beginning the rehabilitation segment of her newest stage of life.  Her colleagues and friends from the county government generously donated their personal time off to allow Jeanette to attend to her recovery.  For this she, and her family, are extremely humbled and grateful.  Shortly after, Jeanette decided that it was time to return to her family and friends back east where she spent the remaining ten years in New Jersey.  Her final home was Sunrise Assisted Living in Wayne, NJ where she flourished; living as independent a life as she could – supported by personal companions and the loving staff.  She went on adventures with friends and family as frequently as she could; parks and reserves, beaches and museums, restaurants and movie houses.  She had more energy than those around her.  Most recently Jeanette was so brave and returned to her beloved California and visited her loving friends and former colleagues.  She also ventured to Washington, DC by train, with her sister, Lynne and companion Raquel to “conquer the town”.
Jeanette was methodical in everything she did and with all that she achieved.  She worked hard, lived well, and thought herself successful in all that she had done.  I know she would say there was still so   much to do and ground to cover, but we believe that to be true even if she lived to the age of 100.  Jeanette was a huge advocate of continued education, both formal and informal.  If you had the great fortune to spend time with her, she felt it her obligation to assist you in assuring you were striving to be the best that you can be, and that you were happy.  She often turned the conversation from herself and what she has achieved, she just always wanted to know what was going on with others and she did not hesitate to give advice, mentorship, and direction – which was usually spot on.  Even during her most challenging times Jeanette put others first.

Jeanette had a tremendous adventurous spirit.  She was not afraid to go to new places and try new things.  Her quick wit and sense of humor drew people to her and she was adept at turning complete strangers into dear friends.  Jeanette went through all that she endured with the greatest of class and in an utterly selfless manner.  She never wanted to be a burden to anyone.  With Jeanette, you would never leave the room without a word of encouragement and marching orders to return and keep her up to date.  Her bright blue eyes and tremendous smile could light up any room.  She touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed.

The family respectfully suggests that those who desire make a memorial contribution to:
Push to Walk - https://www.pushtowalknj.org/donate/
The Christopher Reeve Foundation - https://www.christopherreeve.org/donate
The Sharing Network- https://www.njsharingnetwork.org/contribute

Gloria was a shining beacon of light in her family, spreading positivity and joy at every turn. Gloria grew up in Paterson, New Jersey with her loving family of nine brothers and sisters. Gloria married her loving husband, George Massoud, on May 19th, 1957 surrounded by her loving family.

George and Gloria were blessed with two children, Marie and Christine, who they cherished with all of their hearts. Her children, and five grandchildren, meant everything to her. Her love of family was unparalleled and she only wanted to be together.

Gloria would put the best chefs out of business; her cooking, while exquisite to taste, was something that she loved to do. Even when she got into her later years and cooking became harder, she graciously insisted on cooking authentic Syrian foods for her family.

Gloria was always a fashionable woman with hair that would wow even the greatest hairstylists. Her hair was so enduring, that a raging windstorm was no match. Gloria would dress in beautiful clothes for every occasion. On her coat, she would fashion pins, angels on one side, and the American flag on the other.

While Gloria was known for her love of family, she was also known for her love of The New York Yankees. She was also known for her absolute disdain for the New York Yankees. It all depended on how the season was going. She and her husband never missed a game, inning, or minute of baseball.

Gloria leaves behind a heart-shattered family. The world lost a caring, thoughtful, compassionate, tenderhearted, and selfless person.

John M. Delaney, age 82 of Wayne, died on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. He has lived in Wayne since 1973.

“Jack,” as he was known to most, was an Aerospace Engineer with Singer-Kearfott Corp. in Little Falls for forty-three years before retiring. During his career, he had worked on the development and manufacture of guidance systems for aircraft and missiles, and some of the designs he worked on were integrated into the Space Shuttle. He was also awarded a U.S. Patent for a telephone call cost monitor that he personally designed. He was a bright engineer who enjoyed his career and the many people he befriended along the journey.

Jack grew up in Brooklyn, NY and was very proud of his heritage there. He graduated from Most Holy Trinity High School before earning his Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College in 1963. It was in 1970 that he met Elizabeth “Beth” Sullivan at Gleason’s in New York City. He bought her a drink and they soon began dating. Jack was an aerospace engineer, so ‘romance’ didn’t necessarily come naturally to him, but Beth could tell he was a good man. At dinner one evening, Jack pushed a ring across the table and asked Beth, “want to get married?” To which she replied “sure.” They were hitched on March 6, 1971 at St. Boniface Martyr Church in Sea Cliff, NY and honeymooned on the island of Puerto Rico. They settled in West Paterson briefly before buying the family home in Wayne in 1973. They raised their two children together and recently celebrated fifty years of a peaceful and loving marriage. She will miss him dearly.

In his spare time, Jack enjoyed surfing the internet, reading mystery novels, studying history. He loved reading so much and he was always looking for a bargain at the local library book sales! He was currently intrigued by the American Revolutionary history that abounds in our local area, and in his beloved Brooklyn, NY. He and Beth would frequently visit Brooklyn Heights, take in the view from the Promenade, and enjoy the local restaurants there.

Jack is survived by his beloved wife Elizabeth of Wayne, their two children; Christopher of Edison, NJ and Erin Delaney of Wayne, his brother Martin and his wife Diana of Garden City, NY, and many nieces and nephews.

Shukti Majumdar, beloved mother, wife and friend, has passed away at the age of 72, in her home. Shukti was surrounded by loved ones at the time of her passing, who will honor her legacy by living life to the fullest. Shukti was a retired human resources executive with an accomplished career in the cable tv and tech industries, at companies such as United Artists, Time Warner and the NY Times. She also was an entrepreneur in the fashion industry and a talent agent for Indian artists.

Shukti resided in Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ, and is survived by her son Arjun Majumdar and his husband Scott Sussman. She was the widow of the late Asit Majumdar.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the ASPCA would be greatly appreciated.

Please CLICK HERE if you'd like to see a video of Shukti's services and the eulogies offered by her family and friends.

Margaret J. Pape (nee Vreeland), age 104 of Wayne died Oct. 17, 2021. Peggy had lived in Wayne for sixty-two years.

Born in Montclair, NJ, Peggy lived in Bloomfield, NJ and graduated from Bloomfield High School with the class of 1937. She was on the gymnastics team all four years she was in high school. It wasn’t long after high school that Peggy was waiting for a bus on the corner of Franklin Ave. and Newark Ave. in Bloomfield, standing in the pouring rain. A man pulled up in a Chevy with a rumble seat and offered her a ride. Considering the dreadful weather, she accepted. Richard Pape’s kind gesture that day led to a first date at Donohue’s Restaurant in Wayne, which eventually lead to a proposal. Peggy and Richard were married in her aunt and uncle’s home in Nutley, followed by a honeymoon in Washington, DC. They even stopped to visit Atlantic City on their way home. They purchased their first home in Verona in 1941 and settled in Wayne in 1948. Peggy and Richard enjoyed a very loving and devoted marriage until his passing in 1986.

Peggy had been a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Verona Fire Department while they lived there, and then she was a member at Wayne Fire Company #1 for many years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Wayne, active with the Ruth Circle there. Later she joined the Gold Age Circle of Wayne and was a member for more than fifty years! Not too many people can say they have been members of a senior citizen organization for more than fifty years, but Peggy could! She was an extroverted, talkative friend to so many, and she was blessed with the friendship of so many wonderful people throughout her years. She always had a telephone to her ear and loved to talk! She was famous for hosting holiday meals at her home, and her pot roast was legendary. Peggy enjoyed travelling over the years, and she has taken many road trips, senior bus trips to various destinations, and many cruises including through the Panama Canal. She was most proud of her children and grandchildren, all of whom she loved very much.

Peggy is survived by her two children; Richard Pape and his wife Joyce of Toms River, NJ, and Nancy Eisenhauer and her husband Albert of Cedar Grove, NJ, four grandchildren; Tammy Howell and her husband Joe, Richard Pape and his wife Kim of Toms River, NJ, Tracy Coutts and her husband Chris of Boston, MA, and Sara Yannell and her husband Mike of North Caldwell, NJ, and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Richard in 1986, by her sister Ruth Savage in 1964, sister Madelene Reid in 2006, brother Samuel in 2006, and sister Evelyn Burger in 2007.

Frances Hering, age 92, of Wayne, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on Sunday, October 17, 2021.

The third child of Italian immigrants Carmen and Lisa (Santoro) Latrecchia’s four children, Frances was born in Paterson in her parent’s home located at 474 River Street. Her entire childhood was spent in Paterson and, after completing the eighth grade, she had to quit school so that she could work in the Paterson textile mills to mutually contribute to her family’s livelihood. This, of course, was a common practice for very young ladies of Frances’ era.

Frances met her husband George Hering on a blind date. This eventually led to a second date to the movies and afterwards to the Tree Tavern Pizzeria. Their love did indeed grow and it ultimately lead to their exchange of wedding vows in a marriage ceremony which took place on Sunday, September 25, 1955 at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church located at 224 East 18th Street in Paterson. Reverend Joseph Meyer officiated and Frances’ cousin Angela Giella was the maid of honor. After the wedding and reception, the newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon together in Florida and also to Niagara Falls.

Frances and George’s first home as husband and wife was in a shared two-family in Paterson, owned by Frances’ parents. In 1957 they were blessed with the birth of their first son George and three years later moved into the home in Wayne where Frances was living to the present. Soon after, in 1961 their son David was born and in 1963 Paul was born.

Because of Frances’ full-time devotion to her family, her boys were blessed with a loving and supportive childhood. When her sons started school, Frances got her driver’s license so that she could be a part of the carpool that was organized with the other mothers on her street. She also volunteered as a class mom at Albert Payson Terhune Elementary School in Wayne.

When the Hering family was young, they enjoyed annual weekly summer vacations down the Jersey shore in Wildwood and later to LBI where they always rented the “little green house on Ninth Street”, just five houses from the beach. It was a great week of family fun and memories and the welcome mat was always out for anyone who wanted to come down for the whole week or just for a night or two. Days were spent having fun in the sun and at night, Frances was always up for a game of Uno, Chinese checkers, rummikub, or canasta, and if no one felt like playing she’d entertain and challenge herself with a game of solitaire. As the boys gained independence, Frances and George took to the waters and skies enjoying numerous cruises to the Caribbean and trips to destinations including Las Vegas, Florida, California, and, of course, to the home of her ancestors in Italy. They also enjoyed snow birding at their winter home in Jupiter, FL where they made so many good friends. Sadly, George passed away in 1998 after a forty-two year marriage that could only be described as “made in heaven.” May heaven be infinitely grander than anything she saw on earth!

Outside of being home, Frances kept herself busy through various interests. When she was in her early forty’s she joined a bowling league at the original T-Bowl on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne with friends. She loved keeping her home clean to the degree that, if God himself came to visit, she would be proud to welcome Him. She was an excellent seamstress and she enjoyed crocheting blankets (sometime BIG ones) for her children and grandchildren, and winter scarves for her family and the homeless. One of her other specialties was making potholders. It seemed that everyone had a pair of Frances’ potholders and one year she made them for her neighbors and surprised them by putting them in their mailboxes as Christmas gifts.

To Frances, every holiday was a huge and exciting event. She loved to decorate and entertain at home and everyone who accepted her invitation had a great time and felt so welcome. When asked if his mom was a good cook, her son Paul exclaimed “Oh God! Yes! Favorites included her homemade gravy, chicken soup and chateaubriand and she always made too much so that she could give you leftovers to take home. At Christmas she made what seemed like thousands of cookies which everyone got to enjoy. In the summer the Hering back yard was the place to be. Everyone and anyone was welcome to drop by unannounced for a swim in the pool and there was always a neighborhood picnic which she loved to host. Fran and George also had a tradition of hosting an annual beefsteak dinner at the house.  

Frances and George were founding and long-time parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Roman Catholic Church in Wayne. Faith in God was important to Frances and, in later years, she so much enjoyed meetings, lunches and games as a member of the church’s senior group led by Sister Arlene Kohler. Being the very sociable person that she was, Frances also enjoyed attending the Golden Agers at the Wayne P.A.L.

Like all humans, though a sinner saved by God’s grace, Frances possessed numerous admirable qualities. Whether knowing you from church, or from her seniors club or as a good neighbor, Frances was a friend to all. Thankful for the countless blessings in her own life, she took great pleasure in “paying it forward” and was therefore always glad to give you the shirt off her back if you needed it more than her. She was a staunch advocate for time-honored traditions and seemingly sentimental about everything. She touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed.

Frances was predeceased by her husband George, Sr. in 1998 and by her son George, Jr. in 2016. She is survived by her sons: David and wife Nancy Hering of Highland Lakes, and Paul and wife Diane Hering of Wayne; five grandchildren: Danielle and husband Scott, David and wife Krissy, Christopher, Katie, and Melissa; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her three brothers: Frank, John, and Joseph Latrecchia.

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

Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797. To donate online, click here: lustgarten.org or to The American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023. To donate online, click here: diabetes.org

Danuta Muraszew, age 72, of Woodland Park, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, October 16, 2021.

Danuta was born in Lobez Poland and raised in Debno Poland. She attended a Polytechnical University in Szczecin, Poland where she earned a Master’s degree in Economics.

In her early twenties, Danuta moved to Krakow Poland. There she worked and met many lifelong friends. It was a city that impressed her so much, for the rest of her life, if asked where she was originally from, she’d say she was from Krakow. In her late twenties, Danuta received a chance to move to the United States. Selling everything she owned, she seized that chance and moved to New York City where she got a job in the prestigious Wellington Hotel. Danuta started with humble beginnings as a cleaning lady and, through hard work and dedication, over the span of her entire career with the hotel, she rose to the position of Director of Housekeeping. It was a job that she loved for 25 years and during which she helped many other fellow immigrants by providing them a steady job at the hotel.

Danuta was an amazing woman who, as a single mom, tirelessly dedicated her love and devotion to her daughter Magdalena “Maggie”. During those twenty-five plus years living together in Queens, she worked at the hotel by day and lovingly exposed Maggie to spectacular and interesting cultural experiences in NYC whenever they had time, after work and on weekends. Together they made frequent visits to beautiful art museums and photo exhibits, learning about U.S. and Polish culture. Danuta also made sure she taught Maggie to read, write and speak fluently in the Polish language. Having learned through her economics education how to squeeze the greatest value possible out of every dollar she earned, Danuta was able to take Maggie on a variety of trips every year. Together they visited countries including Poland, France, and Italy, as well as traveling all around the US to places such as: Alaska, Hawaii, the midwest and west coast. While in Italy, she and Maggie even got to meet Pope John Paul II in person.

Danuta loved to dress fashionably and she loved going dancing with her friends. But, while being classy and pretty was great fun, she equally loved going fishing while taking trips to her lake house in Glen Spey, NY or on annual visits to Lake George, NY. She also loved nature and liked hiking.

Danuta’s faith was an important part of her life. When Maggie was a little girl, they attended Mass regularly. Her Catholic faith was always there to guide her through the challenges of life. Next to her devotion to God, Danuta was eternally devoted to her family. She adored her two little granddaughters Katherine and Natalia to pieces and was always spoiling them as any good grandmother would. Danuta touched the hearts of many good people and will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to have known her.

Danuta was the most loving mother of Magdalena “Maggie” and her husband Jerry Kowalski of Wayne, cherished grandmother of Katherine and Natalia Kowalski, dear sister of Henryk and wife Anna Knapik of Queens,NY and dear aunt of Martin Knapik and Christopher Knapik.

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

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105-9959
To donate online, click here (www.stjude.org)

Barbara E. Murray, age 86 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, October 16, 2021. She had been a resident of Packanack Lake since 1962.

Barbara was born in Jersey City and raised in Union City, NJ.  She graduated from Emerson High School in Union City with the class of 1953. When she was young, Barbara began training to be a gymnast, which culminated in her attending the Olympic trials in Chicago in advance of the 1956 Summer Olympics, and propelled her to a life long love of athletics.

After the Olympic trials Barbara met her future husband, Hubert, at Mass on Holy Saturday in Ridgefield.  He only lived around the block from the church, but he asked Barbara for a ride home. Soon thereafter he visited one of her gymnastics events and her competitive nature won him over.  They went dancing on one of their early dates and their mutual love of dancing persisted throughout their lives together.  Their presence on the dance floor at every wedding and social event was as consistent as the presence of flocks of geese flying south for the winter.

Barbara and Hubert were married for 56 years before Hubert’s passing in 2015.  They had four children, Robert, Thomas, Donald and Charissa.  Barbara shared Hubert’s love of travel, whether visiting her son Robert and his family when they lived in Europe, or visiting Hubert’s relatives in Ireland, or making an annual late winter pilgrimage to Florida in Hubert’s camper to visit family and friends along the way who moved South.

Barbara loved her community in Packanack Lake. She put her love of sports to great use on behalf of the children of Packanack Lake.  She became the sports commissioner for the Packanack Lake Athletic Association. She started the girls’ basketball league, coached girl’s teams in T-ball and softball, as well as being the assistant coach on her son Robert’s Senior League baseball team, often filling in as head coach in the absence of the head coach, whose job often prevented him from coaching on game day.  The Packanack Lake Athletic Association recognized Barbara’s enormous contribution to the sports program and children of the community by establishing an annual award in her name, the “Barbara Murray Most Valuable Player Award.”  Barbara augmented her administrative athletic activities by being active herself, joining a bowling league, and later volleyball league, where her team, the Packanettes, won the league championship more than 20 times.  In later years, she and her group of walking friends rose early every morning for their walks around the lake, and later the peninsula.

Barbara was a devoted fan of the theater and spent many years as a Packanack Player, particularly noted for her acting, directing and dancing in the annual Packanack Players’ Summer Show.  Barbara’s commitment to the Packanack Players helped it thrive as a beloved cultural institution in the community.  Barbara loved to attend Broadway plays, and for many years, with her group of theater loving friends, had memberships at the Barn Theater and Papermill Playhouse.  These theater outings included Barbara’s other passion, post theater fine dining with plenty of wine and conversation with good friends.  Between shows, Barbara loved movie nights organized by her friends John and Brigette Davis at their house where film, fun and pizza with friends was the agenda for the evening.

Barbara’s most important quality was her devotion to her family and friends.  Barbara loved the holidays.  She continued the tradition of the Murray/Bydlik family Thanksgiving that her parents began during WWII in the family’s cold water flat on Bergenline Avenue in Union City.  The tradition expanded to including family friends, and at times her husband Hubert’s relatives from Ireland.

Barbara is survived by her four children; Robert and his wife Leslie of Stockbridge, MA, Thomas and his wife Rhonda Gottlieb of New York, NY, Donald of New York, NY, and Charissa Cronin and her husband Brian of Wayne, five beloved grandchildren; Stephen Murray and his wife Araceli of North Adams, MA, Megan Murray of Great Barrington, MA, and Zoe, Patrick and Robert Cronin of Wayne, one brother; Robert Muendel of Hoboken, one brother-in-law Brian Murray of Jersey City and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory would be greatly appreciated.  Please consider the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474, or help support Barn Theater with a donation to; Barn Theater, PO Box 102, Montville, NJ 07045.

John Lazzara, age 69, of Wayne, passed peacefully at home on Friday, October 15, 2021.

He was born in Paterson and raised in Pequannock having graduated from Pequannock High School with the class of 1970.  He has lived in Wayne for the past 38 years.

John’s very first job as a young boy was delivering newspapers to the homes in Pequannock.  He was recognized in the local paper as “Carrier of the Month” for his dedication.  He later worked at the family business, Lazzara’s Bakery in Paterson.  For a while he drove a tractor trailer across the country for Mayflower Moving Company.  John had a passion for fixing and building things and eventually established Lazzara Builders & Developers in Wayne.  He eventually took the Civil Service test to become a Sheriff officer and began his career with Passaic County in 1990 at the age of 37 as a courthouse officer. In 2002, he was assigned to the US Marshal Service NY/NJ Regional Task Force, based in Newark as a deputized federal marshal.  In this position he was involved in the investigation and apprehension of fugitives wanted for 1st and 2nd degree violent crimes.

John returned to the Sheriff’s Department in 2011 as Commander of the Warrant Division. In all John spent 28 years with the Sheriff’s Dept retiring in 2017 as Chief with command of the Bureau of Law Enforcement.  After a year in retirement, Sheriff Berdnik asked John to return to serve as Director of Personnel, a job he held ‘til the day of his passing. Professionally he was member of the Passaic County Police Chief’s Association, Past President of the NJ Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, 1st Vice President of the Italian American Police Society of NJ, a member of PBA Local 286 of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, and a member of Saint Michaels Marshals Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.

John met his wife, JoAnn Colella through a friend and their first date was a motorcycle ride.  They soon fell in love and John was going to propose marriage while enjoying a special dinner but felt other tables were too close and there wouldn’t be enough privacy.  John had pressure on him to make the proposal as friends, whom he told he was going to propose, were waiting locally to celebrate their engagement.  He found the perfect, romantic opportunity to do so while stopped at a traffic light by the Glover Avenue Bridge on the Paterson/ Totowa border.  They married on August 22, 1982 at the Town and Campus in West orange followed by a honeymoon in Hawaii.  They have enjoyed a loving, devoted marriage of thirty nine years that was blessed with two children, Michael and Alyssa.

John will be remembered as a quiet, loving, determined, honest and dedicated person.  He was straight forward and genuine in his dealings with others and funny in his own way.  Most of all John was a devoted family man.  He enjoyed family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving when he prepared his infamous Lasagna.  Over the years he has had many Harley Davidson motorcycles including a Springer, Rocker C and most recently a custom trike which he recently took to Sturgis, South Dakota for the Annual Motorcycle Rally. For many years, he enjoyed trips to his timeshare in Aruba where he would just bake in the sun.  He wouldn’t consider going anywhere else as he truly enjoyed the weather, ocean breeze and many Aruban friends.  John enjoyed Sudoku, crossword puzzles and watching his grandson’s soccer, baseball and basketball games.  

John was the loving husband of JoAnn Lazzara; devoted father of Michael Lazzara of Pequannock and Alyssa Lazzara and her husband Kyle Kerstner of Franklin Lakes; cherished grandfather of Dylan and Brandon Lazzara; and loved brother of Geraldean Hoffner of Brick, Joyanne Zuppichini and her husband Mark of Colts Neck, Cecelia Paul and her husband Kenneth of Pompton Plains, and Daniel Reilly and his wife Martha of Wyomissing, PA. He will be missed by his Sister in law, Linda Husted and Brother in Law, Louis Colella and his wife Joan, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces,  great nephews and many close and dear friends.  John was the son of the late Ottaviano and Anne Lazzara, and Gertrude Reilly.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated.

Eleanor Gross, age 89 of Hudson, Florida and formerly of Wayne, NJ, died on October 14, 2021.

Eleanor was born February 18, 1932 in Paterson to Anton & Marie Gross, the eldest of three children.  She graduated Central High School in Paterson in June  of 1949. She then moved to Wayne in 1957 until her retirement.

After high school, she worked in the accounting office for the A&P company in Paterson for several years then Curtiss-Wright Corp from where she would retire in 1992 to Florida, a long time dream of hers.

Eleanor always loved Palm Trees which led her to all her Bermuda vacations, so it would only seem natural that when she retired she would head to Palm Trees and sun in Hudson, Florida.  Her best friend Marge Fletcher whom she met in a bowling league several years before was more than happy to join her and leave behind the New Jersey winters.

Eleanor was very involved in the Hudson Florida community social life until strokes and heart issues forced her to sell her home and go into Solaris Health Care.

She is predeceased by her parents Anton & Marie Gross, her brother Robert (Bob) from Wayne, and a nephew Robert (Bobby) from Wayne.

She is survived by her brother Joseph (Joe) & and wife Susan (Sue) from Georgia and sister-in-law Marge from Wayne.  Nieces Mary & husband Dan from Wayne, Cathy & and husband Larry from Pennsylvania, Lisa & husband Mike from South Carolina and Christine & husband Mark from Georgia.  Eleanor also has 4 great nieces, 4 great nephews and 2 great-great nieces and 2 great-great nephews.

She will be truly missed

Clasina “Clazien” Kersten (nee Heerschap), age 80, of West Milford, passed away on Thursday, October 14, 2021 with family lovingly by her side.

Clazien was born in the Netherlands in the town of Naaldwijk. She was just a little girl when the Nazi’s occupied Holland. The daughter of God-fearing parents Matthew and Neeltje (Camphens) Heerschap, her father was sent to a concentration camp for getting caught hiding Jewish citizens in the family home. Despite being a prisoner in the concentration camp, Clazien’s father refused to work on Sunday claiming that it would be a violation of God’s command to keep the Sabbath day holy. Most people who would have made that claim would have been shot on the spot but, God was watching over Clazien’s father for being obedient to God’s commands. God spared his life through the act of an atheist man who purchased him to be his servant. It was a difficult time to say the least for Clazien but it taught her a life-lesson about God’s faithfulness.

Several years after the war, Clazien’s father who was a minister, received a call to come to America to be the pastor of the People’s Park Netherland Reformed Church in Paterson, NJ. The whole family immigrated to America and took residence in Haledon, NJ. Clazien was a young woman of twenty years of age at the time. Soon after, she met a man named Garret Henry “Hank” Kersten. They married and had three children – Karen, Garry, and Matthew. Clazien settled into the role of homemaker and mother and she also cleaned homes and professional offices on the side. In 1982, she moved to Brick Township, NJ and took a job as an EKG technician at Community Memorial Hospital in Toms River, NJ. She excelled at her work and eventually took a job closer to home at Brick Township Hospital. In 1989 Clazien moved to Pompton Plain, NJ where she worked for various medical practices until retiring in 2011.

In her spare time, Clazien filled her life with numerous activities. She was an excellent seamstress whose specialty was wedding dresses. She also loved to knit and, as a member of the Lois Circle - a gathering of women from her church, she enjoyed knitting baby blankets and other items which were donated to good causes. Clazien also enjoyed being outside working in her gardens. She truly was a masterful gardener! She was an excellent cook and baker who, among so many other Dutch treats, made delicious speculaas Dutch spiced cookies that went so well with a cup of coffee when family and friends dropped by for a visit.

With one of her various Shih Tzu dogs, that she had over the years, by her side, Clazien enjoyed playing hymns on her organ, and reading her bible or other religious books. As a member of the Ebenezer Netherland Reformed Church in Franklin Lakes, Clazien’s ability to speak, read and write in the Dutch language enabled her to translate sermons from ministers from Holland into the English language to be shared with the church congregation in America.

Clazien adored her grandchildren. She shared a special relationship with them as summed up so beautifully by the memories shared by one of her granddaughters:

“Oma - I’m always going to think of you and reflect on my childhood. Oma’s was a place where you always had fun, mainly sleepovers with our cousins. I won’t forget the times we had and shared through the years. You always lead with comfort and belief and always made sure we had God’s word in our heart. My heart is full of memories that I will forever hold. Like that time we turned Rudy green with markers, the countless times climbing the tree in you front yard, or playing in the basement all day long, or the way you taught us about money by going to garage sales lol. I’m going to miss your stories, and your Dutch traditions. You are no longer suffering and are home with the Lord, I wish I could hold your hand one more time. I love you so much Oma, I’ll always be your liefje.”
 
Surviving are Clazien’s three children: Karen Moore of Oak Ridge, Garry and wife Lois Kersten of Stockholm, and Matthew and fiancé Missy Maresco of Brick Township; eight grandchildren: Kyle and wife Megan, Jessica, John Jr., Hannah, Nicholas, Danielle, Casandra and Tommy; eight great-grandchildren: Ashlee, Madison, Charlotte, Luke, Jaxson, Weston, Lily, and Ariella; two brothers: Walt and Cornelius Heerschap; and sisters: Geer Grisnich and Jan Dolan; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her granddaughter Holly in 2018, and two of her brothers and one sister: Bill and Matt Heerschap and Johanna Vander Knijf.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Clazien’s name may be made to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School, 164 Jacksonville Rd, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.

Roberta E. Chappa, age 71 of Wayne, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. She has lived in Wayne for thirty-seven years.

Roberta was a Registered Nurse and worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson throughout most of her career. She was able to complete nursing school while raising three children and received her BSN from William Paterson University in 1986. She graduated nursing school the same year her own daughter graduated from the eighth grade! Her first nursing job was at Chilton Hospital before joining St. Joseph’s Hospital. She retired from St. Joseph’s in 2016 but enjoyed the work so much that she continued in a per diem capacity for a few more years. She was a dedicated nurse and she loved the many great friends she made along the way.

Roberta grew up in Paramus and graduated from Paramus High School with the class of 1968. This was right around the same time that she met Larry Chappa. They met in Hackensack one day when Larry was out cruising with his buddies in a new Pontiac GTO he had recently purchased. She had a good sense of humor and she convinced Larry that she was of Hawaiian decent! She was also a little untruthful about her age, as Larry was a few years older than her. Larry went to her home for a first date, and she had told him that she was graduating, so he naturally assumed she was graduating from college. But he soon realized that she was only just graduating from high school! Nevertheless, they hit it off and fell in love. They were married just one year later, on July 13, 1969, at Annunciation RC Church in Paramus, followed by a honeymoon to the Jersey Shore. They lived briefly in Wallington and West Paterson before settling into their family home in Wayne in 1984. Roberta’s favorite place to visit was Long Beach Island at the Jersey Shore. She and Larry spent many summers there with their children and family. So many of their family memories are based right there, in LBI. The beach was her favorite place to be, hands down. She also enjoyed reading Danielle Steele novels, watching soap operas (she was addicted!), and making candy. She really had a skill for making chocolates and homemade candies. Friends and coworkers would place orders with her around the holidays, and she has a box full of candy molds! Everything she made was delicious, including her cookies.

Roberta’s greatest joy came in the form of grandchildren! She was the most loving and generous grandmother and her world revolved around them. She would almost get angry if her kids ever hired a babysitter because she wanted to be with the kids herself. Her grandchildren had many ‘sleepovers’ at grandma’s house, and Roberta loved taking them to Broadway plays, Disney, and anywhere else they wished to do. She smothered them with love and they will miss her hugs and kisses.

Roberta is survived by her beloved husband, Larry of Wayne, their three children; Maria Schetelich and her husband Robert of Cedar Grove, Kristin Dutton and her husband Erin of Franklin Lakes, and Larry Chappa of Shawsville, VA, four grandchildren; Olivia and Gabriella Schetelich of Cedar Grove, and Shea and Dylan Dutton of Franklin Lakes, and her two brothers; Donald Bender and Kenneth Bender. She was predeceased by her parents; Nicholas and Marie Bender.

Pauline Riggio, age 90, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Pauline was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and was the only child to Augustine and Lucile Gentile.  As a young lady, Pauline attended high school in Brooklyn and graduated with the class of 1949.  Pauline found work quickly following her high school graduation at a local car service station where she was employed as a bookkeeper. Pauline worked there for several years in the early 1950’s.  During that time she would attend public dances at the Roseland Ballroom located on West 52nd Street in New York City, as well as the Palladium Ballroom on Broadway.  While dancing one night, she found herself being “chased” around the dancefloor by a handsome young man named Jack Riggio.  Jack was persistent in seeking her out and the two got together for a date to the movies and some ice cream afterwards.  Jack and Pauline hit it off great and started dating.  If there ever was a case of “love at first sight,” this was it.  Only four or five months later on September 8, 1957, Jack and Pauline were husband and wife.

Jack and Pauline settled and remained in Brooklyn for just over 10 years after getting married.  During that time they welcomed the births of their two children Joann and Joseph. Shortly after becoming a mother, Pauline decided she would be take on the task of being a full time homemaker.  This was Pauline’s true calling and where she genuinely flourished.  Pauline was a devoted mom and wife to her children and husband for many years.  In 1968 Pauline and her family moved to Wayne where they raised their children until June of 2021 when she and Jack moved to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains.

Not long after Pauline’s children left school, she decided that she would get back to the workplace.  Again, Pauline found work quickly at Capital Lighting in Fairfield where she worked in Customer Service.  Pauline was employed there for about three or four years when she then accepted a position at Ricoh Corporation in Fairfield.  There, Pauline was employed as a Customer Service Representative.  She spent the next ten years working for the Ricoh Corporation until retiring in 1993.

Pauline was an avid bowler and played in local women’s and mixed leagues in her hometown of Wayne.  She also enjoyed playing Bingo with her friends and family at the Firehouse in Wayne, St Gerard’s RC Church in Paterson, and the Wayne PAL.
Another of Pauline’s favorite past times was shopping.  Pauline loved to shop for just about anything, but her favorite shopping sprees were for clothes.  She was a quiet lady and a pleasant person to be around.  Always kind to everyone that she met and made it a point to make people feel comfortable while they were with her.  She and her family cherished their yearly family vacations to Wildwood Crest and their trips to Las Vegas to visit Pauline’s mom, Lucile that lived there.  While in Vegas, Pauline never passed up the opportunity to try her luck at the nickel slots.  

Aside from all of Pauline’s talents, hobbies, or interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Pauline than spending quality time with her family.  She and jack treasured sixty-four years of loving and loyal marriage together.  In March of this year, tragedy struck Pauline and her family’s lives when her only son Joseph passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

Pauline was truly a special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Pauline is survived by her husband Jack Riggio of Pompton Plains, one daughter Joann D’Ura and her husband Glenn of Wayne, and two nephews John Riggio of Hopatcong, and Jason Riggio and his wife Christine of Bloomingdale.  She was predeceased by his son Joseph Riggio earlier this year.

Donations in Pauline’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Joseph John Sedlacik, age 89, of Wayne, passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

He was born in Passaic to John and Mary Sedlacik, where he attended St Mary’s grammar school and the Passaic vocational school. As a young boy, Joe earned extra money for his family as a pin-setter at the Garden Palace Lanes in Clifton.  The family eventually moved and bought a chicken farm in East Paterson (now known as Elmwood Park).  After vocational school, he worked for Howard Zink Corporation in Passaic before enlisting into the United States Marine Corp.   One night, while home on leave, Joe stopped in to see his brother Al at the Garden Palace Lanes. Rosemary was bowling with Joe’s brother, Al, and when Joe walked in with his Marine Corps uniform on she was smitten. Joe would later admit to her, that when he first saw her, he knew she was the girl he would someday marry.  Their first years together were as pen-pals while Joe served in the Marines. Unbeknownst to each other, they both saved every letter and still have them to this day. When Joe was discharged from his service, they were to be married but had to wait a year as Rosemary’s grandfather had recently passed and it was the tradition to wait a year before any family celebrations. They married on May 7, 1955 at Holy Trinity Church in Passaic followed by a reception at Turn Hall in Passaic.  Joe and Rosemary drove to Miami Beach, Florida for their honeymoon in his blue-green Chevy Impala.  When they got to Miami Beach, Joe had to go see a doctor as he got sun poisoning on his left arm that had been hanging out the window from New Jersey to Florida. Joe and Rosemary had sixty-six years of a devoted marriage that was blessed with four children.

Joe was very proud of his Marine Corps service during the Korean War.  As he was being transported to Korea the Korean Armistice was signed and his ship was re-routed to Japan. Upon his Honorable discharge from the Marines, he attained the rank of Sergeant and received the Good Conduct Medal, National Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. He was a member of Anthony Wayne Post 174 of the American Legion.

Joe was an iron worker for Ironworkers Local #483 out of Paterson, for 34 years during which time he worked on the former Giant’s Stadium, Horizon House in Fort Lee, and numerous infrastructures across North Jersey before retiring in 1989.

Joe was dedicated to his Catholic faith and was a long time parishioner of Holy Cross Church in Wayne.  Many will remember him greeting and ushering people at Mass for over fifty years.

Joe will be lovingly remembered for his friendly, outgoing way and the fact that he could get a little “saucy” at times. He did not like losing at games, would get angry playing Pictionary, stole Monopoly money, and would hide that last piece of a puzzle so he could claim to have finished it. He was a devoted husband and father who loved family vacations at the Ocean Beach section of the Jersey Shore and enjoyed vacations in Aruba where he had a time-share for over thirty years. He has also visited many National Parks, bowled in leagues for many years, and enjoyed playing video poker in both Atlantic City and Aruba casinos.  He was an animal lover and enjoyed his grand-dogs and feeding the squirrels and chipmunks. He liked to watch golf on television as well as watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.  Some will recall his having a separate vegetable garden for himself and one for Rosemary.

He was the loving husband of sixty-six years to Rosemary; devoted father of Joseph J. Sedlacik, Jr. of Wayne, Chris Sedlacik of Wayne, Teresa Stiles and her husband Michael of Clifton, and the late Deborah A. Petkovich (d. 2010); he was the cherished grandfather of Brian, Sarah, and Kristin Sedlacik, Amanda Petkovich, and Alexandra Sedlacik; he was the dearly loved great-grandfather of Adrianna Sedlacik, and loving grandfather of his grand-dog, Ruby. Joe is survived by his sister Ann Castiglia and her husband Joe of Pompton Plains and was predeceased by his brothers: John, Edward, Emil, Al, Walter, and Richard, and sisters: Agnes, Elizabeth, Mary, and Julia and two siblings who passed very young.

William F. Canning, age 94 of Effort, PA and formerly of Wayne, died peacefully at home on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.

Born in Paterson, Bill lived in Wayne for twenty-six years before retiring to Effort, PA in 2018. Bill enjoyed gardening and travel and he had been on many cruises with his wife, Celeste, before she passed away in 2019.

Bill is survived by his sons; William of Passaic NJ, and John (Karen) of Effort PA, twelve grandchildren; Bill, Curtis, Brianna, Drew, Christopher, Alexis, Cameron, Caitlin, Devon, Brandon, Luna, and Jonna. Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife Celeste in 2019, and by his daughter Nancy in 2003.

Judith A. Fomen (Capparelli) age 76 of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 11, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Judy was born in the summer of 1945 in Teaneck to Vincent and Ann Capparelli. During the early years of her life, she lived with her family in Cliffside Park. Her family moved to Oakland in 1958 and this is where Judy attended and graduated from Ramapo High School with the class of 1963.

After high school and in her early twenties Judy became involved with and enjoyed competing as a drum major with the Oakland Rangers Drum and Bugle Corp. At that time she was also a member of a bowling league and enjoyed playing billiards at the pool hall. From the time she was a young girl she developed a love of cars and, while her younger sisters were busy cooking and baking with her mom in the kitchen, Judy preferred being outside alongside her father, assisting him in working on the family’s cars. Of course, in time she got her driver’s license and, as a young lady, there were three particular cars that she owned that, in later years, she would often reflect upon and say, “I wish I still had that car today.” The first was a 1954 Ford Sunliner. It was followed by a 1957 Chevy Belair and then a 1966 Ford Fairlane XL.

As a young lady, Judy was asked by a few of her co-workers at the time, if she would like to write and correspond with the GI’s overseas to boost their morale. Judy agreed and sent her first letter to a soldier named Robert L. Fomen in November of 1966. It took a little while but Robert wrote back to her a month later in December. They wrote each other during Bob’s entire service overseas. Finally, when Bob was honorably discharged from the Navy, he called Judy on the phone informing her that his service had ended and he was on his way to see her. He showed up at her doorstep on May 12, 1967. Bob and Judy dated for about three years and as fate would have it they fell in love and on September 12, 1970 they were married at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Oakland. Judy and Bob settled in Wayne, NJ and they would call it their home for the rest of their lives together and would raise their two children David and Jaclyn.

Prior to having children, Judy worked as a secretary for Dell Publishing and then as an over-the-phone claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance Company. When her son David was born, she left the workplace to care for him. Shortly after, David’s little sister Jaclyn was born. Judy lovingly dedicated her time and attention to the healthy nurture of her family. She was so proud of David and Jaclyn and was their biggest cheerleader at Dave’s Wayne Valley High School basketball games and Jackie’s band competitions. Everyone knew when Judy was there because she could be easily heard cheering “Go David” and “Go Jackie!” She even added a cowbell to her cheering when attending Jaclyn’s competitions. After an almost twenty-year hiatus from working outside the home, Judy took a job as a teacher’s aide in the Wayne Schools. During those years, until permanent retirement in 2010, she worked at Pines Lake Elementary School, Schuyler-Colfax Middle School, and Wayne Hills High School.

Judy enjoyed a myriad of pastime activities. While home with her kids, she would typically take a break in early afternoon to watch her soap operas. Favorites were The Bold and the Beautiful, The Guiding Light, and As the World Turns. Early evenings were reserved for one of her favorite shows of all time – Wheel of Fortune, and more recently she started to enjoy watching Jeopardy. After retirement, in that spirit of Wheel of Fortune, she took a liking to solving word search puzzles, and she loved movies, especially action flicks like James Bond. Judy’s favorite music came from her childhood and early adulthood with her all-time favorite musical artist being Elvis Presley.

Aside from all of Judy’s talents, hobbies and interests, her greatest passion was for her family. Nothing meant more to Judy than spending quality time with her family. In their early years of marriage, she and Bob liked traveling together. They loved their trip to Jamaica for their honeymoon and also took several trips to Niagara Falls. When their children came along, the whole family were often together for trips to New England, and when Judy and Bob celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, they treated the whole family to a vacation at Disney World. Judy’s love of classic cars was one that she shared with her husband Bob. Like Judy, Bob developed a love of cars when he was just a teenager. It was this mutual love that probably was one of the factors that originally attracted them to one another and it was something they enjoyed throughout their entire marriage. Bob was a longtime member of the Tri-County Cruisers of Wayne and, while showing his maroon 1935 Ford Coupe at car shows or driving it in annual Memorial Day parades, Judy was frequently by his side enjoying the experience.

Judy’s warm, friendly, outgoing personality was a true blessing and touched the lives of many people. She was an adoring wife and a loving mother whose presence will be truly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Judy was the beloved wife of Robert, blessed in marriage for over 47 years until his passing on January 29, 2018. She was the loving mother of David Fomen of Wayne and Jaclyn and her husband Derek Wacker of Raleigh, NC; dear sister of Vincent Capparelli of Lincoln Park, Diane Capparelli of Oakland, and Marilyn and husband Frank Fredo of Philadelphia, PA; and dear aunt of Michael, Brian, and Adam Fredo.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Judith’s name are asked to consider one of the following charities:

American Diabetes Association                    
P.O. Box 7023
Merrifield, VA  22216-7023
To donate online, click here (www.diabetes.org/donate)

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105-9959
To donate online, click here (www.stjude.org)

Susanna Giammona (nee Graziano), age 86 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at her home while receiving the loving care of her family.

Susanna was born and raised in Palermo, Italy on the island of Sicily.  She was one of eleven children to Lorenzo and Vincenza Graziano. Susanna left school early to help her parents support their large family, as many of the people in her area did at the time.  As a young woman in her early twenties, Susanna met a handsome young man by the name of Giovanni Giammona.  Susanna and Giovanni hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and on September 3, 1958 Susanna and Giovanni became husband and wife.  They were married at St. John the Baptist Church just outside of Palermo.  After getting married, the newlywed couple settled in a small town on the outskirts of Palermo called Tommaso Natale. Susanna and Giovanni moved there because of the growing industry and job opportunities.

While living in Sicily, Susanna and Giovanni welcomed the births of all five of their children.  On March 8, 1980, Susanna and her entire family immigrated to the United States of America in search of a better life and the “American Dream.”  Susannna’s family settled in the city of Garfield, NJ when first arriving in the United States.  They lived there for about two years when the moved to a section of South Paterson on the border of Clifton, where they spent the next fifteen years.  In 1997, the family moved to Wayne Township and has been there ever since.

After getting married, Susanna became a full time homemaker.  This was in fact Susanna’s calling and where she truly flourished.  She was an extremely dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.  Spending her formative years in a country famous for its food, it came as no surprise that Susanna was an outstanding cook.  She was famous throughout her friends and family for her rice balls and meatballs especially.  Coming from such a large family, many of the family holiday celebrations were divided between Susanna and her siblings.  Susanna’s holiday tradition was her flamboyant New Year’s Eve parties, which everyone always looked forward too.  Susanna also enjoyed traveling and cherished her vacations and tours of her home country of Italy.  She and her family traveled to Italy as tourists and traveled the country from top to bottom visiting its most famous, scenic, and historical sites.  She and her family often visited Disney World and Epcot Center in Florida.  While there, by everyone’s amazement, as if she were a child, she would stand in line and go on every ride in the park.

Shopping was also another of Susanna’s favorite pastimes.  Her most favorite place to shop was Costco.  If ever anyone needed any item, Susanna was positive you could get it at Costco.  Above all, Susanna’s greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Susanna than providing for, nurturing, and spending time with her children.  She dove into the role of grandmother, helping raise her two beloved grandsons.  Susanna and her husband Giovanni cherished fifty-two years of loving and loyal marriage until Giovanni’s passing in November of 2010.        

Susanna was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Susanna is survived by her five children; Domenico Giammona of Wayne, Vincenza Giammona of Wayne, Giuseppa Giammona of Wayne, Lorenzo Giammona of Wayne, and Maria Fiorello and her husband Brian of Wayne, two grandchildren; Anthony Dominic Fiorello and John Ryan Fiorello both of Wayne, two sisters; Carmela Maglifore of Edgewater, FL and Caterina Saputo of Edgewater, FL, two brothers Ignazio Graziano and his wife Joan of Paramus, NJ, and Francesco Graziano and his wife Jean of Paterson; two sister-in-laws JoAnn Graziano of Toms River, NJ, and Cookie Graziano of Maywood, NJ, and many nieces and nephews.  Susanna is predeceased by her husband Giovanni Giammona in 2010, her four brothers Giuseppe Graziano, Salvatore Graziano, Antonino Graziano, Mario Graziano (2 years of age), and two sisters; Providenza Di Maggio, and Maddelena Vitrano.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Susanna’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston MA 02241-7005. http://www.heart.org

Louis J. LeFevre, age 80 of Ticonderoga, NY, formerly of Wayne, passed Saturday, October 9, 2021.

Lou was born in Paterson to the late Charlotte and Louis LeFevre and raised in Wayne. He graduated Wayne Valley High School where he ran cross country with the Class of 1959.  Lou joined the Wayne Police Department in 1963 and rose through the ranks having retired as a Detective Captain in 1993.

For many years Lou enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brother Jim.  They had a place in the Florida Keys where many fond memories were made.  Lou will be remembered as just an all-round great guy and is best described as being friendly and easy-going.

Lou was the loving son of the late Charlotte and Louis LeFevre; and devoted brother of James “Jim” LeFevre of Wayne.

In lieu of flower memorial donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 would be greatly appreciated.

Joseph Dziezawiec, age 77 of Paterson, died on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Joe has been a Paterson resident his entire life. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, National Guard, and Reserves. He was very proud of his more than twenty-five years of service to his country.

Joe had been a teacher, a supervisor, and a track coach at Passaic County Tech High School for more than thirty-five years before retiring. He was a graduate himself of Passaic County Tech, with the class of 1962. He began his career as a math teacher and then became a Supervisor of Instruction for multiple departments. His greatest satisfaction came from being coach of the Track & Field team at Tech. He was very proud of the accomplishments of all his student athletes. Joe was himself an excellent Cross Country runner when he was a student at William Paterson College. He graduated from William Paterson with his Bachelor’s Degree in 1966, and he had also been class president of his senior class. Joe was inducted into the William Paterson Athletic Hall of Fame for Cross Country in 1997, as well as the Old Timers Association in Greater Paterson in 2018.

Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966, upon his graduation from college. He went to Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he was trained in Artillery. He was a natural leader in every role he encountered, and he quickly rose in military rank. He married his wife Janice on March 9, 1968, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Janice (nee Guarnaccia) of Paterson; daughter, Jill Robinson of Washington Township, NJ; granddaughter, Emma Robinson of Washington Township, NJ; sister, Sandra Dziezawiec of Woodland Park, NJ; brother, David Dziezawiec and his wife Victoria of Colorado Springs, CO; son-in-law, Michael Burke of Atlanta, GA; sisters-in-law, Nancy Fitzgerald and her husband Ed of Pompton Plains, and Arlene Guarnaccia of Wayne; and many nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his daughter, Joy Burke in 2016, and by his son-in-law; Ed Robinson in 2018.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the William Paterson University Foundation would be greatly apprecaited.

Mary Anne Babich (nee Cummings), age 86 of Wanaque and formerly of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, October 08, 2021.

Mary Anne was very proud to have grown up in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan and loved being from New York City! Her family moved to Clifton, NJ when she was 16 years old, and she attended Clifton High School. On the school bus, she met a particularly handsome young man named Leonard, and although he wasn’t from New York City, she quickly fell in love with him. They married at the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church in Clifton on September 1, 1956 and enjoyed sixty-three years of a loving and devoted marriage. They honored each other, sharing a genuine mutual respect, and they doted on each other as well. Even in recent years, Len would fix a cup of coffee for her first thing in the morning and bring it to her in bed. She loved that. When they were first married, Len was in the service and stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Mary Anne happily became an Army wife and lived there with him until his discharge. They returned home and she compelled Len to get his college degree. She went to work at Bendix Corporation to help support Len and herself while he was in school at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She was very proud of the work she did there, and the security clearance that she earned while working for Bendix. She loved her work, but raising a family was a much higher priority, so when the time was right, she left the workforce to become a full-time homemaker.

Mary Anne and Len initially lived in Clifton and Garfield. They had a particular interest in the town of Wayne and started looking for a home. When Len found a house on Toms Lake Road that suited them, he brought Mary Anne to see it—but at first sight, she wouldn’t even get out of the car. Toms Lake Road was a country dirt road at the time, and she didn’t even want to consider this house. But Len convinced her to just walk inside and take a look around. She quickly fell in love with the house, the beautiful sunsets, and the entire Toms Lake Road community. They made long-lasting and endearing relationships with the neighbors, which became their social hub. Mary Anne was a proud Irish Catholic, often declaring that she’s 100% Irish and a descendent of County Kerry. St. Patrick’s Day was among the most celebrated holidays in her home, and there was never a shortage of Corned Beef or something to drink with it! Mary Anne and Len raised their three children there in the home at 40 Toms Lake Road, and enjoyed lots of good times with friends and neighbors. They eventually moved to Wanaque Reserve in 2006, passing the home on to another family.

Throughout the years, Mary Anne and Len took many vacations and cruises. Her favorite vacations were to the Jersey Shore with family, and to the Poconos where they would often getaway with their friends. They visited Cape May, Wildwood, Long Beach Island, Seaside, and just about every other seaside town along the shore. She didn’t understand why some people wanted to travel so far away from home to vacation when the Jersey Shore and Poconos were so close. Truth be told—she and Len made their own fun wherever they went! Mary Anne deeply adored her Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra records, Turner Classic movies, and especially every dog she ever owned. As an avid animal lover, she would say, “A good dog is a spoiled dog.”

Mary Anne’s greatest joy came when she became a grandmother. Her eight grandchildren—Jordan, Matt, Emily, Hayley, Amanda, Evan, Patrick, and Jack—were the love and light of her life. Nana, as they would call her, would step right in and do anything for them, babysitting often when they were small, and she would give them the greatest grandmotherly advice as they grew up. She often cooked for them her signature “Pennies from Heaven” macaroni and cheese dish and several egg salad sandwiches. She treasured and deeply loved them all very much and they will each miss her dearly.

Mary Anne was predeceased by her husband Leonard in February 2020. She is survived by her three children: Pamela Sussman and her husband Bruce of Wayne, Melissa Krapohl and her husband Eric of Sparta, and Brian Babich and his wife Joanna of Pompton Lakes, eight grandchildren, and her adored loyal dog, Wally.

Barbara Mulloy-Robbins, age 83, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL passed away peacefully on Friday, October 8, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Barbara was born and raised in Queens, NY and was one of four children. Barbara attended Catholic High School in Queens where she enjoyed performing in the school’s theatre program. Following her graduation from high school in 1956, she attended Catherine Gibbs Secretary School in NY. Later, while in her mid-twenties, Barbara earned her bachelor’s degree at Queens College in New York.   She attended Montclair State University in order to earn her Masters. She also attended a seminary school in New York City where she became an ordained minister. Barbara then worked as an Interfaith Minister for more than twenty years. She has had a strong faith in energy and was a certified Reiki therapist. She was also a Community Education Coordinator for the Passaic Prevention and facilitated grants related to healthy aging for senior citizens and the prevention of underage drinking and drug abuse.

While attending a dance in New York, when Barbara was about nineteen years old, she met a young man by the name of George Cervenka. George and Barbara started dating and as fate would have it, they were married in 1957. The couple settled in Queens and while living there, they welcomed the births of their three children, Gregory, Christopher, and Heidi. Barbara was a wonderfully devoted mother to her children. Unfortunately, Barbara and George drifted apart over the years and divorced in the mid 1970’s. Barbara then moved to Little Falls, NJ where she lived with one of her sons and her daughter.

While living in Little Falls, Barbara met a handsome young man by the name of Jack Robbins. Jack lived in the same apartment complex as Barbara. Once again, Barbara fell in love and the two were married in 1988. Shortly after getting married, with her children already grown, Jack and Barbara moved from Little Falls and bought a house in Pompton Lakes. The newlywed couple lived there for about ten years and during that time, enjoyed their “Florida Snowbird” status migrating to West Palm Beach, Florida for the winters. In 2010, Barbara and Jack moved to Palm Beach Gardens permanently. Barbara and Jack cherished thirty-three years of loving and loyal marriage until Jack’s passing in 2013.

Barbara enjoyed skiing, and treasured her family ski outings and ski vacations at Great Gorge Ski Resorts in Vernon, NJ as well as other destination throughout the Northeast. Barbara loved travel and was an extensive world traveler, having frequented Hong Kong many times. Barbara also relished in pouring her thoughts into writing. She privately published two books, entitled “A Mother’s Diary” in 2007 and "An Uphill Struggle" in 2012. Barbara also had a great love for animals, especially her two Bichon Frise, the late Snoopy and Toto.

Above all of Barbara’s talents, interests, and hobbies, her greatest passion was for her family. Nothing in the world meant more to Barbara than spending time with her family.  She was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Heidi Cervenka of Little Falls, NJ, one sister Karen Diccianni and her husband Pat of Hilton Head, SC, one granddaughter Jessica Nazabal and her husband Max and two children (Barbara's great-grandchildren) Blade and Jolene of Long Island, NY, two nieces, and five nephews. She was predeceased by her two sons: Gregory Cervenka and Christopher Cervenka, her first husband George Cervenka, her second husband Jack Robbins, her sister Judith Mulloy, and her brother Thomas Mulloy.

Gertrude Ellen Storms (nee Morse), age 106, of Riverdale passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 6, 2021, while receiving the loving care of her family.

She was born and raised in the family home on Union Avenue in Bloomingdale, New Jersey.   Gertrude lost her father when she was just 15 years old.  Soon after that, Gertrude, who was the oldest of six children, went to work to become the breadwinner for her five siblings and her mother.  During this time, she worked very hard to keep food on the table and had to put her relationships second.

Gertrude and her husband Morgan’s love story began when Gertrude was working at McGregor’s Pants Factory.  It was a little unconventional as Gertrude’s sister Marion first dated Morgan, but as God would have it, Gertrude and Morgan became friends.  They eventually began dating and fell in love. Gertrude and Morgan were dating for a while when Morgan said “All of your brothers and sisters are going to be married and you won’t.”  That statement prompted Gertrude to realize that Morgan was right and that they should be married.  Gertrude married the love of her life, Morgan Storms on June 26, 1937.  She was married to Morgan at the age of twenty-two.  They honeymooned in Niagara Falls, New York.

Gertrude and Morgan built a business together (Wanaque Lawn and Garden) in 1944 in the Haskell section of Wanaque and lived above it in an apartment in 1948 once the building was completed.  In 1959, they built a home on Pompton Avenue in Pompton Lakes and from there they eventually moved into a house they had built on Lake Iosco.  Eventually, Gertrude sold the house on Lake Iosco and moved to Riverdale before moving to Park Place in Hawthorne.  Gertrude and Morgan enjoyed a loving and caring marriage of 61 years before Morgan’s passing on February 6, 1998.

Gertrude was an ambitious person and a hard worker.  She first worked at McGregor’s Pants Factory in Wanaque, New Jersey as a seamstress and later for E.I. DuPont Corporation in Pompton Lakes where she made blasting caps.  Gertrude worked tirelessly and raised her family at the Wanaque Lawn and Garden business.

Gertrude loved her family fiercely.  Her kindness, gentleness and grace were unmatched with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as anyone else that she came into contact with.  She was unselfish in the truest sense of the word.  She was a lady both in actions and in demeanor and was always poised.  She had a keen ability to listen well and to know when her input was needed.   She had an undeniably generous heart.  Gertrude loved God and lived out her faith both practically and privately.


Gertrude is the loving mother of Morgan L. Storms and his wife Judith of Wanaque and Bonnie C. Olsen (Storms) and her husband Arthur (predeceased) of Riverdale; she is the cherished grandmother of Morgan and Linda Storms, Mark and Emy Storms, Krista and Jim Hennessy and Heidi and Aaron Watson.  She is the much loved great- grandmother of Kim and Rich Tucker, Morgan Storms IV, Dylan Watson, Hope Hennessy, Daniel Hennessy, Sadie Watson, Nolan Storms, Isaac Hennessy and Caleb Storms.  She is the beloved great, great grandmother of Yara Hennessy.  She is the loving sister of Viola Clark of Inverness, Florida and the late Daniel Morse, Oscar Morse, Marion Kurl and Pearl Thomas.

Joseph Buononato, age 69 of Wayne, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Joe has lived in Wayne since 1956.

Joe’s family moved to Wayne from Paterson when he was just a young boy, and he was the second-eldest of seven kids! He graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1970 and began working as an auto parts salesman. He spent many years with Sosmetal Products, and he had accounts all over the region. Joey had a dynamic personality that enabled him to make lasting friendships with many of the customers he served.

Joe’s passion was cooking. He always had a very natural gift for preparing fabulous meals and it was fun for him. All the while that he was a salesman, he never thought of cooking for a living, but his family motivated him to make a big career shift. He started cooking at a restaurant in Verona and quickly proved his skill in the kitchen. He also cooked at Mark’s Village Inn before going to Executive Suite Catering in Fairfield and he most recently worked at Divine Catering. Customers absolutely loved his food and many of his repeat clients would leave the menu selections up to Chef Joe.

Joe was affectionately known as “Uncle Football” to his many nieces and nephews. Actually, many of them probably don’t even know his real name is Joe! He was a season ticket holder at GIANTS Stadium since 1969 and never missed a home game – even preseason games, and he never left a game early. He was a true and loyal fan. Tailgating with Joe at GIANTS Stadium was epic and there was always tons of food to be enjoyed. Joe also enjoyed harness racing and he even owned a couple of horses back in the day. “Good Duke” and “J.G’s Burner” were among his four-legged investments, but no one is really certain if either of his horses ever won a race. Golfing was his second love, or maybe his first! He played more games than anyone could count, and he owns more clubs than anyone is willing to admit. He was a very good golfer and frequented all the courses throughout the area.

Joe was one of those people who had many friends, in many different friend groups, and he made long-lasting friendships. He frequently met up with his high school friends, who all know him as “Joe Boo,” and he never missed a class reunion. He was a lovable and sociable guy who you couldn’t help but love. Always happy and selfless to a fault. He would drop everything to help a friend, and it would bring him happiness to do so. He was simply a great guy and he will be dearly missed by so many.

Joe was predeceased by his father Joseph Buononato Sr in 1997, and is survived by: his mother; Josephine of Boynton Beach, FL, his stepdaughter; Jessica Almeida & her daughter, Melanie Valim of Harrison, NJ, a stepson; Junior Almeida of Ansonia, CT, his siblings; Amy Orrico (John) of Colts Neck, NJ, John Buononato of Wayne, NJ, Joanne Buononato of Boynton Beach, FL, Vinny Buononato of Boynton Beach, FL, Valerie Moravec (Otto) of Boynton Beach, FL, and Blase Buononato (Katie) of Wayne, NJ, his nieces & nephews: Anthony (Karen) Mannello of Fairfield, CT, Jason (Nicole) Orrico, Joey (Brittany) Orrico & Benny Orrico all of Colts Neck, NJ, Dr. Joelle (Josh) Starks of Bangor, PA, Monica (Alex Diffendale) Buononato of Breezy Point, NY, Tommy & Dominic Buononato of Wayne, NJ, ten great nieces & nephews: Ellie, Emerson & Cole Mannello, Tucker, Everly & Taylor Orrico, Christian & Vanessa Orrico, Jack Starks, Jameson Diffendale, and too many great friends & beloved co-workers to list.  He loved them all.

Donations in Joe’s memory to Wayne Little League would be appreciated. Please send to:
Wayne Little League
c/o Tim Crowe
11 Copley Court
Wayne, NJ 07470

Mary (nee Bogan) was born in Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City in 1933.  She was one of twelve children born to Mary (Polly) and Edward Bogan.

She lived in the Lafayette section of Jersey City, then moved to Bradley Gardens when she was about 11 or 12 and attended St. Joseph’s school in Raritan.  If she missed the bus, she had to walk about 1-2 miles with her brothers Tommy and Jack and sometimes walked on an ice-covered river.  She then moved to the Netherwood section of Scotch Plains and attended St. Bernard’s school.  Then she move back to Jersey City and attended All Saints School for 8th grade where she said she had the best time of her life and she had the most wonderful nun.  She went to Lincoln High School in Jersey City for about a year.  Then she attended St. Bridget’s High School where she was taught secretarial skills, like typing and shorthand.  Once during Mary’s high school years, Mary and her girlfriend played hooky from school and went into New York City to see Frank Sinatra in concert.

Mary said that she had no desire to go to school, so her mom told her that she had to get a job.  So at 16 years old, Mary left school and got a job at Kaltman and Company in the Heights of Jersey City.  She was an order taker and called drug stores saying “Kaltman calling, is there anything you need today?”  She typed up the order on three layers of paper and put it on a conveyor belt so it can be filled and sent out for delivery. To commute, she had to walk 3 blocks to get the bus, then walk 3 long blocks.  She said she got real skinny with this job because of all the walking.

During this time she started dating the love of her life Peter J. Scibetta whom she met at a dance in Jersey City.  Then Mary’s family moved to Roselle.  She kept the job in Jersey City taking the bus and then the train, but then it got to be too much, so she quit and got a job in a K-mart type of store next to Roselle.  Pete would drive to Roselle sometimes picking her up from work and taking her out, or driving her home.  They got married in St. Joe’s Church in Roselle on January 7, 1951 and had their wedding reception in Jersey City.  After their reception they headed to NYC to take the train to their honeymoon in Washington DC.  When they were crossing the street in NYC, they saw Jimmy Durante with a beautiful tall woman, and he tipped his hat to them and said, “Howya doin’ folks?”
They moved into a 4-roomed, cold-water flat on the third floor of a row house in Downtown Jersey City.  The apartment had no heat, no furnace, just a pot-bellied stove in the living room.  It had a stove in the kitchen and a hot water heater to boil water for cooking.  The kitchen sink had hot water and it was used for bathing since there was no shower and no tub in the apartment.  They had an old-fashioned washing machine on wheels.  Pete and Mary had five children in this apartment.  Pete was working very hard and managed to save enough money to move into a brand new home in Wayne, NJ, with a big yard for the children to play in and Mary was very happy.  She said that was the best move that they ever made.

Mary and Pete had five more children during their years in the Preakness section of Wayne.  Even though Mary was a housewife, she managed to get involved in outside activities, mostly through Our Lady of the Valley Church.   She sang in the choir, she organized the Eucharistic adoration schedule of volunteers, and she participated in many fundraising events, like the annual Family Festival.  She volunteered as the school liason which meant that she had to spend countless hours on the phone calling parents.  She also joined the OLV bowling league and earned a trophy for most improved bowler in 1962.  She took up sewing for a while and one year made all her daughters’ Easter dresses.  She was always busy around the house, as there was so much to do.   Her best friend Josephine Seele would come over sometimes and help her straighten up, and sometimes they would put on the TV and do exercises with Jack La Lane.
Mary was very outgoing, a social butterfly.  She loved people and had a great sense of humor.  She love meeting new people and talking to people.  She would meet a new person and know his/her whole life story in 10 minutes, because Mary took a genuine interest in people.  She would ask them questions about their life, and she really cared about them.  She had a real talent like that, she was a great interviewer, even though she may not have realized that’s what she was doing.

When Mary moved to the suburbs, she decided that she needed to learn how to drive.  She got her license and she was driving everyone non-stop, mostly driving the kids to all their school and sporting events.  Pete worked two jobs, so Mary had to deal with so much of the rearing of the children.  It was not easy for her, but she did it.

Mary was a woman of great faith.  She sent her children to Catholic school and took them to church every Sunday.  It wasn’t easy getting everyone ready and into the station wagon every  Sunday morning.  Mom would make sure that all the kids were ready before she got herself ready.  So, everyone waited for her in the car and she came outside looking like a million bucks.  If the family was going to be in the car for a long trip, she would have them all say the rosary.  Then they would have sing-alongs, anything to keep ten kids at peace while travelling.

As if Mary wasn’t busy enough, at the age of 50 she graduated from nursing school and became an LPN.  She loved helping people as she worked as a nurse.  She also worked part-time at the Plains Pharmacy on Valley Road.

Mary and Pete enjoyed travelling in their later years.  They went on pilgrimages to Rome (five times), Lourdes, and Fatima.  They vacationed many years in Wildwood, NJ.  Mary also went to Hawaii and got her picture taken with Don Ho.  Her son-in-law Tom once took her to New York to see the David Letterman Show.  She loved singing and dancing, and at one point in her life she wanted to be an actress.

Mary is predeceased by her husband Pete (October 2020), an infant daughter Theresa, and son-in-law Peter Moraca.  She is survived by five daughters, and five sons.  Peter and his wife Barbara, Mary Jane Doud and her husband Tom, Bernadette, John and his wife Marianne, Sarah and her husband Tom, Frances Moraca, Blaise, Edward and Irene, Michael and his wife Allyson, and Nancy Meyer and her husband Dave.

She is the cherished grandmother of twenty-one.  Brian Scibetta and his wife Shadi, David Scibetta, Christopher Doud and his wife Kristina, Ryan Doud, Kate Doud, Michael Zeigler and his fiancé Kate Woodward, Samantha Scibetta, Jaclyn and her husband Mike Bollard, Allesandra Scibetta, Melanie Nunziata and her fiancé Jahmal McKenzie, Thomas Nunziata and his wife Samantha, Ann Ziata, Amanda Moraca, Peter Moraca, Elena Scibetta, Bethany Scibetta, and the Meyers:  Kayla, Shayna, Heather, Sabrina and Chloe.
Mary is survived by four great-grandchildren.  Lily Scibetta, Sophia Mann, Mia Moraca, and Dominic Velez.

She is predeceased by her brothers Eddie, Tommy, Frank, and Vinnie Bogan, and baby sister Margaret.  She is survived by siblings Jack, Joe, Bernie, Gerard and Stephen Bogan, Patricia Acken, and Sr. Maria Joseph.

She is also survived by many, many nieces and nephews, who she loved dearly.

Donations can be made to:Corpus Christi Monastery, 1230 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx, NY  10474.

Harold J. Ronnholm, age 93, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday, October 4, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Harold was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ as the older of two children to Alec and Margaret Ronnholm. While growing up in Jersey City, Harry participated in several sports, and was part of state championship teams in baseball and basketball. He attended Jersey City High School and also St Peter’s Preparatory School and graduated with the class of 1946. Following graduation, Harry enrolled at Drake School of Business where he earned his certification in Mechanical Drafting. He found work quickly as a Draftsman and accepted a position at AT&T, known at that time as Western Electric. After only working for a couple of years, Harry got the call to serve his country in United States Army. He was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany while in the army and served in the Military Intelligence Department. Being stationed in Germany, Harry took advantage of his leave time and visited neighboring countries such as Sweden and Switzerland. He also played the upright bass with the US Army Dance Band. Harry served proudly and honorably in the US Army from 1951 until 1953.

Upon his honorable discharge and return to the states, Harry continued his employment at AT&T where he was promoted to Quality Control. During his employment at AT&T, Harry had several training manuals published. Harry’s career with AT&T spanned forty-two years until his retirement in 1990. Following a somewhat early retirement with AT&T, Harry decided to keep working and accepted a position at Macy’s Department Store selling men’s suits. Harry worked for another twenty years with Macy’s until retiring again at the age eighty-eight. During the time after his first retirement, Harry was also part owner in a catering business for a few years known as “Affairs by W.H.A.L.K.”

Harry was an avid bowler, playing in a variety of local bowling leagues. He never bowled a 300 game, however, he did bowl a 298. As a bowling tradition, he was given the two bowling pins he missed that game and was awarded a ring.

One night in 1963 Harry, as a young man, was playing in a Single’s Bowling League in Jersey City. While bowling that night he met an attractive young woman by the name of Barbara Ann Volk. Harry and Barbara hit it off great and started dating. As fate would have it they fell in love and on October 2, 1965 Harry and Barbara were married. The newlywed couple settled in an apartment in Little Falls for a short time. While there, they welcomed the birth of their first child, Mary Ann. In 1967, Harry and his family moved to Wayne where they welcomed the births of the next two children, Carol Ann and John. Harry and Barbara remained in Wayne for the rest of their lives and raised their family there.

Harry was a long-time member of the Elks Lodge #2181 in Wayne. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He and his family were parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne where Harry was very active in the Holy Name Society and as a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of the “Rowdies of Wayne,” which were a group of life-long friends at church that planned bus trips together and traveled to Florida. The “Rowdies” would always meet for breakfast or lunch after Sunday mass. Later after all were retired, they continued the tradition with Friday breakfasts at the diner. Harry and Barbara for several years enjoyed frequenting Boca Raton during the winters and cruising from Florida when they got the chance.
Aside from all of Harry’s talents and hobbies, his greatest passion was for his family. Nothing in the world meant more to Harry than spending time with and providing for his family. His work ethic was outstanding and he was always concerned with providing a good example for his children. He was not only dedicated to his children, but also to his grandchildren. He was a loving and devoted grandfather and never missed any of his grandchildren’s sporting events, dances or theatre productions. He was a bit of a “glass half empty” kind of person, but that was balanced by his wife who was very optimistic. They were the perfect couple! Harry and Barbara cherished fifty-six years of loving and loyal marriage together. Harry touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Harry is survived by his wife Barbara Ann (nee Volk) of Wayne, two daughters; Mary Ann Ronnholm of Wayne, NJ, and Carol Ann Murphy and her husband Brian of West Orange, NJ, one son John Ronnholm and his wife Maggie of Chester, NJ, five grandchildren; Emma Murphy of West Orange, Owen Murphy of West Orange, Noah Dyer of Chester, Jonah Dyer of Chester, and Alec Jones “A.J.” Ronnholm of Chester.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Harold’s name may do so to the charity of their choice.

Catherine Rose “Kay” Costa (nee Paniccia), age 96 of Glenville, NY, died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021.

She had lived in Clifton before moving to Wayne many years ago. In recent years, she moved closer to her family in Glenville.

Born and raised in Schenectady, NY, Catherine graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Schenectady. She was an Agency Administration Specialist for State Farm Insurance Company of Wayne, where she worked for twenty-five years before retiring in 1987.

Kay enjoyed crocheting, her flower garden, and especially loved babysitting for her grandchildren when they were young. Christmas Eve was at her home for many years, and her special culinary perfection in making meatballs, calamari, and fish will be greatly missed.

In the mid 1940’s, she went on vacation from Schenectady, NY down to her aunt’s home in New Jersey. A large group of family and friends went to the Palisades Amusement Park together and her husband-to-be, Salvatore N. Costa, was one of those friends. He stayed with Catherine the entire time as they went around the amusement park. She considered this their first date. They married on June 1 1947 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Schenectady, NY, and went to Atlantic City, NJ for their honeymoon.

She was the beloved wife of Salvatore, N. Costa for fifty-eight years before his passing in 2005, the beloved mother of Carol Kleine and her husband Joseph of Saratoga, NY, and Dr. Kenneth Costa, DMD and his wife Nancy of Ormond Beach, FL, cherished grandmother of Kristen Pruitt and her husband Christopher, Michelle Bartlome and her husband Joshua, and Michael Costa and his wife Miriam, eight great-grandchildren; Kennedy, Harlowe, Cody, Kara, Joshua, Charlotte, Maxwell, and Wallace, loved sister of Rose Forte of Corinth, NY. She was predeceased by her brother; Benjamin Paniccia (1991).

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org.

Alfred “Al” Soren Nelson, age 72, of Boonton Township, passed on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

He was born in Glen Ridge to Soren and Cora Nelson and raised in Montville. Al graduated from Montville High School with the Class of 1967. After high school, he worked for his fathers’ well drilling business before he was drafted into the US Army. In the Army, he served mostly in Germany, during the Vietnam War.

After his service in the US Army, Al returned to work with his father at the well-drilling company called Pinebrook Well Drillers in Montville. Al eventually took over the company, renaming it Water Services. He ran his successful business for over forty-five years out of Boonton Township.

Al was very active in his local community. He would donate to the police department, fire department, and other community organizations. Al had a soft spot in his heart for children’s joy. He also donated to all sorts of children’s activities including the town fishing derby, soccer, dance, and cheer just to name a few.

He was the kind of guy that was always willing to lend a helping hand… even if you didn’t want it. You lived in fear of telling Al you liked something because if you did he would overwhelm you with that particular thing.

He found great satisfaction in spoiling his grandchildren – especially at Christmas. The back of his work truck would be filled with presents just like Santa’s sleigh. His grandchildren remember him coming to the house in the middle of the summer and saying, “who is ready to do some back-to-school shopping?” He was always thoughtful, kind-hearted, a great friend, helpful, and brutally honest.

Al enjoyed bird-watching so much that he had feeders that were always full. He enjoyed reading his books sitting in the sun on beautiful days. He also loved sitting on the back patio of his stepdaughter and son-in-law’s house relaxing and spending time with his grand dogs Abby and Baxter – spoiling them with way too many treats. But his absolute favorite thing to do was to enjoy coffee with his best friend Ed Vnencak. They would sit while gazing at the farm, chatting for hours.

Al was the loving step-father of Heidi Biro and her husband Vic of Lincoln Park; cherished grandfather of Heather Truesdale and her husband Andrew of Boonton Township, Aaron Wright of Rockaway, and Josh Wright and his love Rosie Di Maggio of Boonton Township; he was the dearly loved great-grandfather of Tyler and Grayson Truesdale; dear brother of Eunice and Eric; and will be greatly missed by his best friend Ed Vnencak and love Carol.  Al is predeceased by his sisters Karen and Ingrid and his loving parents Soren and Cora.

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

Madeleine C. Lee (nee Chung), age 107, died peacefully on Saturday, Oct 2, 2021. We are grateful and blessed that she lived such a long, vibrant and healthy life, while touching many others with her love and kindness.

Madeleine grew up in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. She graduated from William Penn High School in January of 1934 and was married a month later to William Lee. They continued living in the Philadelphia area, raising their family. She and William loved to dance and they enjoyed entertaining many friends. She loved her cars and was especially fond of her 1962 VW Beetle, her ’63 Impala SS, and her '69 Camaro SS. After her children were grown and married, she joined the workforce and landed in the Chinook Division of Boeing Aircraft. After working there for fifteen years, she retired in 1970 and moved to Hawaii with William.

Madeleine and William enjoyed a very active lifestyle in retirement. They had family living there, so they had many social connections. Together in 1973, she and William started the McCully Senior Citizens Club in Honolulu. They were not ones to be idle. William taught Mah Jong while Madeleine taught dance, fitness and aerobics at the Club. There’s no doubt that her healthy diet and physical fitness routines are largely responsible for her longevity. At 96 years old, she was still able to stretch her legs and touch her toes behind her shoulders! She wouldn’t miss an opportunity to get down on the floor to play with her great-great grandchildren either. Although living in Hawaii, she and William made annual trips back to the east coast to visit with family and friends. She was truly blessed to have a warm and loving relationship with all her family and friends, and will be dearly missed.

Madeleine will always be remembered fondly by her daughter Willeine "Ling" Walsh and her husband Norman of Milton, NJ, her nine grandchildren; John Walsh and his wife Karin of Sparta, Ken Walsh and his wife Cathy of Rockaway, Janet Tanis and her husband Tom of Oak Ridge, Tom Walsh and his wife Laura of Mechanicsville, VA, Kevin Ching of Hawaii, Deanna Holt and her husband Steven of Hawaii, Joanne Kennedy and her husband Paul of Hawaii, Suzanne Alcover and her husband Derwin of Hawaii, and Brian Ching and his wife Marge of Hawaii, twenty-six great-grandchildren, twenty-three great-great grandchildren, a sister; Alice "Ying" Chang of Hawaii, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband William in 1997, by her son William, Jr. who died as an infant, and by her daughter Doris "Ping" Ching of Hawaii, who died in 2004.

Irene Gingras, age 70, of Wayne passed peacefully at home on Friday, October 1, 2021.

She was born to Joseph and Evelyn Stoll in Westchester County, New York and raised in Saddle Brook, NJ. She graduated from Saddle Brook High School with the Class of 1969, where she would say she “carried a French Horn” in the band. She continued her education at William Paterson Teacher’s College in Wayne where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education with the Class of 1973.

Irene met Bernard Gingras, her future husband, freshman year of high school. When they went to the Junior Prom they both had other dates and Irene set it up so that she double dated with Bernie. Irene ditched her date shortly after the prom and then had her friends badger Bernie to take her on a date. Both Bernie and Irene also worked at the local Kresge’s where she was a waitress and he was a cook. Their first date, August 7, 1968, was walking to the local church fair where they held hands and they never let go for over for over fifty years. Knowing Irene’s mother was ill with cancer in 1972, Bernard bought an engagement ring and went over to her house. She asked “what's that in your pocket?” and he said “an engagement ring.” Well Irene grabbed the ring from his pocket and excitedly ran around the house never giving him an opportunity to actually ask her for her hand in marriage. Irene and Bernie’s families got together on Palm Sunday to celebrate the "engagement" at the Blue Swan Inn in Rochelle Park and soon after Irene’s mom passed away. They married at Saint Phillips Church in Saddle Brook on June 24, 1973, had a reception at the Saddle Brook Marriot Hotel followed by a honeymoon in Saint Croix. As a newly married couple they rented in a two family house in Lodi and moved to Wayne in 1975 settling first in the Lionshead Lake section of the Township before moving to their present home in 1982. They have lived in Wayne for over forty-five years.

For about twenty years Irene worked for the Wayne Board of Education at the George Washington Jr. High School in Wayne where she "ran" the library. She was a Media Specialist and during her years at the school she worked to receive her Masters Degree in Library Science from William Paterson University in Wayne.

Irene will be lovingly remembered for her cooking and baking. Rumor has it Bernie told Irene she had to learn to cook if she wanted to marry him. Well she took that to heart and first learned to cook from Bernie’s mother and grandmother. Her special “Mimi Cake” (coffee cake), carrot cake, and Christmas cookies will be dearly missed. She was always the host of holidays and special family get-togethers where anyone and everyone were welcome. She had, perhaps, the bluest eyes in the entire world. Irene was also devoted to her Catholic faith.

Irene was the absolute best friend and devoted wife of Bernard Gingras; loving mother of Bernard Gingras, Jr. and his wife Clelia Di Tacchio of Montclair and Danielle Rappaport and her husband Jason of Lawrenceville; she was the cherished Mimi (grandmother) of Logan and Andrew Rappaport and Henry and Sofia Gingras; loved aunt of Jennifer Cashin and her husband Brian of Fair Lawn; much loved sister of Dianne Militano and her husband Peter of Flemington and Raymond Stoll and his wife Barbara of Gouldsboro, PA.

In lieu of flowers make a donation in her name to a favorite charity, especially to help battle pancreatic cancer.

Joseph Sisco, age 89, of Pompton Lakes passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 28, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Joe was born in Paterson and was one of four children to Harry and Margaret Sisco.  The family lived in Caldwell until Joe was about seven years old.  The family then moved to Pompton Lakes where Joe remained for the rest of his life.

Joe attended Pompton Lakes High School where he was a running back on the high school football team.  After graduating with the class of 1950, Joe got the call to serve his country with the United States Army in 1952.  Joe served overseas in the Korean War and served with the 23rd Infantry Regiment.  During his time in the US Army, Joe achieved the Rank of Sergeant and was awarded the United States Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, a Bronze Service Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal.  Joe served proudly and honorably in the US Army from 1952 to 1954.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Joe found work quickly in the construction industry.  For a short time he worked alongside his father Harry who was a stair builder.  Joe then went to work for a local contractor where he was employed as a carpenter for several years.  In 1960, Joe decided to join the Pompton Lakes Police Department.  Joe started out as a Patrolman and over the years worked his way up through the rank eventually earning the position of Chief of Police.  Joe treasured his nearly thirty year career as a police officer until his retirement in the late 1980’s.  Joe continued to work following his retirement.  He held a position with Craft General Foods in Riverdale for a few years and was also a currier for the Sate of NJ working at the NJ Training School in Totowa.

In 1951 after graduating from high school, Joe was introduced to an attractive young woman by the name of Shirley Mosier.  Shirley and Joe were set up on a blind date and went out to the movies together.  Shirley and Joe hit it off wonderfully and as fate would have it they fell in love.  On November 2, 1952, just before his service with the US Army, Joe and Shirley became husband and wife.  The newlywed couple settled in their hometown of Pompton Lakes and they called it their home for the rest of their lives together.  While living in Pompton Lakes, Joe and Shirley welcomed the births of both of their children, Joseph and Patrice.

Joe was a long time member of the Pompton Lakes VFW Post 2906.  He was also an avid golfer and enjoyed frequenting many of the local New Jersey golf courses.  He kept up with his carpentry skills over the years and would do quite a bit of work around his house and for many of his friends and neighbors.  He, his wife, and children treasured their yearly family vacations to Pennsylvania and Cape May, NJ.  But apart from all of Joe’s talents, hobbies and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Joe than spending time with and providing for his family.  Joe often referred to his grandkids and “My Kids.”  In 2004, tragedy struck Joe’s family when his son Joseph passed away unexpectedly.  Joe and his wife Shirley have treasured over sixty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Joe was a quiet man and often very private.  He was truly loved and respected by his fellow police officers and was a dedicated father and grandfather.  Joe touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.  

Joe is survived by his wife Shirley (nee Mosier) of Pompton Lakes, NJ, one daughter Patrice Ackershoek and her husband Edward of Butler, NJ, one sister Margaret Sisco of Pompton Lakes, NJ, four grandchildren; Brittany Ackershoek of Bloomingdale, NJ, Matthew Ackershoek of West Milford, NJ, Kevin Sisco of Pompton Plains, NJ, and Jessica Sisco of Riverdale, NJ, two nieces; Jo-Ann Sisco of Pompton Lakes, NJ, and Linda Akowicz of Mayfield, NY, and one nephew Tom Sisco of Mayfield, NY.  Joe was predeceased by his son Joseph Sisco in 2004, and by his two brothers Thomas Sisco and Robert Sisco.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Joseph’s name are asked to consider St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105-9959 http://www.stjude.org or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516, http://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Harry “Lee” Harrington, 79 of Oak Ridge, NJ left the building on Monday, September 27, 2021.

Lee was born in Tonopah, Nevada, the son of Charles Kelvey Harrington and Marcia (Jury) Harrington and the younger brother of Linda (Harrington) Hausman. Raised in Wayne, NJ, he graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1960. After one year at Norwich University in Northfield, VT, he transferred to Rochester Institute of Technology in New York where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Lee’s first job after college was working as an accountant for Bendix Corporation. He eventually decided to work for his father-in-law at Ideal Construction in Riverdale, NJ. After a time, again, circumstances lead to Lee’s conclusion that self-employment was probably in his best interest. Over the course of the rest of his construction career, he started several successful companies, the most recent being Harrington Building Contractors, Inc. of Oak Ridge.

Outside of his family, Lee’s favorite things in life included leisure times at his house in Monterey Beach, NJ, his many loyal dogs including his present dog Eva who was always by his side providing dedication and loyalty to the extreme throughout his battle with Parkinson’s, and sipping a nice glass of Leroux blackberry brandy.

Above all else, Lee’s family held the highest place of importance in his life. Lee was married to Patricia for 34 years. Prior to her passing in 2018, Lee chose retirement from his business so that he could attend to all Pat’s needs as her health condition worsened. He was fiercely loyal in his care of Pat and apparently meant it when he said he would rather die than live without his beloved wife. Lee’s son Tyler and daughter Sage were his greatest source of pride. Lee relished everyday working in the business with Tyler. Sage was his caregiver, as Parkinson’s necessitated full time care. One time, in Sage’s quest to help her father find some relief from symptoms, she treated him to some pot-laced cookies. The dose that seemed to do the trick was about a quarter of a cookie at a time. Lee liked the cookies! In fact he liked them so much that on one occasion, he dipped his hand into the cookie jar and ate a whole cookie. Talk about relief! He ended up calling Sage to share his experience. He said, “I was having a dream which I woke up from but I couldn’t find my way out of the dream.” Good times in the midst of his battle! Lee was “Vodka” to his grandson Chase. He thought it was so cool having a grandson and loved to hear all the accounts of Chase’s baseball and football games. Recently Chase became the proud owner of a new quad ATV. Lee enjoyed hearing the sound of that machine as Chase raced it around the property. His only regret was not being able to be riding it with Chase. Then there was AP who Lee always looked forward to enjoying precious Monday night dinners with.

Lee! You will be missed more than you will ever know! You will be always admired and respected for being a straight shooter who simply told it as it truly was. You never, ever complained. Thanks for that! Thanks also for treating us to your super dry sense of humor which ironically always dripped with sarcasm.

Lee was predeceased by his parents Charles and Marcia Harrington and his wife Patricia (Stack) Harrington. He is survived by his sister Linda Hausman of Schnecksville, PA, his son Tyler Harrington and wife Arlene/Audrey, his daughter Sage Grant, his grandson Chase Grant of whom he was so proud, and his stepsons Todd Lantier and wife Sheila and James Lantier. Special thanks also to Mary Aiello who was Lee’s phenomenally compassionate hospice caregiver. You are a kind-hearted angel and Lee was crazy about you!

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Lee’s name are asked to consider:
West Milford Animal Shelter
P.O. Box 72
Lycosky Drive
West Milford, NJ 07480
To donate online, click here

The End.

Carolyn “Ms” Dorothy Winslow, age 76, of Morganville, passed at home on Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Carolyn was born in Brooklyn, New York to Samuel and Hazel Winslow in 1945.  She was raised in the family home at 10820 Jamaica Ave. in the Richmond Hill section of Queens, New York.  She graduated from Richmond Hill High School with the Class of 1963.

Carolyn’s father passed away in 1964 and she went to work to help support the household.  Her first job was at WT Grant’s Department Store in Queens.  She soon found work in the insurance industry and worked her way up the corporate ladder, ultimately becoming the Vice President of Claims at the Arista Investors Corp in New York City where she worked for 20+ years before retiring in 2011. She was working at 116 John Street in lower Manhattan when the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Towers happened, she was on the phone with her sister Martha when the second plane hit. She would tell the story of that day and her experiences including being hosed down by the fire department prior to being allowed to get on a ferry to escape the city back to New Jersey.

She will always be remembered for her contagious laugh, always being dressed to impress, nails, makeup, and her love for her family. Carolyn had an endless love for Frank Sinatra, so much so she had a room just for her Frank Sinatra memorabilia in her home. She loved QVC and enjoyed online gaming to keep her mind sharp.  When her son David was just eleven years old he came home from school to find out his mom had broken his Nintendo Dr. Mario game from her playing it so much.  For many years she enjoyed annual family trips to Disney World.  For many years Carolyn, her sister Martha, and her son David and Godaughter Amy would brave the cold and attend the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. She was also a Cat lover for sure and had many over the years- from Minky, Tommy, Tammy there was always a cat around. Her most recent cat Dewey was assumed to be a girl most of his life.  It took Uncle Tex’s visual exam of Dewey’s neighborhood, nobody’s sure why he was looking, to realize she was a he.

Carolyn was the loving mother of David (Samantha) Winslow of Wayne; loved sister of Martha (Bill/Tex) Odom of Hudson, FL; Edward (Sharon) Winslow of Monterey, CA.  Cherished grandmother of Michael Winslow, Christopher Winslow, David Winslow, Jr, and Jacob Winslow; she was the dearly loved aunt and Godmother of Amy Costa, the late Sara Odom (d. 1990), and much loved aunt of Matthew Odom.

Those considering a memorial donation are asked to direct the to the American Red Cross, 209 Fairfield Road, Fairfield NJ 07004

Judith A. Bailey (nee Piombo), age 68 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, September 25, 2021. She has lived in Wayne her entire life.

Judy graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1971 and had worked at Builder’s Emporium on Hamburg Turnpike, although none of us are sure what she really did there! Chris Bailey was a regular customer there, and romance grew between the two of them. Chris mustered the courage to propose and they were married on October 15, 1978. They honeymooned in Hawaii, visiting Honolulu and Maui, and settled in Wayne upon their return.

Judy was an incredible homemaker, keeping her house absolutely spotless! She would vacuum so often that her husband accused her of ‘vacuum abuse!’ But that was just her thing; keeping a neat and tidy house at all times. She would watch the Hallmark channel to relax, and summer vacations to Ortley and Lavallette were among her favorite places to visit. Judy was also a very selfless person, putting most other people’s happiness and needs before her own. She was particularly good at building long lasting, genuine friendships. She has known her closest girlfriends for decades, and some of them since grammar school! Judy made a point to call most of them every day. She always remained close with her sisters and brother as well. All of those relationships were so deeply a part of who she was that even as she struggled with Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, Judy would still remember to call her sisters and friends daily. Chris would help her to dial the phone, and she often told the same stories over and over, but she never forgot to make those calls. She called her son and daughter every day, without fail. Judy also adored her daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and they have enjoyed a very close and loving relationship as well. Judy was always asking about her daughter’s boyfriend, Tony. She sincerely cared for all of them, and loved them deeply. Her dog, Frankie, a miniature Husky, was also a recipient of her devotion.

In recent years, Judy was lovingly cared for by her home-health aid, Deana. They too established a very close bond. And Judy’s sisters: Donna and Lois, as well as her brother Albert, and all of their spouses, visited with Judy frequently. It brought Judy great comfort to be surrounded by so many loving and caring friends and relatives, especially during these past few years.

Judy is survived by her loving husband, Christopher Bailey of Wayne, her two children; Amanda and her boyfriend Tony Buccino of Hackensack, and Thomas Bailey and his wife Jennifer of Ramsey, her siblings; Lois McPeek and her husband Kenneth of Cedar Knolls, Donna Franzini and her husband Anthony of Cedar Knolls, Albert Piombo and his wife Suzanne of Wayne, and Patrice Dydo and her husband John of St. Cloud, Florida, and many dear, loving friends. She was predeceased by her parents; Dominick "Mickey" Piombo (2012) and Fay Piombo (2019).

Donations in Judy’s memory would be appreciated to; Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave, Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068, www.alznj.org

Virginia Y. White (nee Mariano), of Wayne, N.J., age 89 passed away peacefully on September 21, 2021.  Virginia a/k/a Dolly (her parents called her Dolly until they agreed on the name Virginia).  Many also called her “Red” because of her red hair.

Dolly was a homemaker and a mother to her beloved daughter Donna.  Dolly was quick witted and always had a come-back that would make you laugh!

She was a Trophy Winning Bowler, enjoyed playing a good round of golf and played Volley Ball with a League in her Town of Wayne.

Dolly hosted a family and friend card night every Friday for many years.  She also enjoyed playing “Telefunkie” (card game) with her sisters, daughter and niece.
She was a great seamstress, designing and sewing her own clothes.  She even made her own living room drapes.

Dolly is predeceased by her husband Robert, her daughter Donna, brothers Vito and Jerry and sisters’ Mary and Rose Ottilio and brother-in-law, Michael.

Dolly is survived by her sister, Josephine Gringoli, sister-in-law, Rosemarie White and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Selma Will (nee Prigoditz), age 93, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 21, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Selma was born on January 10, 1928 at Lying-In Hospital in New York City to Peter and Frances Prigoditz. She and her family lived in New York for several years until moving to
Passaic, NJ.  Selma spent her formative years in Passaic attending School #11 and Passaic High School.  Following her graduation from Passaic High School with the class of 1946, Selma enrolled at Packard Junior College in New York City where she earned her Associates Degree.  Selma found work quickly and after a few different positions, accepted an offer as an Administrative Secretary at Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley, NJ where she worked for several years.

While at an engagement party of her friends Virginia Ratzer and Marty Springman, Selma met a handsome young man by the name of Charles Edward Will.  Selma and Charles hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it they fell in love and were married on September 1, 1951.  The newlywed couple settled in Clifton then in 1964 moved to Wayne. Shortly after the birth of her first child, Dianne, Selma became a homemaker.  A couple of years later, Selma and Charles welcomed the birth of their second daughter Kathleen.  After their two daughters had grown, Selma went back to work, this time in the banking industry.  Selma worked in the banking industry at several different positions over the next several years until her retirement.  Selma also went back to school and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from William Paterson College in 1986.

Selma was truly dedicated to her Catholic Faith and was a long time parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church in Wayne for many years.  She was very active in the church and her ministries included The Council of Catholic Women, and the Prayer Shawl Group.  She recited the rosary at the Atrium at Wayne Nursing Home, was a substitute at the Adoration Chapel in church, and sewed baptismal bibs for her church parishioners as well.  Selma volunteered at the Wayne Public Library and also baked and forwarded meatballs to Eva’s Kitchen in Paterson.  After her retirement, Selma became a member of the Golden Agers and Prime Timers of Wayne.        

Selma was quite talented and gifted in crafts and sewing.  Her skills also extended into embroidery, and cross-stitching.  In her retirement, she started her own business called Calico Junction.  Her specialty at Calico Junction was Baptismal Gowns.  Selma would sew, embroider, and create baptismal gowns, often times from wedding gowns sent to her by her clients.  Many of these gowns were passed down by her clients as family heirlooms.  Over the years, Selma attended many craft fairs, showcasing her work.  Her baptismal gowns were shipped to clients all over the country.

Selma enjoyed traveling to various parts of Europe and to Orchard Beach in Maine.  She and her family treasured spending their summers at their vacation home in the Poconos every year. Selma also frequented trips sponsored by Wayne Township to Atlantic City.  Above all, Selma was devoted to her family, she cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She and her husband Charles cherished sixty-five years of loving and loyal marriage until Charles’ passing in June of 2016.  Selma was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by everyone that knew her.

Selma is survived by her two daughters, Dianne Benson and her husband Jon Africano of Wayne, and Kathleen Savacool and her husband Jack Jameson of Anderson, SC, three grandchildren; Courtney Savacool of South Carolina, Michael Savacool of South Carolina, and Patrick Benson of Hewitt, NJ, and three great grandchildren; Emma Savacool, Charlotte Savacool, and Emmett Savacool.  Selma was predeceased by her husband Charles Will in 2016.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Selma’s name may be made to Catholic Charities of Paterson, 777 Valley Rd, Clifton, NJ 07013, http://www.ccpaterson.org

Marco Antonio “Sonny” Castaldi; “Pop Pop”, “Grandpa”, “Uncle Sonny”, “Uncle Marc” born November 16, 1934 at 320 Pleasant Avenue in East Harlem, New York.  He married the love of his life, his everything, Marlena Capellupo on September 21, 1963. They were married for exactly 58 years.  As newlyweds, they moved to The Bronx, Buck Street, then Matthews Avenue, and ultimately resided at 2460 Glebe Avenue in the Westchester Square section for 35 years.  There he raised three children Maria Teresa, Marco Joseph and Michelle. He and Marlena decided to become snowbirds.  During that time, they would live in Plantation, Florida in Fall and Winter returning to his ever-growing family at 13 Hearle Drive, Pequannock, N.J.  He loved to also vacation in Aruba for one week every spring with Marlena to “get away” for a while.

Marco attended Benjamin Franklin High School and became a printer by trade at the New York School of Printing in 1952. He served during the Korean War, 1955 – 1957 on active duty stationed at Fort Benning, GA. Marco was a proud veteran, with loyalty, duty, and respect for his country.

Marco was active in every aspect of life. He touched all those that he met with his gregarious nature, friendship and kindness.  He always reminded family and friends of his love, calling and writing often. We hear him laughing and see him smile when we remember those conversations.  Closer to his Harlem and Bronx home he would play paddle ball, softball, stickball, stoopball, boxball, and pool. He loved to bike ride and walk to stay fit.  He also exercised regularly doing pushups, pull-ups and sit-ups, which kept him as the family champion of arm wrestling.  However, his greatest activity was playing cards, and the horses – from Belmont, Gulf Stream, Saratoga, Meadowlands, Hollywood Park. This was his favorite pastime until his last days.

Marco was an avid reader and conversationalist on all topics, but especially science and finance.  He routinely read The Wall Street Journal, Discover Magazine, National Geographic and dozens of books and periodicals.  This enabled him to give advice which always proved helpful to his entire family and friends.  It was known by all that they could call Uncle Sonny, Uncle Marc, Pop Pop, Grandpa, Dad for advice ranging from hard life questions and decisions to politics, financial ideas, thoughts on new discoveries and the type of ice cream that is best.  However, his knowledge and advice on which horse to bet, with which jockey and trainer, at a given track under certain conditions depending on the furlongs, was legendary.

In his later years he focused his energy and time on his grandchildren; Marco Aurelio, Ottavio, Giulia, Constantino, Luca, Olivia, and Alessandra, while remaining a confidante and advisor to his children Maria, Marco, Michelle, Robert, Patricia and Dennis.  He was and is the center of attention and the life of the family gatherings always making us laugh and smile; the center of our family.
Marco is loved by all those who meet him. His generosity with his time is his intangible gift to us all.  With Marco in our lives, we hit the straight exacta, triple, and the win!

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Calvary Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

Marion Botbyl (nee Downer), age 83 of Wayne, died peacefully at home on Monday, September 20, 2021. She’s lived in Wayne since 1950.

Marion was a Registered Nurse for nearly forty years. Amazingly, she started college at forty years old and graduated from Passaic County Community College with her nursing degree. She began working at the Lincoln Park Nursing Home, then at the Actors Guild Nursing Home in Englewood, NJ, where she met many celebrities. Most of her career was spent at the Milford Manor Nursing Home in West Milford, before retiring in 2014.

Marion grew up in Bloomfield and moved to Wayne when she was a young girl. As a child, her doctor diagnosed her with a condition that would eventually lead to her becoming completely blind. As a result, she attended a private school where she learned to read and write in Braille proficiently. Ultimately, her doctor’s diagnosis was proven to be wrong, and Marion never lost her vision. She graduated from Wayne High School where she was reigned Queen of the graduating class of 1956 and had the most beautiful handwriting you’ve ever seen.
 
As a teenager, Marion’s family home in Wayne was on Hamburg Turnpike, right across the street from Hinchman’s Lake. It was there, at the lake, that she met a handsome lifeguard named Howard Botbyl and romance blossomed. They were married on February 1, 1958 at St. John’s Cathedral in Paterson, followed by a honeymoon to Washington, DC. They first lived in an apartment in Midland Park before building a home in Wayne, where they settled in 1963 and have lived ever since. Marion raised her four children there, along with her beloved dogs. She was an incredible homemaker, a fantastic cook (her pierogis were legendary!), and a dedicated, loving, and protective mother. As busy as she was every day, their home was always spotlessly clean, and dinner was on the table at 5 PM sharp. Her Christmas Eve celebrations were “open door” and attended by countless numbers of people. Marion and Howard enjoyed many decades visiting their second home in the Catskills with their large family. Howard helped establish the Red Barn Hunting Club there, and Marion, along with the other wives, established it’s Ladies Auxiliary for the Club. Another tradition was their annual summer vacation to the Jersey Shore, and staying at the Albocondo Campground in Toms River, where countless fond memories were created.

Marion was an incredible person in many respects. Her children describe her as loving, dedicated, protective, caring, pretty, brave, and so much more. She was always there for them, was always supportive, and provided for their every need. Her grandchildren, whom she loved very much, will remember her much the same way.

Marion is survived by her husband of sixty-three years; Howard of Wayne, their four children; Howard and his wife Sharon of Westbrookville, NY, Cindy Kelly of Butler, NJ, Timothy and his wife Linda of Westbrookville, NY, and Christine Struble and her husband Bill of Newton, NJ, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her brother Bernard Downer, and by her parents; John and Stella Downer (nee Pryll).

April Cappetta, age 78, of Lincoln Park, passed away on Sunday, September 19, 2021.

April was the older of Charles and Margaret “Mini” (Shultz) Norred’s two daughters. Her father was serving in the U.S. Army and nine months after he came home on a weekend of leave, April was born on Ft. Jackson Military Base in Columbia, South Carolina. Hmmmmm….. one could say he made the most of that weekend!

April grew up in her family’s home located at 14 Nash Avenue in Clifton and her childhood was going along quite splendidly. Unfortunately sadness came and things got tough when, at the tender age of ten, she faced a major setback when her father died from the effects of lung cancer contracted as a result of his Army service while stationed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, aiding in the cleanup of the devastation caused by the two atomic bombs which allied forces dropped in 1945. From that time forward, April’s life was fast-tracked to adult hood as she was forced to take on more responsibilities than a girl her age should have to in supporting her widowed mother and helping to raise her then five-year-old sister June. If there was any silver lining to this cloud, it was the fact that April learned valuable life skills in independence, stamina and perseverance. There was no mountain to high that April would not attempt to conquer.

After graduating from Clifton High School with the class of 1960, April attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School and went on to work for various companies including Main Investments, ITT, and even for the Secretary of the Treasury, William E. Simon. She later worked for Bo Sullivan Commissioner of the NJ Turnpike Authority, who ran for governor and was also head of the NJ Republican Party. In her first days working for Bo, she had an interesting experience that made for a great story. One day she answered the phone and the gentlemen on the other end of the line asked, “May I speak with Mr. Sullivan?” April’s reply was, “May I tell him who’s calling?” The gentleman on the other line said “This is the Vice President.” April’s reply was, “Vice President of what company?” The gentleman replied “The Vice President of the United States.” It was Vice President Dan Quayle! She later worked for Sun Chemical Company before retiring at age 71 from Lipo Chemical in Paterson, NJ.

One time when April was sixteen years old she went out on a double date to the local Bowl-O-Mat. April was with a young man and Frank was there with a young woman. Little did April know, that Frank was noticing her! Being a smoker at the time, when Frank got the chance, he slipped April a matchbook with his phone number written inside and asked April to give him a call. She did, and the rest is history. Their first official date was to Richard’s Car Hop in Clifton, just off of Route 46. They went in Frank’s gray, 1957 four-door Oldsmobile Super 88 and enjoyed an evening of checking out everyone else’s cool cars. The night ended with watching the usual quarter mile drag race that always spontaneously occurred on a stretch of Route 46. The race ended at an overpass where all the spectators gathered. One can’t help but wonder “Where were the cops?” But these were much simpler times. Aaaah the good old days! If you ever saw the movie Grease, the story of Danny Zuko, a tough guy played by John Travolta, falling in love with Sandy Olsson, an innocent girl played by Olivia Newton-John, you would swear that the story was inspired by April and Frank’s budding relationship. The parallels are unbelievable but with one little twist. Unlike Danny Zuko, While April and Frank were dating, Frank went off to serve in the U.S. Navy. He was scheduled to be honorably discharged on October 26, 1962, but the day before, the Cuban Missile Crisis began and he ended up serving another eight weeks. When Frank finally got home, he went for a walk with his sweetheart April in Weasel Brook Park and asked her to marry him. She said yes and they married on Saturday, May 2, 1964 at April’s church, United Methodist Church on 3rd Street in Clifton. After the ceremony, a reception was held at the Hawaiian Palms in Lyndhurst for 151 guests. Compared to today’s costs, the Hawaiian Palms charged $4.95 per plate and the bar tab for the champagne toast was $82. Looking back on 57 years of marriage, Frank liked to joke saying “If I had killed her, I would have been out in ½ the time.” Truth be told, he adored April and their marriage was one that could only be described as a true love story.

After a honeymoon in Jamaica Mr. and Mrs. Cappetta moved into their first home as man and wife – an apartment in Lyndhurst where they soon welcomed Danielle, the first of their three daughters. With need for more room, they moved to a larger apartment in a three-family house owned by Frank’s father located at 283 Buffalo Ave in Paterson where Tracy and Suzanne were born. From there they moved to their first home at 160 Olive Ave in Pompton Lakes. While her daughters were growing up, April took a break from the workplace so that she could give all her love and attention to Danielle, Tracy and Suzanne. The move to April and Frank’s next house at 157 Laurel Ave in Pompton Lakes is an interesting story! Frank went out for a weekend to play golf with his buddies. When he returned home, April announced to Frank that while he was away, for 48 hours, she had arranged to both sell their old home and purchase a new one. Talk about woman power! They enjoyed that new larger home for a number of years until moving to their present home in Lincoln Park.

April’s daughters would be the first to tell you how honored they were to call their mom “Mom.” When they were in those formative years, April was right there with them, volunteering as a class mom, on the school’s parent-teacher organization, accompanying them to Brownies and Girl Scouts, and anything else they were involved in. The fact of the matter was that frankly, April enjoyed it all. She also enjoyed shopping. She loved to dress elegantly and as a result, she had more clothing and shoes than Macy’s Department Store had. Filled with good intentions, she would get excited about something but that didn’t mean she would always follow through. For example, that stationary bike in her house had more miles on it from being moved around the house than it had from riding it. Another example was the ceramic King Tut bust that she made but never really got to the point where it could be displayed on his pyramid. She did however manage to make a beautiful statue of a Great Pyrenees dog and a memorable Christmas tree. April was also consumed with learning. She loved learning about religion and history and could often be heard saying “Teach me something!” April also loved old movies including Little Women, Gone with the Wind, Imitation of Life, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Ben Hur, The King and I, and anything produced by Mel Brooks.

April’s friendships were so precious to her. From her oldest friend Gloria, on Nash Ave, to other life-long friends including Sandy, Nellie and Ferdy, just to name a few of many. She remained close with all her friends both old and new. She also loved to get together for lunch dates with her sister June, meeting halfway between their homes and she cherished the time spent with her dearly departed sister-in-law, Joanie.

Above all else, April was devoted to and so proud of her family. She adored Frank and loved to brag about her daughters. Because of her love for her girls, she felt so saddened when her daughter Suzanne lost her little baby boy Nicholas during her pregnancy. To make matters worse, Suzanne and her husband Bert were given the painful news that they would not be able to have children of their own. With the whole family devastated by this news, April’s daughter Danielle offered to be artificially inseminated with her sister Suzanne’s and Bert’s embryo. Danielle carried their son for nine months and presented them with their own baby boy Dylan. Then Tracy’s  friend Eva did the same thing for her. And three years later Suzanne and Bert with another baby boy which they named Michael. This made Grandma April so proud of her daughters and Tracy’s friend Eva and so grateful to God for her beautiful grandsons. There was even a funny side to this miracle when they tried to explain to Frank’s father, the baby’s great-grandfather, that Danielle was going to carry Suzanne and Bert’s baby. Mistakenly thinking that Bert was impregnating his sister-in-law Danielle a, he did not approve but reluctantly said “All right, but just this one time.” Danielle’s husband Rob had fun too, telling his coworkers that his wife was pregnant, but the baby wasn’t his.

April was a devoted member of First Reformed Church in Lincoln Park where she served as deacon. Her faith in God sustained her a lot in her life and gave her such joy. That joy just beamed on her face all the time and was a huge reason for her sunny disposition. In fact, her disposition was so bright all the time, it’s a wonder people didn’t have to wear shades in her company. She would enter a room telling a joke and she’d leave the room telling a joke. She will be dearly missed but her family is thankful to know she is with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they are confident that they will see her again someday.

April was the devoted and beloved wife of Frank, blessed in marriage for 57 years. She was the most loving mother and friend of her three daughters: Danielle Williams and husband Rob of Pequannock, Tracy Rosky and husband Pete of Wayne, and Suzanne Deutsch and husband Bert of Wayne; adored grandmother of Thomas Rosky, Robbie Williams, Jack Rosky, Nikki Williams, Nicholas Deutsch who passed in 2000, Dylan Deutsch, and Michael Deutsch; and dear sister of June Vester and husband Dr. John Vester, Michael Vester and wife Sue and Amy Vester.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in April’s name are asked to consider:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105-9959
To donate online, click here (www.stjude.org)

Arthur Lewis “Tony” Fairchild, age 90, of Wayne, formerly of Reeders, PA, passed on Sunday, September 19, 2021.

He was born in East Mauch Chunk, PA (now Jim Thorpe) and raised at 22 West 7th Street in East Mauch Chunk, PA. Family history/rumor has it that “Tony” was a name imparted on him by a neighbor when he was just a baby.  The neighbor heard the name his parents gave him and said “that’s a terrible name, we’ll call him Tony” and that was it.

Tony left high school to join the United States National Guard and was assigned to Company B,  of the 164th Military Police Battalion. He enlisted on July 6, 1949 and after two months was released by the National Guard on September 13 of 1949 and enlisted in the United States Airforce for a three year hitch.  During his service in the Air Force he was a teacher, crew chief, and radar mechanic for ground equipment installation. When his three years were up, and the Air Force realized what a diamond they had, they refused to let him leave and forced him into what his Honorable Discharge papers say was an “involuntary extended nine months” of which he served five months.

During his military service he met a beautiful girl, on a blind date, named Eleanor McNelis and they married on May 8, 1952.  They had a backyard wedding in Larksville, Pennsylvania and had a weekend honeymoon.  When they returned home they found the party in the backyard was still going on. Tony and Eleanor had thirty four years of marriage that was blessed with three children Donna, Kathleen, and Gary before Eleanor’s passing in 1986.

When it comes to Tony’s work history it’s best to pre-empt it with the fact that he was a brilliant problem solver who was never wrong and loved what he did.  He was a freelance engineer who was involved in many things we take for granted today.  We will list just some of his accomplishments here: AB Dumont Corporation he worked on air craft radar systems, fixing televisions and two way radios for military jeeps, Bendix Corporation Standards Labs assembled and trouble shot analog computers, Kearfott Corporation he worked on navigation systems, compass systems and gyros, Avion Corporation he worked on computer systems for Navy Dive Bombers, guns, rockets, bombs and associated navigation systems, ITT Corporation he worked on aircraft carrier navigation systems, Raytheon Corporation where he worked on Hawk missile systems that drop into the water and sink to a specified level before exploding, IBM Corporation where he set up computer airline reservation systems, Data Trends Corp/GE Honeywell where he worked on fiber optic devices, invented the key card reader used in hotels to open doors, Fairchild Product Development where he consulted on medical devices that wound up winning the Nobel Prize for Medicine.  He consulted for innumerable other corporations with projects like: conveyor belt systems that feed coal to furnaces with precise measure, large scale bakery conveyor systems that weigh out ingredients, lift systems to assist people with stairs, tubs and hospital beds, and even designing a hysterometer for measuring and optimizing the recipe for making rubber.  He was a consultant at Trump Tower when they wanted to drill holes in the buildings concrete walls to install more windows. He also worked on the Manhattan Bridge when they needed to drill mounts for new steel cabling. Some more of his endeavors include: working on rockets, the fastest paper tape reader, NOAA air samplers at Brook Haven Labs in NY, and cutting up an Atomic Reactor.  To say his work life was diverse in an understatement. He never really retired. He bought acres of property in Pennsylvania and covered it with all manner of equipment, machinery, and just about anything he could see a purpose for.  The family related that he had over 1,000 screwdrivers just to give perspective on his collecting and imagination for re-purposing. When it came to “stuff” one was never enough!  Whether it was flashlights, pocket knives, screw drivers, machinery, tools, or pads of paper more equaled better in his mind. A quote on his refrigerator sums it all up “He Who Dies With The Most Toys – Wins.”

When it came to societal rules Tony wasn’t a big fan.  He did what he wanted when he wanted, was never wrong, and a solver of all problems.  When you had a problem he would say “get me a pad and pencil.”  His mind was always racing to take on the next task or problem,  refused to have his mind limited by boarders, and never took NO for an answer.  A shining example of this is when he ran for Congress under the Lyndon LaRouche ticket.  He was brilliant, had a very dry sense of humor and had no time for small talk. His sense of humor showed in uncharacteristic ways.  When he watched television he would watch shows such as Benny Hill and Pinky and The Brain. In his senior years he enjoyed wood carving, painting, skiing, white water rafting, and was an accomplished Ballroom dancer.

He was the loving husband of the late Eleanor Fairchild (d. 1986); loving father of Donna Brightman of Wayne, Kathleen and Theodore Popadics of Wayne, and the late Gary Fairchild (d. 2002); he was the cherished grandfather of Daniel, Tanya, Kara, and the late Courtney (d. 1997); and dearly loved great-grandfather of Landon and Brooklyn; he was also predeceased by his seven siblings.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Paterson - Habitat for Humanity would be greatly appreciated.

Thomas “The Hawk” Carr, age 81, of Wayne, retired Captain of the Paterson Fire Department, passed peacefully at home on Friday, September 17, 2021. He was born in Paterson to Catherine and Thomas Carr. He was a loving brother and brother-in-law to Anita & Joe, Carol & Al, Marguerite & Roger, and Kevin & Margaret. He was also a warm wonderful uncle to his many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind four children and their spouses: Kathleen & Alan, Coleen & Bob, Trish & Rahmann and TJ & Supattra. He was “Pa” to his many grandchildren: Joseph & Kristina, Kevin & Dana, Jennifer, Tiffany, Brett, Riley, Shaina, Danielle, Donovan, Delaney, Madelyn and Liam. He has 3 great grandchildren on the way! The family is excited and will make sure they know their Pa!

He was born in Paterson, and then moved to Paramus and the farm life when he was 7. He loved the farm, except for the time he got caught up in the barbed wire fence and tried to wave to his father for help but he just waved back not knowing Tom would be there for 6 hours. I’d like to say he learned his lesson but Tom liked a little trouble. He loved riding his horse, Star, and he was a true cowboy. That was evident in his love of John Wayne,  Western movies, and country music.  He eventually moved back to Paterson in the 50’s. His best friend Johnny lived across the street and they had great times together. They enjoyed the streets of Paterson, hanging with friends and racing cars in the car club, “High Lifts.” He was a leather jacket wearing, car racing, cowboy!!

He met  “Chippie” at Joe’s Pizzeria in Paterson. Their first date was to a drive-in movie. They had several dates which often included their younger siblings, Kathie and Kevin. Chippie wrote “I liked him because he was mature, serious and honest”. They liked to go to drive-in movies, for a ride or to house parties. They were engaged on June 1, 1963. Tom and Chippie were married in 1966 at St. Mary’s Church in Paterson. They honeymooned in the Poconos.

Tom served in the Navy and was on the aircraft carrier, USS Saratoga. He served during the Vietnam War and was part of the Cuban Blockade. He told great stories about his time in the Navy. Through the years, he stayed in touch with many of his Navy buddies. Tom and Chippie often rode Tom’s motorcycle to places around the country to visit them or attend Navy reunions.

Tom and Chippie were blessed with 3 beautiful daughters while living in Paterson. They moved to Wayne where their son was born. Tom once again, found himself in the center of the action. The neighbors looked out for one another, shared great times and many beers. Tom was known as “Mr. Fix It.” He was the toolman and Mr. Fix it to all! There wasn’t a bike, a car or anything he couldn’t fix with his tools or some duck tape!

Tom worked for the Paterson Fire Department, where he made lifelong friends that were like family. They enjoyed weekend barbeques, practical jokes and family parties together. Tom and Chippie always attended the annual Fireman’s Ball. As their kids got older, they were also included in the tradition. When he worked the overnight shift, his kids always looked forward to waking up to a box of jelly and bavarian donuts that he would bring home.  Tom became a Captain and a Master Mechanic at the fire department mechanic shop. Tom retired after 25 years from the department with a medal of valor. He was a true fireman at heart, practicing fire drills at home and pointing out emergency exit routes to his family.

When Tom and Chippie  retired, they got a place in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. They enjoyed spending winters there. They again had friends that were like family. They joined clubs and went out all the time. They loved when their kids and grandkids  would come and visit. They also enjoyed playing golf.

When they were home, they spent their time with family. Tom was “Pa” and the grandkids adored him. Not just because he would sneak them all M&M’s, but because he played with them, laughed with them and had several silly games that never got old!! He was at every birth and every party and special event. At home, Tom could usually be found in his garage “tinkering” with something or sneaking a cigar. You could chill with him in his garage and maybe learn how to fix or make something. He always had an assortment of bikes or scooters for the kids. The grandkids never got tired of his shenanigans! Tom also loved hunting especially in Montana.

Tom always had a love of classic cars. He could be found reading Auto Trader and dreaming of his next car. He eventually got a ‘55 Ford and enjoyed spending weekends at car shows where he won several trophies which he loved to show to his grandkids.

Throughout his life, one thing was constant, whatever he was a part of, it became family. He was so warm and sweet and helpful, that you couldn’t help but love him. He would literally give you the shirt off of his back!! Tom could never pass a stranger in need, often rescuing motorists on the side of the road.Tom was a true gentleman. He cared for his family, always walking “his girls” to their cars.  He will be missed by all who knew him but will be reunited with his “Chippie”.

In lieu of flowers, please make checks payable to Patricia Brown, I was his favorite, “Daddy’s Little Girl” and he would definitely want that!! Ok, send flowers or donate to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CAF) at curealz.org.

Raymond Coppolecchia, age 76, of Packanack Lake in Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 17, 2021.

Born in Jersey City, Ray grew up in Hoboken and graduated Hoboken High School.  After serving as an MP in the U.S. Army, he went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University.  He married his childhood schoolmate Mary (nee Simone) in 1972 and they welcomed their first son Matthew in 1975.  They moved to their first home in Hazlet, NJ where in 1980, they welcomed their second son Jason.  After having moved to Old Bridge and years later to Belmar, they made their final move to Packanack Lake.

Ray work for several major institutions including Giants Stadium, American Broadcast Company (ABC), AT&T and most recently MetLife Stadium where he enjoyed memorable events and made lifelong friendships.

Above all else, Ray was a deeply devoted family man. Whether at the lake or the beach, he loved spending time with his children daughter-in-law Andrea and precious grandchildren Anna and Vincent.

Ray was the dear brother of the late Anthony Coppolecchia (2021) and his wife Linda, and will be dearly missed by sister-in-law Anne and husband Patrick, brother-in-law Bernard and wife Jennifer and brother-in-law Joseph and wife Marie; niece Donna and husband Chris, nephews Steven, Eric, Christopher and wife Michelle, Michael, Sabina, Emily, Alexandra, great-nephew Nicholas and great-niece Emilia.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Ray’s name are asked to consider Robin Hood Foundation which is New York City’s largest poverty fighting organization. If you would like to donate, please mail your check made out to “Robin Hood” to:

Robin Hood
826 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10003
On the memo line please indicate that your gift is in memory of Raymond Coppolecchia

If you prefer to donate online please CLICK HERE.

Joseph F Mulvihill, age 71 of Wayne, died suddenly on Wednesday,  September 14, 2021. Joe has lived in the Wayne and Clifton areas for the vast majority of his life.

Joe graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1968 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from St. Peters College. Joe loved going to live concerts, mostly front row for the the Kinks, the Who and the Bee Gees.  However, his heart was always with the Rolling Stones, even seeing them live on the Ed Sullivan show in 1967 with the infamous lyrical adjustment “let’s spend (some time) together” and also naming his first born after guitarist Keith Richards.  Joe long cherished a pair of drum sticks thrown by none other than Keith Moon that fondly became the basis of one of his favorite stories, centered around his daughter Ralene using them to stir paint to make a sign for her garage sale.  Live music was a staple in many of his tales, almost as much as classic movies.

Joe was a caring father to his six children despite many challenges life threw his way.  Somehow he never missed a game during the years, be it football, soccer, basketball or baseball.  He was an incredible story teller, and many of his stories were embellished right to the brink of the unbelievable.  However, no stories brought out the smile on his face like those of his parents, Bob and Leona.  Whether it was the witty tales of Camp Olympic or Camp Saint Joseph’s, the family bus trip down to Florida with his parents and seven brothers and sisters or stories of the fun times during Nickle Night at Beartrand’s Island, Joe cherished the nostalgia provided by his loving parents.  Joe was a legend to so many people and his signature outfit consisting of the black trench coat, dark sunglasses and gloves were truly unique. Despite the sometimes intimidating exterior, Joe was a peaceful, loving man at heart and he will be missed dearly by many.

Joe is survived by his loving siblings; Ellen and her husband Tim Monahan, his late sister Diane and her husband Peter (Hugger) Wilson, Mary and her late husband Kevin Brophy, Christine and her husband David Jablonski, Laura Iurato, Dr. Robert Mulvihill and his wife Rosanne and Stephen Mulvihill and his wife Susan; his five children; Keith Mulvihill and his wife Jennifer of Freehold,  Jason Mulvihill and his wife Leah of White Township, Rosalee Mulvihill of Wayne, Kelliann Douglas and her husband Blake of Illinois and Nicole Mulvihill of Florida; his lifelong companion Jill Bonadies and her daughter Cara of Clifton as well as his thirteen grandchildren; Kylie, Cole, Reese, J.J., Myles, Nathan, Vivian, Al Monte, Rianna, Alxavier, Logan, Cierra, and Harrison along with nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Leona and Robert Mulvihill, brother in law Kevin Brophy, sister Diane Wilson, his daughter Ralene Smith and his wife Terry Mulvihill, all of whom forever hold a special place in the hearts of the entire family.

Dennis P. Oliver, age 75, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Dennis was born in Passaic and raised in Bloomfield.  He was one of four children to Edward and Sabina Oliver.  While growing up in Bloomfield, Dennis attended St Thomas grammar school, and  Essex Catholic High School - graduating with the class of 1964

Following his graduation from high school, Dennis found work quickly in the field of telecommunications  joining a company called Western Electric.  Dennis worked for Western Electric as a senior economist for approximately thirteen years. During that time, Dennis attended night classes at Rutgers University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree.  Upon graduating Rutgers Dennis continued taking night classes, this time at New York University - where he earned his Master’s Degree in Finance and Accounting and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

In 1979, he accepted a position at AT&T in Morristown, NJ.  Dennis quickly worked his way up to a management position in business sales and marketing.  He eventually left AT&T in the late 80s, and accepted a position with The Rockefeller Group in New York City where he became Senior Vice President of Business Development.  Dennis held this position until his retirement nearly twenty years ago.

As a young man, Dennis enjoyed hanging out with his friends and playing cards.  One night while out with his buddies in Bloomfield, an attractive girl named Rosemary Sulli caught Dennis’ eye.  He was very taken with Rosemary and was extremely persistent about getting her to go out with him.  Rosemary ultimately agreed, and she and Dennis started dating.  Dennis and Rosemary fell in love and were married in 1969 at St Bonaventure Church in Paterson.  The couple honeymooned in Bermuda and settled briefly in Paterson.  While living in Paterson, they welcomed the birth of their first child.  Shortly thereafter, Dennis and Rosemary moved to West Paterson where they purchased their first home.  Dennis and Rosemary welcomed their next two children while living there.  The family then moved to Wayne in 1979 and called it their home for the next forty-two years.

Ever since Dennis was a young boy, he always had a special admiration for the classic cars of the 1950’s and 60’s.  His dream car was the “57 Chevy”.  Dennis loved attending local car shows with his son Marc and his son-in-law Al.  He enjoyed golfing, traveling, and watching movies of all types and genres.  However his greatest passion was spending time with his family.  He and Rosemary cherished fifty-one years of marriage until Rosemary’s passing in December of 2020.  Dennis loved going to fun places with his family on vacation destinations such as Disney, Italy, and Hawaii.  He and Rosemary often took their children camping when they were younger, typically joined by other close friends and their families.  He also frequented amusement parks with his family where Dennis would have just as much fun as his kids!  Over the years, he enjoyed utilizing his company’s corporate tickets to bring his family to sporting events; especially attending many NY Yankees games. While Dennis liked following sports, there was nothing he enjoyed more than coaching little league and practicing sports with his sons.  He loved watching his children’s sports and never missed a single game…he was sure to come home from work early to watch them play!  Broadway shows were another favorite family tradition, usually followed by a special dinner in NYC at Carmine’s or Del Frisco’s.  Holidays and family events were things that Dennis truly looked forward to and often hosted.  He took great pride in his pool..constantly cleaning it, and keeping the water crystal clear. He was always enticing his family and friends to “come swimming - the pool is 88 degrees!!!”

A veracious reader,  Dennis loved to learn about American and world history, science, and the Bible.  He was not only dedicated to his family,  but also to his Christian Faith.  He was raised Catholic, and later became an active member of the Abundant Life Worship Center in Lincoln Park with his wife,  where he was an usher and sang in the church choir on special occasions. He was always willing to lend a helping hand (and crack a joke whenever possible.)

Quite the comedian, Dennis was always the life of the party.  He enjoyed engaging people with his storytelling and wisecracks, bringing laughs and smiles to everyone around him. His family and friends became all too familiar with his one-liners and after awhile could often beat him to the punchline.  Dennis was truly a one of a kind person with a big personality.  He was devoted to his family, and wanted nothing more than to spend time with his children and grandchildren.  Recently he was still mourning the loss of his beloved Rosemary and while we are comforted in the belief they are reunited, he will be sincerely missed by all that knew him.

Dennis is survived by his daughter Taryn Buglione and her husband Albert of Wayne, two sons; Marc Oliver and his wife Hillary of Lake Hiawatha, and Michael Oliver and his wife Alexandra of Maplewood, eight grandchildren; Amelia, AJ, Sierra, Elaina, Isla, Addison, Makenzie, and Everett, two sisters, Helene Jung and her husband Harty of East Hanover, and Elyse Schulze and her husband Richard of Colorado, many nieces, nephews, and life-long friends.  He was predeceased by his brother Edward Oliver in 1963.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Dennis’ name are asked to consider Abundant Life Worship Center, 103 Jacksonville Rd, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035.http://www.alwclp.org

Warren J. Grosjean, age 97, of Pines Lake in Wayne, NJ, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, September 12, 2021.

Born and raised in Staten Island, NY, Warren graduated from Tottenville High School with the class of 1941. He went on to study further at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While at M.I.T. he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to support this country's efforts during World War II. Warren served stateside from 1944 to 1945 and, upon return to civilian life, he finished his course of study at M.I.T. and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Always an enthusiastic and driven worker, Warren worked for various companies including Honeywell before enjoying a long career with Schick/Warner Lambert as an engineer and quality control manager. While with Schick he lived in Framingham, Massachusetts and Trumbull, Connecticut before relocating to Pines Lake in Wayne, New Jersey. In 1975, at the age of 52, he retired from Schick/Warner Lambert so that he could spend more time with his family. He took on consulting for other blade manufacturers and began development of a dry system for surgical prep shaving with the objective of avoiding infection prior to surgery. Thus, he started his own business - Derma-Safe, out of his home in Wayne. Employing his very young son Paul (9 YRS OLD) he built a successful business, developing products for hospital use and for the department of defense (DOD). Warren employed several people over the years making his products. Paul went off to get an engineering degree, and after graduating and working for a few years was asked to come back to take over the business. Together they developed another product line for environmentally safe lake weed control, which has been used all over the world. Warren and Paul continued as business partners for the rest of Warren's life, keeping the business in his home so he could remain involved in day to day activities.  

Warren’s father was an importer and exporter whose work required extensive travel. In those travels, he developed an interest in stamp collecting which he’d bring home and share with his son Warren. This kindled a love of stamp collecting in Warren that would become life-long. Warren had stamps from all over the world but Scandinavian stamps became his specialty and, as a result, he won many awards including top honors at respected stamp shows. Warren was always a man who liked to play as hard as he liked to work. When his children were growing up, snow skiing trips to Vermont became a family tradition. Skiing until he was 88 years old, his love of skiing was also life-long and always competitive. In fact, at age 82 he won a gold medal at the national Nastar competition at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He loved sailing with his beloved fraternity brothers around Martha’s Vineyard, the British Virgin Islands and even as far as the Greek islands.  His 1931 Ford Model A was proudly driven around town on special occasions. On the home front, Warren would relieve stress by working on his vegetable garden or he’d go out looking for fresh Mushrooms, which he would have in his eggs daily. He was also a dog lover, having several over the years.

Warren was the most beloved “Pop-Pop” to his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He loved to share his wisdom and inspire them and encourage them with stories and advice. He was so proud of their hard work, and he was always reminding them of how important they were. Forty years ago, Warren met a dear woman named Gerda Wittlinger. They became lifelong companions, going on travel adventures, playing tennis, bowling, and enjoying family events. She was the love of his life and well adored as “Oma” by all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.    

Warren’s presence always lit up the room. He simply loved people! He loved making friends and complete strangers laugh. He was the life of the party. A member of Sigma Phi while at M.I.T., Warren made friendships with his fraternity brothers that he was able to enjoy his entire life. He valued those friendships with his fraternity brother and their families deeply and cherished all of the memories of their adventures.  Always seeking the best in people, he liked to believe that people are generally good, but if you weren’t, he’d have no problem telling you. Warren would even regularly pick up hitchhikers because he felt maybe they would pay it forward. Always hungry to improve and better the quality of the human condition, as recently as two weeks ago he exclaimed with great passion, “We’ve got to find something better that will truly conquer cancer!”  Such was his hunger for life, until his passing, he still was working on a product idea and was still saying, “I’ve got so much to do!”

Warren was the father of his son Warren Grosjean, Jr. (predeceased 2013) and wife Ann and their two children Phillip Grosjean and Marie Claire Grosjean of Honeoye Falls, NY, his son Wayne Grosjean (predeceased 2016) and his three children Emma Grosjean, Leah Grosjean, and Johnny Grosjean, his daughter Beth McKinnon and partner Ann of Hanover, NH, his daughter Lynn Warner (predeceased 2013) and husband John and their two children Jenn Miller and husband Brian and their children Jackson and Avery, and Stacey Graf and husband Dan and their children Cheyenne, Cole and Breiah, and his son Paul Grojean and wife Kim and their children Casey and Jake. Warren was the uncle of Dianne Thornton and Susan Nicole, and great-uncle of Lucas Lécuyer. Additionally, Warren was the husband of Joy Mary Grosjean (predeceased 2005) and brother of Arthur Grosjean (predeceased 2008). He was the long-time partner of Gerda Wittlinger of Wayne, NJ and is also survived by Gerda’s family including: Gerda’s son Mark Wittlinger and Allison Vallinino and their children Katherine and Margo, Gerda’s daughter Eva Wittlinger and her daughter Jessica Pichl, and Gerda’s son Frank Wittlinger and wife Beth.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Warren’s name are asked to consider donating to a charter school that is close to Warren’s family’s heart:
Richland School of Academic Arts
1456 Park Ave West, Mansfield, OH  44906
(419) 522 7273

Jeanne Wache (nee Coyle), age 92 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, September 11, 2021. She has resided in Wayne for fifty-two years.

Jeanne grew up in East Paterson, now known as Elmwood Park. After high school, she went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree as a business major from Misericordia College, graduating in 1950. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree as a woman in 1950 speaks directly to the strength and determination that defined Jeanne’s character throughout her ninety-two year lifetime. After college, Jeanne began a career teaching third grade at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Fair Lawn. That lasted for just a few short years before she embarked on the most challenging and rewarding career ever; being a full-time wife and mother.

While in college, Jeanne met her future husband, Albert Wache, who lived just a couple blocks away from Jeanne’s childhood home, at a church picnic one summer at St. Leo’s in East Paterson.  Their romance blossomed and they married on July 1, 1951. They settled in East Paterson, first in an apartment then in a tiny cape on Court Street directly next to her sister, Doris. There Jeanne and Doris raised their children as one extended family. Every winter Al and Doris’s husband Herb would convert the connecting backyards into an ice skating rink for Jeanne’s 4 children and Doris’s 5.  Jeanne came from a very close-knit family and when the decision to move was made, Jeanne would not move until which time her parent’s would follow. Jeanne, Doris and their mother, Loretta, would often spend their time shopping, while the men would be at work in their family business. In 1969, Jeanne’s brother Ryan and wife Sandy located the property in Wayne through a family business associate and they made a deal with the builder to acquire four houses, all together in a cul-de-sac. Jeanne and Al moved in across from her parents, next door to her brother with her sister in between her parents and brother. Their families all thrived on the strong bonds and memories that they created there together.

Jeanne was a consummate homemaker, and she made it look easy! She started most days with baking, then tidied up around the house, did everything she could for her kids and grandkids, then cooked a big dinner, and tidied up some more. She loved having company over the house, and there was always plenty of food. She hosted many of the big holidays, and Christmas usually included thirty or more guests! She knew everyone’s favorite food and often cooked it just for you if she knew you were coming to visit! Everyone loved her Mac & Cheese – which was unquestionably the best you ever had. She made hosting look easy, and sent everyone home with plenty of leftovers.

Family was paramount to Jeanne and nothing made her happier than having a house full of kids. Her own kids, grandkids, other people’s kids – it didn’t matter, and the more the merrier! If you walked into her home, then you were family. Her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren (who all call her “Gi-Gi”) all adore her, and she thrived on their love. They will all miss her dearly.

Sorrow visited Jeanne during her ninety-two years. Her eldest son, Eddie, was tragically killed in a car accident in 1982. The pain of this loss was so great that it stopped Jeanne’s heart, quite literally. She spent more than a week in the hospital and required a pacemaker. Despite her heavy grief, she mustered the courage to press on, and found strength in her family and friends. Her motto’s became “you do what you have to do,” and “you must go on.” Fifteen years later, her husband, Albert, died suddenly and unexpectedly. Her heart was heavy with grief again, but she found the will ‘to go on,’ once again supported by the overwhelming love of her family and friends. She was an incredible woman, with a strong faith, and an even stronger love for her family.

Jeanne is survived by her three children; Colleen Markowitz and her husband Alan of Wayne, Allison Huff and her husband Mark of Wayne, and Robert Wache and his wife Terri of Warwick, NY, five grandchildren; Tracy and Stas Pietrucha, Jenni-Leigh Spadaccini, Matthew Huff, and Jaclyn Markowitz, eight great-grandchildren; Elizabeth, Alexis, and Ian Pietrucha, Gia, Ava, and C.J. Spadaccini, and Madison and Hailey Huff, her brother; Edward Ryan Coyle and his wife Sandra, and too many beloved friends to name. She was predeceased by her son Edward in 1982, her husband Albert in 1997.

Gerard A. Tirico, age 66, of Kinnelon passed away suddenly yet peacefully on Friday, September 10, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Gerard was born in Passaic and raised in Little Ferry and was one of three children to Gerard and Dorothy Tirico.  While growing up in Little Ferry, Gerard attended Ridgefield Park High School, where he excelled in sports and was president of his senior class.  Gerard graduated from Ridgefield Park High School with the class of 1973. Following his high school graduation, Gerard was accepted into Seton Hall University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and later a Master’s degree in Finance.  Gerard found work quickly after earning his degrees and enjoyed a long career in accounting that spanned over forty-four years working for a variety of companies.

Gerard had an outstanding work ethic that was instilled in him when he was quite young.  As a young boy, Gerard worked with his dad who owned a food truck called “Coffee Time.”  Throughout grammar school, high school, and college, Gerard cherished working alongside his dad until he closed up shop in 1978 when Gerard got married.  
 
Gerard was only in the eighth grade when he knew he met the girl of his dreams, a foxy lady by the name of JoAnn Moylan.  On a planned school trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania for the town’s “Safety Patrol” squad, Gerard and JoAnn met and their friendship was the start of something very special.  They remained friends and fellow students at Ridgefield Park HS, then quickly became high school sweethearts.  Shortly after graduating from Seton Hall, Gerard and JoAnn married on June 10, 1978 at St. Margaret’s Church in Little Ferry. The newlywed couple settled down in Little Ferry where they remained for close to twenty years. During their time in Little Ferry, they welcomed the births of all seven of their children. In 1996, Gerard and his family moved to Kinnelon where they have been ever since.  
 
Gerard never lost his love for sports and was a diehard New York Yankee fan throughout his entire life, his favorite player being #7 Mickey Mantle. He treasured attending and listening to countless Yankee games with his son and daughters over the years. Gerard continued to play softball when he was older in local leagues around his community.  He also coached Softball and Lacrosse when his children were younger within the Little Ferry and Kinnelon Recreation Departments.  Another one of Gerard’s passions was spending countless hours at the movies with his kids. Moreover, to say Gerard had a sweet tooth is an understatement. Pool care became an obsession, along with what ridiculous new pool tube he could find. Landscaping was also a major pastime of Gerard’s, if you didn’t help put down the mulch, don’t come over.

Holidays, oh the holidays, some of his happiest times. Gerard looked forward to it, and his Christmas decorations were always first-class and the talk of the town. And when 4th of July made its way to the calendar, Gerard would make sure to put on a firework display that would fill the night sky with light and onlookers’ eyes with awe. But aside from all of Gerard’s talents, hobbies and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Spending time and providing for his family meant more to him than anything else in the world.  He cherished hosting family events and holidays, and he treasured his yearly family vacations which included a variety of destinations such as the Jersey Shore, Hershey Park, Disney, Mexico, and Maine (“Bah Habah”).

Gerard set the stage of the immense possibilities that exist when one reaches their maximum potential as a father. His love, his method, his laugh, and each one of his corky traits will forever be emblazoned within his children. The adoration he and his children shared for one another was unmatched and will be carried on through all of the newest Tiricos’ that meet this world. “Papa Smurf” is a legend and a role model that all his kids will strive to be. Moreover, Gerard had an innate ability to know if someone needed help and would be at your side before you even knew where to begin. A man who always knew all the right words to say but only needed to share his smile to enlighten you.

A few days before Gerard’s passing, a tragedy struck him and his family. Their hearts were broken by the passing of his beautiful daughter, Taylor J. Donnelly, on September 6, 2021. Together, they are arm in arm enjoying the most beautiful firework display in heaven.

Not only was Gerard sincerely dedicated to his family, but he was also dedicated to his community. Gerard was such a warm-hearted person making everyone always feel welcome in his home. He would drop whatever he was doing to help someone and the word “No” was never in his vocabulary.  His exceptional work ethic resonated with his family and friends with his motto always being remembered as “finish the job.”

Gerard had a wonderful and infectious sense of humor that everyone loved to be around.  He enjoyed captivating an audience and bringing smiles to their faces by telling jokes and stories.  He loved music and his favorite musical artist was Neil Young. He and his wife JoAnn treasured forty-three years of a loving and loyal marriage. Gerard was a devoted father and grandfather. He taught his grandchildren countless, valuable lessons with his actions and life lessons such as making sure the Oreo package was firmly sealed. Gerard will be sorely missed by his family and friends alike.

Gerard is survived by his wife JoAnn Tirico (nee Moylan) of Kinnelon, five daughters; Jillian Tirico and her husband Kyle Remaly, Tristin Tirico, Tamrin Serpico and her husband Michael, Jenna Nilsen and her husband Sean, and Josie Strafaci and her husband Marc, one son, Colby Tirico and his girlfriend Alyssa Natale, one son-in-law Joseph Donnelly of Kinnelon, predeceased by his daughter Taylor J. Donnelly, six grandchildren: Jackson, Brayden, Bryli, Mikayla, Blake, and Colston, one nephew/godson David Francis, one niece/goddaughter Alena Lisa, two sisters Jerilynn Sheehan and Jackie Lisa.

Gerard’s family asks that those who wish to send flowers, please consider arrangements in the colors of his beloved NY Yankees; Navy Blue and White. Also in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gerard's daughter's name; Taylor J Donnelly, to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (Aneurysm Awareness), 269 Hanover Street, Hanover, MA 02339 http://www.bafound.org

Irene Kopec (nee Tencza), age 97 of Wayne, died peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. She has lived in Wayne since 1952.

Irene had worked for Prudential Insurance at their Willowbrook office in Wayne as a dental claims adjuster for twenty plus years. She had demonstrated such an incredible work ethic that she was honored, at a special dinner event, for never missing a day of work during her tenure there.  Irene had also enjoyed volunteering as a “Pink Lady” at Chilton Hospital for ten years after she retired.

Irene grew up in Wallington, NJ where she met her husband, Henry, when they were both in the same kindergarten class. They were good friends through adolescence, but attended separate high schools due to school district boundary lines. They dated before the war and communicated constantly while Henry was on active duty in the Pacific.  After the war ended, and on leave from the Navy, Henry proposed one evening when they were out dancing.  They were married on July 20, 1946.  In 1952, they built their own home in Packanack Lake, where she has lived ever since. They celebrated sixty-six years of loving marriage together before Henry passed in 2013. While living in Wayne, Irene and Henry were active members of Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church.

Irene is survived by her four children; Bernadine Kopec Zapytowski and her husband Steve of Kent, OH, Ron Kopec and his wife Sandy of Northvale, NJ, Henry (Ted) Kopec and his wife Karen of Arizona, and Marianne Kopec of Sandyston, NJ, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Henry, in 2013.

Taylor Jordan Donnelly (nee Tirico), age 31, of Kinnelon passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, September 6, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Taylor and her family lived in Little Ferry, NJ for a time and when she was in second grade, her family moved to Kinnelon where she has been ever since.  Taylor is one of seven children to JoAnn and Gerard Tirico.  While growing up in Kinnelon, Taylor attended Kinnelon High School graduating with the class of 2007.  During her time as a student at Kinnelon High, she was a star goalie on the Girls Varsity HS Lacrosse team.  Following her graduation from Kinnelon HS, Taylor attended Montclair State University where she studied Nutrition. Taylor adored children, so it came as no surprise that she was employed as a Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher for several years.

As a young girl, Taylor attended high school with a fellow student by the name of Joseph Donnelly.  Taylor and Joe went out on a date to the Pizza King in Butler and to a local high school party afterwards.  Joe and Taylor hit it off great and quickly became “High School Sweethearts.”  As fate would have it, they fell in love and on June 11, 2016 Joe and Taylor became husband and wife, getting married at Lake Mohawk in Sparta Township, NJ.  Prior to tying the knot, the couple had already settled in the Fayson Lakes section of Kinnelon, which they called their home.

Taylor enjoyed running, hiking, biking, and cherished taking her dog Riley (a Lhasa Apso) on long walks around her neighborhood.  She also enjoyed watching television, her favorite shows being Friends, Gilmore Girls, The Office, and anything on Bravo (especially Housewives related).  If Taylor were to call someplace a second home, it would be at the beach.  She loved being in the water.  Taylor and Joe treasured year-round vacations to Cape May, NJ.  Her talents extended to crafts, tie dying clothing, and especially photography.  She was an avid baker and created the world’s best birthday cakes for her family.  Taylor was not only dedicated to her interests and talents, but moreover to her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Taylor than spending time with her husband Joe, her mom, dad, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.  Taylor always did have a special sweet spot for all her nieces and nephews.
 
Taylor conquered life in a beautiful, undefined way and poured herself unapologetically into every action. A woman that could run for miles without ever missing a breath. A wife, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, friend, dog mama, and a reminder to the world to be yourself because in the end “Who really cares?!” Her love is limitless, all encompassing, and will continue to protect her corner from any obstacle this world will throw. Our newest and toughest Guardian Angel Taylor would also tell you to dry your eyes and punch you in the arm for dropping too many tears and proclaim that life is always as beautiful as a sunrise no matter the weather or time of day. And as Taylor would sign off “Skadoosh”

She and her husband Joe cherished five years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Taylor touched the lives of many people around her and will be sincerely missed by her family, friends, and her community.

Taylor is survived by her husband Joseph Donnelly, II of Kinnelon, her Lhasa Apso named Riley, her parents, JoAnn and Gerard Tirico of Kinnelon, five sisters: Jillian Tirico and her husband Kyle Remaly, Tristin Tirico, Tamrin Serpico and her husband Michael, Jenna Nilsen and her husband Sean, Josie Strafaci and her husband Marc, one brother Colby Tirico and his girlfriend Alyssa Natale, one brother-in-law Clint Donnelly, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Joseph and Monika Donnelly; three nephews: Jackson, Brayden, and Colston, and three nieces: Bryli, Mikayla, and Blake.

Taylor’s family has asked that those wishing to send flowers choose arrangements of Sunflowers or Wildflowers, as they are her favorite.  Also, in lieu of flowers, donations in Taylor’s name may be made to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (Aneurysm Awareness), 269 Hanover Street, Hanover, MA 02339 http://www.bafound.org

Ethel M. Van Der Horn (nee Douma), age 83, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday, September 6, 2021, while receiving the loving care at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Wayne, NJ.

Ethel was born in Paterson and raised in Little Falls and was one of two children to Evert and Ethel Douma.  While growing up in Little Falls, Ethel attended Passaic Valley High School graduating with the class of 1956.  During her time in high school she actively participated with the “Green Team” Girls’ Show.  Following her graduation from Passaic Valley, Ethel married her high school sweetheart, James Enderly and settled in Totowa.  While living in Totowa, Ethel welcomed the births of all three of her children, her son James and then her twins, Karen and Susan.  Soon after having children, Ethel became a homemaker and volunteer.  This is where she made lifelong friendships with her neighbors on Mair Avenue in Totowa. She especially enjoyed vacations down-the-shore, apple picking, and weekends with them at the Totowa Pool.

In the early 1970’s, Ethel joined the work force and accepted a position as Group Long Term Disability Claims Representative at Prudential Life Insurance in Parsippany.  Ethel’s career at Prudential spanned thirty-three years until her retirement in 2003.

Ethel was a member of the Totowa First Aid Squad for over twenty five years.  While volunteering at the Totowa First Aid Squad, she met a man from the Totowa Fire Department named George Van Der Horn.  As fate would have it they fell in love and were married on July 1, 1983.  The couple settled in Clifton where Ethel and George cherished seventeen years of loving and loyal marriage together until George’s passing in 2000.  Following George’s passing, Ethel sold her home and moved to Riverdale for several years until finally moving to Sisco Village in Wayne where she has been ever since.

Besides being a long time member of the Totowa First Aid Squad, Ethel was also a member of the Valley Seniors in Clifton, and The Young at Heart in Wayne.  She was dedicated to her Christian faith and was a long-time active member of the Preakness Baptist Church in Wayne.  Organization and leadership were some of Ethel’s most distinguishing qualities so it came as no surprise that Ethel was also the Social Director of Sisco Village where she arranged countless games, activities and events for her senior community.  She also spent many years planning and organizing her high school reunions every five years.  Ethel was gifted at arts and crafts including sewing, crocheting, and knitting.  She enjoyed going to Atlantic City with family and friends and on many occasions leaving a winner.  Ethel also enjoyed playing Rummikub and Bunco with her friends and neighbors.

Travel was one Ethel’s favorite past times.  She and her family have traveled to a variety of destinations including; Ireland, Scotland, France, Nova Scotia, various islands in the Caribbean, and her favorite destination, Portugal.  Ethel also had memorable vacations to the Badlands National Park, the Black Hills and the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota.  Aside from all of Ethel’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Ethel than providing for and spending time with her family.  Ethel was an outspoken person who was never afraid to tell you what she thought and with her wit and wisdom, she was extremely motivational to others.  Ethel was a good judge of character, had a huge heart, and was always thoughtful of others, always remembering to send cards to someone during the holidays or on their birthdays.  Ethel was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be truly missed by everyone that knew her.

Ethel is survived by her three children; James W. Enderly and his partner Steve Himber of Englewood, Karen A. Enderly of Lincoln Park, and Susan Enderly Peracchio of Wayne, and her four grandchildren; John Everett Peracchio of Jersey City, Danielle Peracchio of Wayne, Taylor Peracchio of Wayne, and Jimmy Peracchio of Wayne, and her life-long friend Eleanor Dillon of Wayne.  She was predeceased by her husband George Van Der Horn in 2000, as well as her brother Bill Douma in 2018.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ethel’s name may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Joseph J. Carini, age 62, of Kinnelon, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 5, 2021.

Joe was a natural athlete who spent decades dedicating himself to the sports of strongman and competitive powerlifting. Among his many accomplishments, Joe won the title of NJ's Strongest Man 6 consecutive years during the 1980s. He was the first man in the state of New Jersey to officially squat 800 lbs, the first man in New Jersey to officially Bench Press 600 lbs, and the first man in NJ to achieve a powerlifting total of over 2100 lbs.

At just twelve years old, his cousin introduced Joe to the weights. The first time Joe grasped those weights he knew weightlifting was his calling. Weighing just 135 pounds as a high school freshman, he trained throughout high school and weighed 230 lbs when he was a senior. As a teenager, he met professional wrestler and champion Olympic weightlifter Terry Manton who took Joe under his wing and mentored him, helping Joe to develop as an athlete and coach. As Joe considered a life’s vocation, these early experiences lead him into a wholehearted career in the fitness industry.

Joe was passionate about sharing his knowledge on strength training with others and dedicated his career to helping athletes in the community. He was the owner and operator of Carini’s House of Iron in Pine Brook, NJ, where he was fortunate to train thousands of athletes during his 40+ year career. These athletes ranged in age and ability - from elementary school athletes to senior citizens, NFL players, and athletes with special needs. His goal for everyone was exactly the same – making sure that they performed their best. A constant fixture at the gym, his biggest source of pride was watching the amazing progress his clients and athletes made every day. He loved getting excited calls from those who just had a victory in a competition, and many times they’d call Joe before they even called their own family to share news of their success. He had friends and clients who had been with him for decades and were like an extended family for him.

Joe had a unique manner of telling stories, with a special ability to help you put things into perspective and realize the important things in life. He loved to make people laugh, and was always the center of attention and affection. With a heart as big as his physical prowess, for every ounce of love he received, he would return it ten-fold.

The second of Salvatore and Felicia (Pezzuti) Carini’s three children, Joe was born in Paterson. In 1964, his family moved to Wayne where Joe spent his formative years. With his father’s early passing, Joe worked hard, doing his best to make sure that his mother and sisters were well cared for. Joe had a work ethic second-to-none, waking up at 3:45am every day to open the gym. In 2000, Joe met the love of his life, Joan Pecchio, and they married on July 11, 2004. Ever the dedicated family man, when he wasn’t at the gym Joe loved to relax at home and patiently wait for Joan’s famous meatballs. He loved watching football with his two loyal pups Walter and Ginger or being outside with them on a pleasant sunny day.

Joe is survived by his wife Joan of Kinnelon, NJ, son Eric and daughter-in-law Ashley of Surfside Beach, SC, sisters Maria Pizza and husband Ron, and Sue Piombo and husband Albert - both of Wayne, NJ, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews that he adored.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Joe’s favorite charity:

Yellow Rabbit Animal Rescue
Mailing address 5971 Pleasant Hill Road, Ashland, MS 38603-7062.
Paypal: yellowrabbit1959@gmail.com
Venmo: @Sheila-Clifton-2.

Robert G. Allstaedt, Sr., age 87, of Wayne, passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2021. He was an especially loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and also cherished by countless friends.

Bob was born and raised in Jersey City. His childhood years were spent at 237 Cambridge Avenue in Jersey City and, after graduating from William L. Dickinson High School with the Class of 1952, he attended Jersey City Junior College where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. Bob’s first venture into the world of full-time work was with Curtis Wright Corporation in Woodridge where he worked as an engineer. In April of 1957, he began service in the U.S. Army and, after serving his country stateside in Fort Lewis Washington, he was honorably discharged and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves until 1963. In 1959 Bob returned to Curtis Wright and worked there till its closing in 1980. At that point being that he was only 46, he took a job as a bus driver for a couple of years with New Jersey Transit before becoming a school bus driver for Wayne Township Schools. Bob drove the morning and afternoon school runs and also served as the driver for many of the school’s sports teams. He took those skills as a bus driver and drove the buses for the PAL sports teams and was the only one who could make that left hand turn onto P.A.L. Drive in Wayne. All other drivers had to take the long way around. It was on a trip driving the All-Star basketball team to a tournament in Massachusetts that Bob’s speedy driving skills earned him the nickname “A.J. Foyt” after the famous American auto racing driver. Bob made that trip in record time. When asked by countless athletes that he had the privilege of transporting “When are we going to get there?” his response was always “In about a half-hour.” In 1982, Bob vacated his seat behind the big yellow bus to take a job as a driver and repairman with the Township of Wayne Water Department. His truck was number 514. Bob liked that truck because it knew the way to every coffee shop in town. In 2002, Bob retired for good at the age of 67.

As a kid growing up, Bob attended Second Presbyterian Church in Jersey City. He was a regular in the church’s bowling league and so was a cute young girl, six years his junior, named Margaret Hamaid. Bob took to noticing Marge and one day worked up the courage to ask her out. Their first date was to a movie and, while Marge doesn’t recall what movie it was, that first date was the beginning of a beautiful relationship that ultimately led to 58 years of marriage. After dating for about a year, Bob asked Marge’s dad for his permission to marry his daughter. Since that went well, he proposed to Marge at her home in front of her parents, four sisters, and two brothers as witnesses. They exchanged wedding promises on Saturday, March 23, 1963 at Second Presbyterian Church in Jersey City with the ceremony officiated by Reverend Juan Jiminez. After the wedding and reception, the newlyweds took a trip by train to Florida for their honeymoon, and upon their return they settled into a brand new home in Wayne which has been he and Marge’s home for all 58 years of their married lives. There they raised their three sons and one daughter.

If there was a Monument Park at the Wayne PAL to honor the greats, like there is at Yankee Stadium, there would definitely be a plaque dedicated to Robert Allstaedt Sr. His countless years of service to the PAL began as a baseball, basketball and football coach where he coached his three sons, daughter and other young boys and girls in Wayne with that old-school, tough, Bobby Knight style. He also was in charge of scheduling all the umpires for the baseball games and served as chairman of the farm league baseball program. In addition to the PAL sports programs, Bob was involved in a myriad of other PAL programs. As chairman for the Special Projects Committee he was in charge of decorating the annual winter wonderland tour through the PAL building every Christmas. Of course this attraction required someone who could play the role of Santa and Bob did that too. With his wife Marge by his side playing the role of Mrs. Claus, Bob greeted each wide-eyed kid with a “Ho-Ho-Ho” and after letting them sit on his lap, he’d give them a gift. For the PAL New Year’s Eve party Bob would dress up as Father Time and the New Year’s Baby (you’ve’ got to see the picture of that!). When Memorial Day rolled around Bob created the floats for the Memorial Day parade, and for the PAL Bingo nights, Bob sold boards and keepers and served as caller. One time he even called the numbers while dressed in his Santa suit. In 1977 Bob became a PAL trustee later serving as Trustee Vice-President and President. In 1988 Bob became the recipient of the PAL’s first ever Chief’s Award and in 2010 he was honored with the PAL Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding service.

You would think that all that service to the Wayne PAL would have left Bob with no spare time, but with more energy than the Energizer Bunny, he also served as a member on the Wayne Day Committee, as secretary of the North Jersey Jr. Football League, and as a sixty-year member of the Masonic Lodge.

After retirement Bob kept himself entertained with a myriad of different pursuits. If it’s not obvious by now, his favorite holiday was Christmas with New Year’s as a close second. Each year he would haul all the Christmas decorations out of the house and turn his yard into a winter wonderland including giant cutouts of Santa and his sleigh. Word spread quickly that he and Marge were the Wayne PAL’s Santa and Mrs. Claus and they soon started receiving calls from friends asking them to make a cameo appearance at their house for their kids. He also loved painting ceramic figurines of Santa’s, Christmas trees, and anything else having to do with the holiday. Puzzles and poker were a couple of Bob’s other favorite pastimes. There was always a jigsaw puzzle at some stage of completion on the kitchen table and one time he even built a 3-D model of the U.S. Capital. He loved doing word scrambles with his son Ron and once a month Bob and his sons got together for a night of poker. Great times were had with his granddaughters playing games like Rummy 500, Kings in the Corner, and Go-Fish. Bob’s sons turned him onto fantasy football but, suffering from a state of technological deficiency, you could frequently hear him summoning his wife during football season exclaiming “Hey Stink, can you help me with my lineup on this darn computer?”

Bob not only had an appetite for life, he also had an appetite for food. He had the best pickle recipe which earned him the nickname “Mr. Pickles” and he was a regular with his retired PAL trustees at the King George Diner in Wayne which they were affectionately called “The Breakfast Club”. Bob never saw a piece of cake or a cookie that he could pass up and, when he was in the hospital for his diabetes, his daughter Robyn was known to lovingly sneak him in a delicious black raspberry milk shake.

Bob’s sense of humor was out of this world. When the boys were little he opened “Dad’s Barbershop” and used a clipper that was so old and rusty, it pulled hair more than it cut it. When he played poker, the telltale sign that he had a good hand was that he’d start to unconsciously sniffle real loud. Everyone knew it but him. If Bob’s kids had a dollar for every time he said he was going to throw them out of his will, they’d have more money than was in his will. Of course it was just a big game and he didn’t mean it at all. Then there was the standing joke he had with his son Ron which went something like this; at family gatherings, when everyone was saying their goodbyes, Bob would always say to each of his kids, ‘I love you”, except to Ronnie to whom he would just say “Have a good night”. Again, all in jest. And the doozy of all doozies was how he told everyone, “The worst mistake of my life was the day I got married.” This coming from a man who was happily married for 58 years!

The fact of the matter is, Bob adored his wife, children, and grandchildren. In fact, they were his pride and joy. Retirement suited Bob perfectly because it afforded him the time to attend all of his grandchildren’s sporting events, cheerleading competitions, Boy Scout outings and school functions.  He was extremely proud and happy to attend all three grandsons Eagle Scout ceremonies as well as all three grandsons graduations from the United States Marine Corps. He equally adored his great-granddaughter Francesca and even his numerous grand-puppies who he loved to take for rides and sneak food scraps to under the table.

Bob was the most beloved husband of Margaret “Marge” (nee Hamaid), blest in marriage for 58 years. He was the loving father of (except Ron…..he just liked him): Robert Allstaedt, Jr. of Pompton Lakes, Ronald and wife Laurie Allstaedt of Bayville, Raymond Allstaedt of Wayne, and Robyn and husband Russell De Pack of Pompton Lakes; cherished grandfather of: Joshua and wife Cristina, Ryan, and Tyler Allstaedt, and Hailey and Jordan De Pack; adoring great-grandfather of Francesca Jane Allstaedt; dear brother of Julius and wife Audrey Allstaedt of Newton, the late Louis Allstaedt and the late Anna Nungesser; dear uncle of numerous nieces and nephews. He also was loved by his many grand-puppies.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Bob’s name are asked to consider the American Diabetes Association:

To donate by mail:
Make check to: American Diabetes Association
P.O. Box 7023
Merrifield, VA  22116-7023

To donate by phone:  call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383)

To donate online: CLICK HERE

Johanna Bancale (nee Berardi), aged 85 of Wayne passed away Thursday September 2nd, 2021.

She was born in Passaic, NJ to John and Anna Berardi, Italian immigrants, and grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ. In her teenage years, she got the opportunity of a lifetime and sailed to Italy to spend the summer and connect with family. This trip would spark a lifelong love and appreciation for her Italian heritage. She would return to Italy several more times in her life with her husband, daughter and other close family members.

One day after a school function, she met a dashing young man, Ernest Bancale, one year her senior. They fell in love and married October 2nd, 1955. Whether it was tending to their vegetable and flower garden or popping in to visit friends and family, they were inseparable throughout their 65+ years of marriage.

Shortly after their marriage, they had two children, Brian and Robyn. They then moved to Wayne in 1959 and bought their forever home, a fixer upper. They worked hard on rebuilding and renovating their house into a home for their two children. The kids wanted for nothing. Years later, their kids would also buy fixer uppers and as well as the grandkids, continuing the tradition.

Over the years, Johanna wore many hats. She trained as a hairdresser, but worked in a factory, cooked for a lunchonette and for the schools, and ran her own clothing shop among many other things. Even after retirement, she could not sit still. Her last and most favorite occupation was as a crossing guard for over 10 years at Ryerson Elementary School. It brought her joy to see the kids get to school safely and grow and develop over the years.

As an avid lover of nature, Johanna enjoyed many years of camping from the coasts of Maine to the forests of New York and Pennsylvania. Starting out in a tent, her love of camping grew and grew until she ended up in a 33 foot trailer. She loved having her grandchildren running around the campsite and her family close to her. Later, Johanna would enjoy cruises to Cozumel, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. Always on the go, Johanna enjoyed short trips to Atlantic City during her golden years. Whether it was catching crabs down the Jersey shore or eating lobsters in Maine, Johanna had exceptional taste for food.

It was her passion and legacy as her dining table was perpetually overflowing with food and eager guests. She was famous for her Italian Easter pie, pizza gaina. Every year for a family reunion, she would bake 25+ pies which would be distributed and enjoyed by Johanna’s extended family. It is a tradition she started that will live on with her daughter and generations to come. She made elaborate birthday cakes for her 3 grandsons in all different shapes, expertly decorated. Friends of her children and later grandchildren were always welcomed for dinner, expected or not. During the holidays, she hosted her grandson’s fellow airmen from McGuire Air Force Base who had nowhere else to go. Her Christmas Eve feast of the 7 fishes was not to be missed. You would never leave Johanna’s house hungry.

She possessed what can only be described as nafas, a word that has no English equivalent, but could translate to “breath or spirit.” As the New York Times delineates, “nafas speaks to a certain intimacy that stretches beyond the physical attributes of a dish. It is about the person preparing it, and what she imparts to the food. It is the time and energy spent selecting and preparing the ingredients; the patient dance back and forth with seasonings until every flavor is just right; the generous presentation and warm hospitality; and, above all, the love of cooking and the desire to feed others.” Nothing could embody Johanna better.

Johanna is survived by her beloved husband, Ernest, her daughter Robyn Sikder and husband Chitta, her son Brian Bancale and wife Annamarie, her 3 grandchildren; Mark and wife Marissa, Cory and wife Jessica, and Ryan; and her great grandchildren; Logan and Luke.

Robert A. Novak, age 86, was called home on September 1, 2021. He was Born August 15, 1935, in Kearny, New Jersey. Bob was born on the Feast of the Assumption, to a very religious family, and held his catholic upbringing in high esteem. His allegiance to country, devotion to family and unwavering faith in God was the corner stone that carved his path though life.

He was a proud member of the ROTC, became a 1st lieutenant in the army, then continued to serve in the National Guard and reserves. A dutiful and honored member of the American Legion, his fidelity continued with committed visits to the local veterans’ home, as well as being an active participant at every Veterans and Memorial Day ceremony.

He attended Seton Hall prep was a member of Knights of Setonia, the rifle club, social activities committee and civics club. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Seton Hall University, where he sang in the Church and University Choir, and attended every one of his class reunions. He loved Pirates basketball, and as a proud alumni was married on campus, in his esteemed Seton Hall Chapel.

He believed that charity was the heart of his faith, and was a member of the Holy Name Society, and Knights of Columbus. He helped raise, money for the needy, collected winter and spring clothing drives, marched on Washington for the right to life and ran the Saint Paddy's day dance.

As a member of St. Mary's parish, he was very involved with the church; and assisted with numerous fundraising activities, as well as helping to clean and vacuum before mass.

His eloquence, humanity and servitude made a difference in the lives of others. On Sundays he sang in the church choir in Wayne and (later Pompton Lakes), Mondays he’d serve food to the homeless at Eva's kitchen in Paterson, Thursdays was bingo at the veterans home in Paramus, and on the first Saturday of the month he helped transport patients from nursing homes to a church mass, then afterwards a special lunch.

He was a valued trustee of the Elks, volunteer reader for the blind, and helped run the Halloween and Christmas parties for children with special needs. He was devoted to his family and friends, and attended every family event. If anyone was ill or in distress he was the first one there, or if you needed something fixed and he couldn't do it, he’d find the person who could.

He worked as an executive for several companies over the years. However, everyone in the family remembers, when he worked for Hess Corporation, as in 1964 each one of his nephews received a Hess toy truck for Christmas. He carried on that tradition every year for his nephews and later, his grandsons. His final career was as an executive for Coastal Corporation which merged with El Paso, in New York City.

However, Bob is not remembered for where he worked but rather how he lived. He had a zest for life; loved playing golf and tennis at the country club and was active on several bowling leagues. He enjoyed traveling through America and Europe with his late wives Maria and then Mary. However, his favorite place in the world was Israel which made sense to anyone who knew him. He lived according to his faith; for I know no one who lived his life more in harmony to message, Matthew 25:35-36: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

His sister Dorothy would say, Bob you're always so busy and he would answer, "Yes, there's always so much to do… Isn't it wonderful?” As busy as he was he was always there for all of his sisters, a better baby brother you could not have asked for.

He was beloved by his family who appreciated his strong faith, compassion, loyalty and his  great wit; everyone wanted to sit close to catch his comedic quips. Bob will be deeply missed by his loving sister Dorothy Lapsley, and his large extended family, including many cousins, nieces and nephews and his stepchildren: Timothy Cox (Stephanie), Cindi McGuire (Brian) and Michael Cox (Leslie). He was a dedicated “PopPop" to 11 grandchildren: Becky, Chelsea, Kristin, Shannon, Michelle, Megan, Michele, Michael, Colin, Riley, and Brett, as well as 9 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Andrew and Mary (Faltisco) Novak, his brother Francis Novak, sisters: Mildred Hogan, Marie Layne, Catherine Stier, Alice Shaffery, his late wives, Maria Travisano, and Mary Haines Cox, and his daughter-in-law Cara Cox.

He took the road less traveled and we were all the better for it.

In lieu of flowers, please honor our veterans and wounded warriors through the Gary Sinise foundation

Gary Sinise foundation
PO Box 368, Woodland Hills, California 91365

Or at the website http://garysinisefoundation.org

Barbara Conklin, age 85, of Wayne (formerly of Oakland) passed Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

She was born in Paterson to William and Carrie Post.  She was raised in Paterson and graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1954, where she was involved with the Financial, Publicity, Decoration, Jewelry and Pageant Committees and the Bible Club.  

As a young woman, Barbara worked for the Sam Braen Quarry where she met Abram Ira Conklin.  They fell in love and married on January 12, 1956. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Joanne, David, and Nancy. For 21 ½ years she worked for the Oakland Board of Education and retired as a Cafeteria Manager on March 1, 1989. Barbara and Abe enjoyed five years of retirement in Palm Coast, Florida where she was involved with the Christian Women’s Club of Palm Coast. They had a loving and devoted marriage of 38 years before Abram’s passing in 1994.  After his passing, Barbara returned to Wayne where she lived for the past 27 years.

Barbara was dedicated to her Christian faith and was a member of the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church in Oakland and later the Preakness Baptist Church in Wayne.  She was active in both churches and sang in their choirs. At the Preakness Baptist Church she served as a Deacon, was active with mission trips, was a member of the Young at Heart Group, and could always be found working the kitchen for just about any church function. Upon returning to New Jersey, she chose to spend much of that time driving her senior friends shopping, to doctors, or anywhere else they needed to go – a truly selfless woman. She loved to entertain, decorate, and prepare food for family and friends.  Her loving touch on apple pie will be dearly missed. She was an active and devoted mom having been a Cub Scout leader, Brownie leader, and was always there to help with her children’s extracurricular activities.  She was skilled and creative; talents she demonstrated in the clothes she sewed for her kids as well as in her crafting. A favorite time of hers was taking girls trips to Street and Craft Fairs. Most of all Barbara will be remembered as a loving mom, grandma, and great-grandma that was faith-filled, spiritual, loving, and giving.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband Abram Ira Conklin (d. 1994), daughter Joanne Custer (d. 2011); and sister Carol Post (d. 2013). She is survived by her son David Conklin and his wife Darlene of Chelmsford, MA; daughter, Nancy Dukeshire and her husband Robert of Bloomingdale; son-in-law Benjamin Custer of Whitehouse Station; grandchildren, Chris Megnin and his wife Andrea, Kim Megnin, Steven Conklin, and Ashley Conklin; and great-grandchildren Ryan Megnin and Elena Megnin.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Baptist Camp Lebanon, 79 Blossom Hill Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833. The link for that donation can be found here.

Louise Pallante, age 94, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 30, 2021.

Louise was born and grew up in Newark, NJ. Like so many of her generation, she left school at an early age so that she could get a paying job to contribute to the needs of her parents and sisters.

As a young woman, Louise fell in love with Pasquale Pallante and soon after, they exchanged wedding promises and began their life’s journey together as Mr. and Mrs Pallante.

Louise and Pasquale started their own catering business and called it Parkway Catering. As part of their new enterprise, they had a fleet of food services trucks that were used to transport the food, including lunch offerings at corporate parks, to their client’s venues. Running the business necessitated daily 3:00 AM starts where Louise would make all the food offerings for the day.

The catering business was a great success and this enabled Louise and Pasquale to retire early. In 1974, they moved to North Miami, Florida where they joined Louise’s sister Joyce and husband Frank. Shortly after, her sister Antoinette and husband Dominick moved to Florida too. In her efforts to get established in her new sunny home, Louise took a part-time job at a Jewish deli. Her bosses adored her because she kept all the equipment meticulously clean which was important in a kosher deli.

Louise’s favorite pastimes included testing her luck at the casinos, going out for dinner with friends, and going to the track to see the dog races. She adored animals, especially her dog Duke – a Dalmatian mix, and she had the kindest place in her heart for the poor homeless stray pooches that she’d regularly feed food scraps which she’d leave outside her catering business.

In September of 1989, Louise’s beloved Pasquale passed away. She remained in Florida until moving back to New Jersey, settling in Sisco Village in Wayne where she quickly made new friends who she loved to get together with for a game of dominos or just to visit. In 2019, Louise moved to the new Bristol Assisted Living Community in Wayne.

Louise will be remembered for her outgoing personality, good-hearted nature, and friendly, kind spirit. A parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne, Louise lived out the words of the biblical “Golden Rule” from Matthew 7:12 where Jesus said “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She would gladly give the shirt off her back to anyone in need.

Louise is survived by her sister Joyce Bollotta and husband Frank of North Miami, FL., her niece and nephew: Annette Guardabasco and husband Nick of Wayne, and Donald Bruno and wife Cynthia of Goose Creek, SC: and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Pasquale "Pat" and sisters: Antoinette Bruno and Florence Meola.

Laura Pulford (nee Swisher), age 88 of Butler, died peacefully on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Her family had all been gathered at her bedside when she passed.

Laura grew up in the Stoney Road section of Paterson and recalled it as being a fun place to grow up. She enjoyed sleigh riding at Garret Mountain (the bunny slopes), Pennington Park (the expert slopes), and regularly visited Palisades Amusement Park with her cousins as well as her best friend, Tina Roncone where they each terrorized other bumper car participants and wondered years later why they never got their driver's licenses. It was in her neighborhood that she met Leonard “Lenny” Pulford when they were just kids. Their love blossomed and they were married on May 23, 1953. Laura was the reserved one, and Lenny was the life of the party! They laughed together, cried together, danced together, and enjoyed doing just about everything else together. Laura was certainly ‘the boss,’ and Lenny was devoted to her. They took many family vacations to Pennsylvania, visiting Hershey Park, relatives in Reading, and the Lancaster area.They enjoyed a very special twenty-fifth anniversary vacation to Bermuda. Sadly, Lenny died suddenly in 1984, at just fifty-three years old. Laura mourned his loss ever since and has missed him dearly.

In 1965, Laura and Lenny moved their family to High Crest Lake in West Milford, NJ. Laura was a true homemaker and loved running her household. Her cooking was exceptional and she was one of those people who could whip up an incredible meal out of thin air. Laura remained in their family home until 1999, when she moved to Butler, NJ.

Through the years Laura always kept Lenny’s spirit alive with each of her grandchildren. She always told them lively stories and many times pointed out each grandchild’s individual trait that was surely passed down from their grandfather- from singing, to dancing, to acting, to smiling, to his swimming expertise, to laughing, to his sense of humor, and to playing baseball or softball. She loved each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren immensely and would do anything for anyone of them.

Laura is survived by her three children; Kenneth Pulford and his wife Patrice of Glen Rock, Lisa Davies and her husband Rich, and Karen Miller and Jim Petrizzi, eleven grandchildren; Erica and Ryan Pulford, Allison, Scott (Samantha), Matthew, Brendan, Madeline, Rick Davies/Miller, Melanie Marek (Keith), Drew and Dana Miller  and two great-grandchildren; Savannah and Syrus Miller, her beloved brother; Robert Swisher and his wife Sandra of Wayne, and four nieces; Sharon Rovere, Doreen Calvello,  Donna Rojas, and Jessica Lenczewski.

Pasquale J. “Pat” Antonelli, age 84 of Wayne, died peacefully at home on Saturday, August 28, 2021. He has lived in Wayne for approximately fifteen years.

Pat grew up in Belleville, NJ, the only child to Fred and Frances Antonelli. He graduated from Belleville High School with the class of ’56, where he was known as the hot guy in the black Oldsmobile (according to his x-wife). After high school, he briefly worked on the receiving docks for a company called Uarco before landing with Open Country Shoe Stores, rising to become district manager of several area stores. In 1984, he bought the T-Bowl Pro Shop (from his best friend Vinny Spranza), located at the T-Bowl Lanes in Wayne, which he operated until his retirement. Pat was an avid bowler, a proud member of the Bowler Hall of Fame, and he scored more than 8 “300” games and multiple "299" games during his bowling career. Besides running the pro shop, he also served as the “Bowling Pro” at T-Bowl for many years. In the evenings, after closing up the pro shop, he would often socialize at the bar, ordering his favorite “vodka-tonic with two limes!”

Pat also loved all types of cars, hence the nickname “Cadillac Pat.” When Pontiac announced final production of the Trans-Am 2002, he bought one and has kept it ever since. He loved music, always had a radio nearby, and was a big fan of CHICAGO. He also enjoyed keeping himself in shape, and visited Jack LaLanne fitness in Wayne for many years until it closed, and then switched over to Crunch Fitness, where you could find him exercising religiously, three times each week (or socializing). He enjoyed working on his tan just as much, and you could find him at Tom’s Lake or the Wayne Township Pool every day of the season, without fail! The Jersey Shore, Aruba, and Atlantis in the Bahamas, were tops on his vacation list.

A huge fan of the NY YANKEES and the SAN FRANSISCO 49ers, Pat particularly enjoyed the strategic details of just about any sport. He was so keen on baseball that he knew the pitches that would be thrown before they would even leave the glove, and the plays that would be called. Of course, he learned the importance of all of this in his younger years, running the local sportsbook, which no one’s supposed to know about, but everyone did!

Pat was affectionately called “Bowling Pop” by his four grandchildren. He truly adored them as much as they adored him. They vacationed together, enjoyed holidays together, and he especially looked forward to his annual Friday night dinner with Kevin "Jr". He was a devoted grandfather and he loves them all very much. They will miss him dearly, and they each have great memories to cherish for years to come.

Pat is survived by his daughter, Caprice Vieldhouse ("Monk") and her husband Kevin of Wayne, anyone who knew Pat knew his daughter was his whole world and he was often heard saying "he couldn't have asked for a better son in law".  Pat is also survived by his four grandchildren; Stephanie Shepard of Harriman, NY, Kevin Vieldhouse, Jr., Korey Vieldhouse, and Carli Jo Vieldhouse, all of Wayne.

Dominick A. Despenzire, age 86, of Lincoln Park passed away on Monday, August 23, 2021.

Dominick was born and raised in Newark, NJ and was one of two children to Angelo and Concetta Despenzire.  As a young boy, Dominick played baseball growing up in Newark and while attending Arts High School in Newark, he played the position of catcher for the High School baseball team.  Dominick graduated from Arts High School in Newark with the class of 1953.  Following his graduation, Dominick began working for Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company in Newark.

While employed at Mutual Benefit Life Insurance, Dominick attended night classes at Rutgers University in Newark where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1969.  During his years at Mutual Benefit Insurance in 1961, Dominick met Nancy Tamburri. As fate would have it, they fell in love and became husband and wife on July 21, 1963.  After getting married, Dominick and Nancy settled in Belleville where they lived for more than thirty years.  While living in Belleville, the couple welcomed the birth of their one and only daughter Donna.  In 2003, Dominick and Nancy moved to West Paterson and eventually moved to Lincoln Park eight years ago where they have been ever since.

Dominick was the epitome of a gentleman. He was a soft-spoken man, and the kindest and gentlest of souls. He was a selfless person who always put the needs of his family and others before his own. Nothing in the world meant more to him than providing for and spending time with his family.

Throughout the years, he and his family would spend their summers at their summer home in Ortley Beach at the Jersey Shore.  Their Family gatherings at his daughter Donna’s house, such as Sunday Dinner, birthday celebrations, and holidays were treasured by Dominick and his family.

“Grandpa Dom”, as everyone called him, cherished spending time helping raise his two granddaughters, Nicole and Christine.  He would take them to school every day, help them with their homework, teach them to read and write, do crafts with them and take them for long walks. He never missed a moment of their life. Above all, “Grandpa Dom” taught and showed them, by example, true and unconditional love.

Dominick was a voracious reader of all types of literature, especially novels.  He was a devoted New York Yankees and New York Giants fan.  He was a long-time member and past President of the Unico Newark Chapter, the largest Italian American service organization in the United States.  Dominick enjoyed frequenting different casinos, his favorite game being Craps.

Dominick is survived by his wife Nancy (nee Tamburri) of Lincoln Park, one daughter; Donna Pescatore of Wayne, one sister Anna Rubulotta of Totowa, two granddaughters; Nicole Pescatore of Wayne, and Christine Pescatore of Wayne, one brother-in-law; Sam Tamburri of Cedar Grove and many nieces and nephews.

Dominick was the epitome of a gentleman and it was an honor and privilege to know him. He will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him. There is no one else like “Grandpa Dom”.

Donations in Dominick’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. http://www.stjude.org

Joseph W. Murray, retired Deputy Chief of the Paterson Fire Dept., age 74, of Wayne, passed Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

He was born to the late Joseph P and Agnes Murray of Paterson.  He was raised at 69 Maryland Avenue in Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School in 1964 where he played baseball.  After high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma and pursued his passion for baseball with the Sooners.

When Joe was 24 years old in 1971, he began his career with the Paterson Fire Department and worked as a firefighter for Ladder 3 on Lafayette Street.  He became a Captain in 1989 and served briefly with Engine 7 before returning to Ladder 3. In 1998 he was promoted to Battalion Chief and served in Battalion 1 and Battalion 3. In 2005, Joe was promoted to Deputy Chief and served as the Tour Commander of Tour 4 before retiring on July 1, 2010. He was also the founding President and a member of the Passaic County Police and Fire Emerald Society.

Joe will be remembered for his quick one-liners, passion for politics, generous nature,  and unbridled enthusiasm for sports especially the Dodgers.  His love for the Brooklyn team happened serendipitously when Joe was a young boy.  His father took him and his brother Andy to buy NY Yankee jackets but they didn’t have Joe’s size so he got a Dodgers jacket instead and a Dodgers fan was born.  He enjoyed watching sports, reading, listening to music, late night shopping on the internet, posting on Facebook, driving  flashy cars and collecting hats and watches.

Joe was the loving husband of Susan Sturgis; devoted father of Shannon Murray-Corsale of Jupiter, FL, Ryan Murray (Elizabeth) of Midland Park, Allison Murray of Wayne, and Jenny Sturgis of Van Nuys, CA; cherished grandfather of Seana Ann Corsale, John Michael Corsale, Evan Joseph Tagliareni, Emariah Faith Sturgis, Owen Joseph Murray, Ian James Murray, and Dylan Charles Murray; dear brother of Andrew Murray of Paterson; loving Uncle to Bryan Murray (Michelle), John Murray (Erin) , Danielle Murray, and Drew Murray; great uncle to Aidan Murray, Colin Murray,Skyler Murray, and Payton Murray. He is also survived by his former wife and mother of his children Carol Murray (nee Liberty) of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 would be greatly appreciated. To donate please call 718 987 1931 so the family can be properly informed that you donated in Joe’s memory.

Craig Daniel Zeglen, age 60, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

Craig was born and raised in Wayne and was one of two children to A.J. and Dolores Zeglen.  While growing up in Wayne, Craig attended Wayne Hills High School and graduated with the class of 1979.  Following his high school graduation, Craig went to work with this father at the Wayne based family business, AJ Zeglen Electric.  Craig worked closely with his dad for about twelve years.  Being an Electrician was work that Craig truly enjoyed and continued to practice throughout his life.  In 1991, Craig joined the Morris County Sheriff’s Department and earned a position as a Correctional Officer.  Craig’s career with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office spanned twenty-five years and over that time he earned the rank of Sergeant.  Throughout his career, Craig received a number of various commendations for his service.  Craig was truly dedicated to his work and treated every day like it was his first.  He loved the people he worked with and was truly well respected among his colleagues.  He remained close with many after retirement and treasured the bonds made.

When Craig was a young man he was an avid bodybuilder and while working with his father, he took a part time job at night as a bouncer in a club called The Getaway in his home town of Wayne.  One night at the club he met a young attractive woman named Cyndi Sockler.  The two started talking and agreed to meet at the club later in the week for a date.  Cyndi and Craig met at The Getaway on February 1, 1984 and went to the movies to see “The Terminator” and afterwards have some dinner at the Pompton Queen Diner in Pequannock.  The couple hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and three years later on November 1, 1987 Craig and Cyndi were married.  After getting married, Craig and Cyndi bought a townhouse in Hardyston Township where they lived for about ten years.  During their time living in Hardyston, they welcomed the births of their two sons, Kyle and Craig.  In 1997, Craig and his family moved to Oak Ridge where they have been ever since.

Craig was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association as well as the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club at the Cherry Ridge Range in West Milford.  He and his family were also parishioners of St Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes for many years.  He was an avid outdoorsman and one of his favorite past times was fishing, both fresh water and salt water.  Craig was an accomplished craftsman of all types; woodworking, metal, and even weaving.  Craig made his own fishing lures, knives, Halloween decorations for himself, his family, and his friends.  He had an extensive collection of various knives and firearms as well.  Another talent of Craig’s was gardening and landscaping.  His front and back yards were always meticulously manicured and beautifully landscaped making it a true family oasis.  Craig also had a far-reaching variety of Bonsai trees which he and his sons grew.  He was a devoted New York Giants and New York Yankees fan.  However, aside from all of Craig’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Craig than spending time with and providing for his wife and sons.  Throughout the years, Craig and his family cherished yearly summer vacations at the Jersey Shore.  Craig was definitely a warm weather person and always felt at home on the beach or on an island. Craig and Cyndi treasured thirty-four years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Craig was the kind of guy who seemed to have a tough exterior; however, when someone got to know him they realized that he was a warm, kind, and compassionate man.  Craig touched the lives of many people and will be truly missed by everyone that knew him.

Craig is survived by his wife Cynthia (nee Sockler) of Oak Ridge, his two sons; Kyle Daniel Zeglen of Oak Ridge, and Craig Garrett Zeglen and his girlfriend Sabreen Nassar of Oak Ridge, one sister Denise Kearney of Cape Coral, Florida, his brother and sister in laws; Wayne and Sue Hasenbalg of Randolph, Nick and Nancy Sarnelli of Pequannock, along with his cherished nephews and niece and great nephews and great niece, and a group of the most treasured dear friends.  He is also survived by his two precious Pitbull’s; Brock and Junior.

Carmela R. Buglione (nee Stanco), age 73 of Boynton Beach, FL and formerly of North Haledon and Woodland Park, died on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. She had retired to Boynton Beach in 2013, for the warm weather and to be near the beach.

Her parents chose to name her “Carmela” when she was born on July 16, the day that the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated. Carmela was a devoted Roman Catholic herself, having attended St. Paul’s RC Church in Prospect Park, NJ for many years, and more recently she attended St. Vincent Ferrer RC Church in Delray Beach, Florida. To family and longtime friends she was also affectionately known as: “Lina.”  She was the devoted daughter of Pasquale and Dora (who pre-deceased her), and had an exceptional relationship with her Mother – who she loved dearly.

Carmela was a supremely dedicate mother, and she worked tirelessly raising her three sons. She taught them to be good people, charitable, and to give back to society. When it came to their education, Carmela motivated her sons to push themselves and she never accepted anything less than their best. She wasn’t bashful, never lost an argument and would call her kids out if they were cutting any corners at school. She was a tough task-master, but it was all borne out of love for her sons. She encouraged them in their athletic endeavors, college pursuits, and careers. She was their biggest fan, and greatest inspiration. Of course, all three of her sons would have been happier if she hadn’t made them pick weeds from the landscaping, or vacuum - so often! Her sons were keenly aware of how much she enjoyed spending time at the beach and for her 70th birthday, they surprised her with a wonderful vacation to Point Pleasant Beach, which she enjoyed beyond words.

Carmela was a wonderful hostess and often had an ‘open house’ for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Her cooking was exceptional as well, and she was very gifted in this area. She could cook an incredible meal from scratch, often without a written recipe, relying on her taste and feel as she put the meal together.  Friday nights were reserved for her homemade pizza, and Sunday Dinners were always special - which always included influences from her beloved Mother’s cooking.

She could also be described as a world class shopper, who was always on the hunt for an incredible bargain, and had a knack for giving very thoughtful/special gifts for all occasions.

Carmela especially loved being a grandmother to her three grandchildren, and she enjoyed a very special bond with each of them. They all call her “Nonna,” and they adored her as much as she adored them! They played board games and loved doing puzzles together. It didn’t matter if they were together ‘in-person,’ FaceTime, or just talking on the phone, Carmela made the moments magical and she spoiled each of them! They will all miss her dearly.

Carmela was the loving and devoted wife of Carmine for forty-four years. Sadly, Carmine died suddenly in 2013 and Carmela was heartbroken. Yet she remained very strong and independent for her family.  Thereafter, she joined a Widow’s Ministry through her Church in Boynton Beach, and also participated in other widow’s groups and ladies clubs.  Where she made new friendships and created a strong social network, but she truly missed her husband. As a strong and independent woman, she kept up a strong persona, but she grieved for her beloved Carmine. We rest in the faith that they are reunited once again in eternity.

Over the last eight years she faced significant health issues with courage, dignity  and independently.  As she did not want to be a burden upon her children.

Carmela is survived by her three sons: Albert Buglione and his wife Taryn of Wayne, NJ, Marc Buglione of North Bergen, NJ, and Jonathan Buglione and his wife Carla of Verona; NJ, three grandchildren: Amelia, AJ, and Luca, with yet another grandchild expected soon.

She was the sister to Angelo and his wife Virginia, Michael and sister-in-law to Alberta. Aunt to several nieces and nephews, cousin to many, and beloved friend who was like family to many in New Jersey and Florida. In addition, she was pre-deceased by her in-laws Albert and Josephine Buglione.

In Carmela’s memory she would appreciate: an act of kindness, an act of charity, or a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.

Dominick A. Despenzire, age 86, of Lincoln Park passed away on Monday, August 23, 2021.

Dominick was born and raised in Newark, NJ and was one of two children to Angelo and Concetta Despenzire.  As a young boy, Dominick played baseball growing up in Newark and while attending Arts High School in Newark, he played the position of catcher for the High School baseball team.  Dominick graduated from Arts High School in Newark with the class of 1953.  Following his graduation, Dominick began working for Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company in Newark.

While employed at Mutual Benefit Life Insurance, Dominick attended night classes at Rutgers University in Newark where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1969.  During his years at Mutual Benefit Insurance in 1961, Dominick met Nancy Tamburri. As fate would have it, they fell in love and became husband and wife on July 21, 1963.  After getting married, Dominick and Nancy settled in Belleville where they lived for more than thirty years.  While living in Belleville, the couple welcomed the birth of their one and only daughter Donna.  In 2003, Dominick and Nancy moved to West Paterson and eventually moved to Lincoln Park eight years ago where they have been ever since.

Dominick was the epitome of a gentleman. He was a soft-spoken man, and the kindest and gentlest of souls. He was a selfless person who always put the needs of his family and others before his own. Nothing in the world meant more to him than providing for and spending time with his family.

Throughout the years, he and his family would spend their summers at their summer home in Ortley Beach at the Jersey Shore.  Their Family gatherings at his daughter Donna’s house, such as Sunday Dinner, birthday celebrations, and holidays were treasured by Dominick and his family.

“Grandpa Dom”, as everyone called him, cherished spending time helping raise his two granddaughters, Nicole and Christine.  He would take them to school every day, help them with their homework, teach them to read and write, do crafts with them and take them for long walks. He never missed a moment of their life. Above all, “Grandpa Dom” taught and showed them, by example, true and unconditional love.

Dominick was a voracious reader of all types of literature, especially novels.  He was a devoted New York Yankees and New York Giants fan.  He was a long-time member and past President of the Unico Newark Chapter, the largest Italian American service organization in the United States.  Dominick enjoyed frequenting different casinos, his favorite game being Craps.

Dominick is survived by his wife Nancy (nee Tamburri) of Lincoln Park, one daughter; Donna Pescatore of Wayne, one sister Anna Rubulotta of Totowa, two granddaughters; Nicole Pescatore of Wayne, and Christine Pescatore of Wayne, one brother-in-law; Sam Tamburri of Cedar Grove and many nieces and nephews.

Dominick was the epitome of a gentleman and it was an honor and privilege to know him. He will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him. There is no one else like “Grandpa Dom”.

Donations in Dominick’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. http://www.stjude.org

Theresa “Terry” Ann Rigoglioso, age 56, of Wayne, passed Saturday, August 21, 2021.

Terry was born in Passaic to Robert and Theresa Devecka of Clifton.  She was raised in Clifton and attended St Andrews School through 8th grade and graduated from Clifton High School with honors in the Class of 1983.  She continued her education at Seton Hall University in South Orange where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and her Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Terry worked as an emergency room receptionist at Passaic General Hospital throughout her high school and college years.   After graduating Seton Hall, she worked as a social worker at St Michaels Medical Center in Newark and later for the Garfield Board of Education, and the Caldwell Board of Education.

It was at St. Michael’s, where Terry met the love of her life, Vincent Rigoglioso.  Their first date was to a NY Yankee game and to see the New York City Fireworks that were held just after the game.  They fell in love and after a three year courtship, Vincent proposed at the Cavalier Cafe in Clifton.  They were married on March 17, 1991 at St. Andrews RC Church in Clifton and have had thirty years of a loving and devoted marriage.

Terry was dedicated to her Catholic faith and a devoted parishioner of Saint Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes.  She has always volunteered throughout her life helping others in various capacities and had found her niche using her professional skills for those in need at the St Marys Church’s “Pathways Counseling Center” in Pompton Lakes.

Terry was an adoring mother, devoted wife, a loving daughter, sister and friend.  She was so full of life and love, genuine, kind and always willing to help anyone almost to a fault.  She was a compassionate soul, with a strong moral compass. Terry’s sense of integrity and fairness set the standard for all.  She was smart, and an organized procrastinator. She earned straight A’s in high school and college. Often, after staying up all night, and needing a few minutes of sleep, she would ask her sister to wake her up in ten minutes and then proceed to hide. She would always get a few extra minutes because her sister would have to find her usually behind a couch or locked in the bathroom. Terry had a great sense of humor, was not afraid to laugh at herself, and when challenged she was always able to come back with a quick witty reply. Many friends benefited from Terry’s passion for walking. Terry looked forward to her walks through her neighborhood with the friends and walking partners she had made.  Terry had a sweet tooth that required a daily chocolate fix, and her family looked forward to her special breakfasts of homemade waffles.  Much of her family will recall her self-appointed nickname of “Auntie B” where she said the “B” stood for beautiful so they would always be reminded. She was actively involved with all of her children’s school organizations and booster clubs and was their number one fan.

Terry was the loving wife of Vincent Rigoglioso; devoted mother of Vincent Paul Rigoglioso, Domenic Rigoglioso, and Vanessa Rigoglioso; cherished daughter of Robert and Theresa Devecka of Clifton; loved sister of Maryrose Hosier (Norman) of Newton, Robert Devecka, Jr. (Nancy) of Toms River, Anthony Devecka (Betty) of Toms River, Roberta Cardaci (John) of Holmdel and John Devecka (Cherilyn) of Ladera Ranch, CA; she was the dear daughter-in-law of Marie Rigoglioso of Garfield and the late Charles Rigoglioso (d. 2016); she was dearly loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-laws, and many friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Pathways Counseling Center of St Marys Church, 16 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 would be greatly appreciated. Please include "Memorial Donation for Terry Rigoglioso" in your check memo. You can donate online by clicking here: Pathways Counseling Center.

Allen Simpson, age 84, of Bloomingdale, formerly of Wayne, passed Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

Allen was born in 1937 to Raymond A. and Helen E. Simpson in Jersey City. Living in the Vauxhall section of Newark until moving to Wayne. The roads in Wayne at the time he moved there were mostly dirt!  He walked up to Route 202, where all the mailboxes were for the Riverview community, and that is where he waited for the school bus.  

His father was a Captain in the Army during WWII, when the family was moved to Richland, Washington, where he lived for 2 years. At this time they lived near the Hanford Site, which, in 1943, was used to produce Plutonium for the Atomic bomb that helped bring an end to WWII. He lived near the Columbia River, where nuclear reactors lined the river bank, and Allen would walk the hills along the river and recounted how they were filled with wild asparagus.

He moved back to Wayne when he was 8 years old and lived in the Riverview Community. He spent much of his free time looking for frogs, salamanders, turtles, etc., in the local brooks and rivers.  He swam in the Pompton River several times a day.  He was always devoted 200% to his hobbies: chemistry, chess, and short wave radio (Ham). His call sign was N2NN. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University but then joined the Navy.   He was in Communications and one of the best in the world at receiving Morse code. While in the Navy he served in French Morocco among many other stations. After the Navy he worked in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern Countries working in communications with General Instrument, Kearfott, and several other companies.  

Later in life his hobbies turned to model trains, then photographing trains, which then led him to photography.  Nature became his obsession! Until his death, he spent his time photographing mushrooms, flowers, wildlife, etc.!!! In the Mycology Society he won many awards in Frelinghuysen arboretum. He developed his own photos, printed them and later professionally framed them. He entered many photography contests and received accolades from most. His equipment was highly professional! He took pleasure in giving away 4x6s of his work to clerks at stores, banks, etc.!!!

At Portobello’s restaurant in Oakland, he always gave a 100 % tip or more! During his last years he gave generously to many charities of which he would receive 25 requests daily! His last and most recent pleasure was feeding sunflower kernels to the groundhog, chipmunks squirrels, etc., of which many he could pet. He called his sister, “Snoops” and she called him, “Lallen”, up until he passed.

Allen is predeceased by his wife, Claire Elise (nee Bollinger), who died in 2019. Claire was the love of his life and they enjoyed thirty eight years of a very loving and devoted marriage. Allen is survived by his sister, Jane Van Eeuwen of Wayne, nephew William Van Eeuwen of Wayne, and his dear cousins; Stephanie, Heather, and Adrian.

Joseph P. Simone, age 74 of Sussex, formerly of North Haledon, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2021, surrounded by close family and friends. He was born to parents Joseph and Eleanor Simone on March 5, 1947, in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended Hawthorne High School and initially worked with his father doing auto-body work which later led him to opening his own shop. He married his sweetheart Marie (Siniscalchi) at age 19 and recently celebrated 55 years of marriage together this past February.

Joe was exceptionally talented in many ways. He was once the lead singer traveling around the country in a band called “Court of Appeals.” He was also an artist who thrived in both painting and metal artwork, displaying some of his works in a gallery in Ridgewood. In his spare time he used his auto-body experience to restore many antique cars, some of which went on to win “best in show” awards. He had a passion for making wine, winning many awards including several gold medals in the New York State Fair and Winemaker of the Year at Corrado’s Annual Amateur Winemaking Competition. He was a great su-chef (to Marie) and especially loved making his famous homemade raviolis for his grandchildren. Joe’s door was always open. It was never a 5 minute stay and you always had a great meal and lots of laughs. Everyone was welcome and invited for Sunday Dinner.

He cherished his friends and family. He married Marie, the love of his life, in 1966, who survives him. He is also survived by his son Joseph Simone and wife Maria Elena from Wayne, his son Michael Simone and wife Maria from Franklin Lakes, his daughter Monique Monaco and husband Michael from Wayne, thirteen loving grandchildren, his brother-in-law David Siniscalchi of Paterson, his sister Donna, his three brothers Dave, Mark and Glen, nieces and nephews.

Thomas John Drag, age 69, of Pompton Plains passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 15th surrounded by his loving family after a long illness. After 10 years of being apart, he is finally reunited with the love of his life, Renee.

Tom was born to Edward and Ann Drag (nee Lynch) in North Tarrytown, NY (now Sleepy Hollow). He was the second oldest of 5 children.

Tom and his family moved to the Packanack Lake section of Wayne in June of 1962. He is a 1969 graduate of DePaul High School. He then enrolled at the College of Insurance (now St. John’s), graduating Cum Laude with a BBA in 1974.

Tom met the love of his life Renee (nee Haggar) through his best friend Russ. Their first real date was Renee’s senior prom in 1973. They fell in love and were married on May 15th 1976 at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Wayne, NJ.

After their honeymoon in Aruba, they settled into their new apartment at Beaver Brook in Lincoln Park before moving onto Mary Place in Pequannock and finally settling on Whipple Road in Pompton Plains.

Tom was an eager volunteer within Pequannock Township. He was happy to help, whether it was coaching baseball or serving as a commissioner of the local PAL football program, especially if it involved spending time with his children. Tom was also a founding member of the Pequannock Boys and Girls Club spending countless hours turning an abandoned school building into the beginnings of what is now a wonderful facility for the youth of the community. Tom enjoyed many lifelong friendships from his volunteer work in Pequannock.

Tom had a 45-year career in the Insurance Industry, spending over 35 of those years at Alexander & Alexander/AON. His work allowed him to travel the world and make lifelong friends with colleagues from across the globe. He took great pride in his work and became a mentor to many in the insurance industry. Aon in New Jersey still gives the “Tom Drag Award” to an employee who goes above and beyond for a fellow employee.  He worked on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center, but his life was spared on September 11th, 2001. He lost hundreds of close friends and colleagues on 9/11, which impacted him for the rest of his life. He decided to retire in 2015 as a Senior Vice President to focus on family, but especially his 7 grandchildren.

He was a devoted, attentive, and loving husband, father, and “Pop-Pop”. He fought his illnesses with such tenacity so he could enjoy his children and grandchildren for as long as possible. He loved attending various sporting and school events, jumping waves with them on Long Beach Island, fishing trips to the St. Lawrence River, or simply sitting around telling stories and singing songs. Even when Tom’s health declined, he would Facetime his grandchildren to remind them of how much he loved them.

Tom leaves behind a loving and heartbroken family. He is survived by his three sons; Dr. Thomas John II and his girlfriend Amy Hillenbrand of Fishkill NY, Timothy James and his wife Michelle of Chester NJ, and Daniel Edward and his wife Alysen of Middletown, NJ; his 7 grandchildren, TJ, Thomas John III, Catie, Brody, Cooper, Gavin, and Royce; his siblings Edward Drag II of Columbus NJ, Robert Drag of Maple Grove, MN,  Martin Drag of Pompton Plains, NJ  and his beloved sister Jane Crank of Wayne, NJ.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest NJ at 19 Oak Avenue, Pequannock, NJ 07440 or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Robert “Rob” J. Plavier, age 56, of Wayne passed peacefully on Sunday, August 15, 2021 in the comfort of his home.

Rob was born in Newark and raised in Wayne by his parents the late Joan and Robert Plavier.  He graduated from Wayne Valley High School, where he played on the football team, with the Class of 1983.  During his high school years he worked at the Wayne Hardware Store in the Packanack Shopping Center. Rob had a thirst for the knowledge of not only how things worked, but why they worked, as well as how to fix them when they didn’t work. After high school Rob attended school at Engine City in Union where he trained to be a diesel mechanic. He worked as a diesel mechanic locally and soon moved to New Milford, PA and later, Montrose, PA for many years.  While living in Pennsylvania he was the Service Manager for Five Star Equipment in Kirkwood, NY. Before recently moving back to Wayne Rob worked for the Proctor & Gamble Corporations paper facilities in Tunkhannock, PA throughout the pandemic as a mechanic for their fleet of trucks. He also served on the Pennsylvania Game Commission for several years.

Rob will be remembered for his good nature, strong will, and his willingness and ability to analyze both sides of an argument. When presented with a situation Rob would genuinely listen and then present a competing narrative to help him and others understand the counterpoint of a situation and achieve a fair outcome acceptable to both sides.  He was lovable, caring, generous, kind, patient, and persistent.  For many years he vacationed at his parent’s home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  Swimming, wilderness, and building forts with his friend David were just some of the joys he found there.  Rob could fix anything with thoughtful consideration.  He took great pride in his ability to repair things properly, the first time.  For many years he quietly helped care for his housebound neighbor Jean, a widow.  He was her go-to guy for just about anything.  Rob enjoyed gardening and had five acres where his dog Xena patrolled and protected their park like property.  He was also an accomplished artist who created beautiful landscapes, portraits and still lifes.  Rob had a love of history and was an expert on the Industrial Revolution. Specifically, he was well versed on the impact of US railroads and their role in westward expansion.  His expertise extended to a thorough and complete knowledge of locomotive mechanics and design.  His attention to detail found him writing letters to editors to correct information incorrectly printed regarding train lines. It was important to him that history be preserved accurately.  Rob often visited Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton where a 40 acre rail yard houses one of our country’s largest collection of steam locomotives, freight and passenger cars.

Rob was the loving father of Miranda Luce and her husband Jason of Hallstead, PA; beloved grandfather of Joana Luce; devoted loving companion of Joli Behr of Vernon; much loved brother of Suzanne Amabile and her husband Scott of Wayne; and cherished uncle of Hanna Amabile. He was predeceased by his mother, Joan (DeBlock) in 2004, and by his father, Robert W. in 2020.

Memorial donations to Steamtown, a National Park associated with trains that Rob loved to visit, would be greatly appreciated.  Please make checks payable to "National Park Service" and place in your check memo "Steamtown/Robert Plavier."  Please mail to: Steamtown, 150 South Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

Kyle Gillespie, age 30 and formerly of Oakland, died tragically on Friday, August 13, 2021. What had begun as a few poor choices in his teenage years, swallowed him in a powerful heroin addiction that lasted more than a decade. His family and loved ones have prayed relentlessly for his rescue, which God has now secured.

Kyle grew up in Oakland and graduated from Indian Hills with the class of 2009. He loved playing ice hockey, roller hockey, and street hockey with “the boys.” He also loved riding dirt bikes and quads and was super lucky that his great-grandparents had a farm with many acres to ride on. He loved riding there. Sadly, while in high school, Kyle started a downward slide when drugs became involved. This story is all too familiar in our culture, and for Kyle it spiraled out of control rather quickly. He barely graduated high school and struggled to hold a job. The addiction became all-consuming. His parents and siblings did all they could, but to no avail. Kyle was on a frightening path that no one wanted to see him on, not even himself, but everyone was powerless to stop it. Heroin had an unrelenting grip on him that not even the power of a mother’s love, or a father’s love, could break. Kyle never stopped reading his Bible, praying, asking God for help, and singing along to his favorite Christian song “I am Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave! He simply couldn’t break free. Today, his freedom is secured by the only one powerful enough to do so; his Lord Jesus Christ.

Kyle leaves behind many heartbroken souls, including his mother; Darlene Murphy and her husband Robert of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, his father; Thomas Gillespie of Barnegat, NJ, two brothers; Joshua Gillespie and his wife Lindsay of Bristol, PA, and Zachary Gillespie and Katie Coneys of Santa Clarita, CA, his girlfriend; Breanne MacKay, grandfather; Jacob Faber and his wife Rosalinda formerly of Haledon, NJ, great-grandmother; Helen Borduin of N. Haledon, a nephew; Jackson Gillespie, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents; Jacalyn Faber (2006), Robert and Barbara Gillespie.

And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3

George J. Baskinger, Jr., age 38 of Montclair and formerly of Butler, died August 12, 2021.

George was a brilliant mechanical engineer, most recently employed with Tiburon Lockers, Inc. of Rockleigh, NJ. He had formerly worked with MAC Products of Kearny, NJ, Lockheed Martin in Moorestown, NJ, Mercury Systems of W. Caldwell, NJ and 901D LLC of Tallman, NY.

Growing up in Butler, NJ, George excelled in school. Showing signs of engineering passion at an early age, he loved doing projects with his father and building with Legos and construction toys. As a teenager, he worked at Star Lake Salvation Army Camp where he created several fun memories with many young people in town.  He also worked on cars and was largely self taught. He built a dog house that was a scaled-down model to match their lawn shed, and it is still there today! George loved to play baseball and have catches with his sister Bec, who dearly looked up to him and tried to keep up with him in every sport they played as kids.  George was an inspiration to his sister when he one day came home from a high school track meet with a medal.  After that day, Bec was determined to win her own track medal to make her brother proud.  He played the saxophone in the concert and marching bands at Butler High School and was a skilled member of Stage Crew. He was also fortunate to visit both Spain and Italy on two high school trips, which inspired a later love of travel. He was a National Honor Society Member at Butler High School, and was ranked third in his graduation class of 2001. He was honored as an Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and a Merit Scholar at The College of New Jersey. George earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from TCNJ and later an MS in Engineering and Project Management from Rowan University. He holds a U.S. Patent for Phased Array Radar systems used in ballistic missiles and was published in professional journals for his work with Fatigue Testing machinery.

To say that George was “bright” would be an understatement. He was brilliant. During his adult years, George was fortunate to travel to the Czech Republic on a business trip as he represented MAC Products. He was determined to visit all fifty states and collected souvenirs and refrigerator magnets as remembrances. Once he drove straight out to Iowa to stand on the Field of Dreams baseball field, and further to Nebraska to camp out in order to see the solar eclipse, stopping only in Wisconsin to visit his brother and family. He was a huge Jeopardy! fan and loved to watch it with his sister Bec. George had a collection of autographed baseballs signed by many of the NY YANKEES greats and always rooted for the Wisconsin Badgers! George maintained a love of model railroading, which he learned from his dad. He was fond of the family’s West Highland Terriers, named Westie and Winston, followed by Duncan and Duffy. George recently enjoyed a visit to his childhood home in Butler with Duncan and Duffy sleeping on him all day long, and he later recounted that day as his best memory in the recent past. Sadly, tragedy had visited George at a critical age; his father had passed away when he was just fifteen years old and the loss was very difficult for George to come to terms with. In recent months, George would call his mother and ask her to share Scripture with him. He was seeking God’s help and loved reading the Bible and praying with his mom. From memory, he would recite his favorite verses from hymns of the faith and also verses from Deut. 6, Isaiah 6 and Isaiah 43. He also found peace in listening to sermons by Alistair Begg of Truth for Life Ministries and his former pastor, Rev. Rich Kuiken. Through God’s mercy, George now lives a new life in the glorious presence of his Savior.

George had a strong desire to share Bible truths with those he met.  May his love for Jesus inspire all to have a relationship with the God of Heaven and Earth.

George is survived by his loving mother; Wilma Baskinger (Donkersloot) of Butler; his brother and sister-in-law, Samuel and Julie Baskinger with nephew Chase, of Deerfield, Wisconsin; and sister Rebecca of Butler. He was predeceased by his father, George Baskinger, Sr. in 1998.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please make donations to Truth For Life - the Bible-teaching ministry of Alistair Begg, PO box 398000, Cleveland OH, 44139.

Mike Walton, age 62, of Wayne passed Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

He was born in Montclair to his father, the late Joseph Edward (d. 1993), and his surviving mother Sue Walton.  Mike was raised in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne and graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1977.  He was a standout athlete and excelled on the high school football, baseball, and basketball teams.  He continued his education at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and later Trenton State University in New Jersey having played football at both institutions.

Mike’s first job as a teenager was working at Buxton’s Restaurant in Wayne. For the past thirty years Mike was the owner of the Walton Painting Co. in Wayne.

Mike lived life by his own terms and will be remembered as an outgoing guy who was just fun to be around.  He always had a positive, uplifting way about him.  He had an encyclopedia-like knowledge of all sorts of things along with being well organized, creative, dedicated, respectful, and the kind of person whose loyalty was unwavering.  He was a huge sports fan and loved the NY Mets, NY Knicks, but most of all he was a lifelong NY Jets fan with Season Tickets for as long as anyone can remember.  Most of all, Mike loved, adored, and was dedicated to his boys Ed and Matthew. Mike’s life revolved around his boys and he took great pleasure in watching them grow into men.

Mike was the loving and devoted father of Ed Walton and Matthew Walton both of Wayne; he was the cherished son of the late Joseph Edward Walton (d. 1993) and his surviving mother Suzanne Walton of Asheville, NC; he was the dearly loved brother of Tom Walton of Nantucket, MA, Patty Fast of Asheville, NC, Andy Walton (Kathy) of Oak Ridge, and Jennifer Ware (Steve) of Asheville, NC; he was the loving uncle of Brendan, Lisa Marie, Andrew, Joe, Allie, Tommy, and Faith; and several loving cousins.

It is with great sadness that the family of Andrew Scott Hill announces his passing on August 10th 2021, at the age of 57. He passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson and is lovingly remembered by his family including his Aunt Sr. Jane Brady, his siblings Jane Moppert and her husband Wayne Moppert, Mark Hill, Tom Hill and his wife Tobey Hill, and Laura Dijkstra, and his nieces and nephew including Tommy Hill, Juliana Dijkstra, Alexandra Hill, Emily Dijkstra, Kiana Hill and Gianna Hill. Born in Connecticut, his family settled in Wayne, New Jersey when he was 12 years old. He graduated from DePaul High School in 1981 and after a short stint in California moved back to New Jersey at the age of 23. He took a job at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson as a clerk and it was there where he found his passion in Cardiology. He became a Registered Invasive Cardiac Specialist, performing thousands of cardiac catheterizations over a career that spanned nearly three decades with notable stops at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and finally Hackensack Medical Center. Often the go-to guy in the catheterization lab, he was nicknamed Dr. Andrew by his colleagues. He worked with some of the most preeminent physicians in his field, inspired colleagues around him and helped tens of thousands of patients and family members along the way.

His compassion extended internationally through a mission trip with Healing the Children in Kenya. He volunteered to help many children receive life-altering cleft palate repair. He was also able to experience an African safari, a dream fulfilled.

Andrew also took a keen interest in the growth and successes of his nieces and nephew and loved all animals including his pet cats dearly. He was fascinated by wildlife and the world around him whether on safari in the Masai Mara or in Packanack Lake – he had a natural curiosity about things. He enjoyed travel, astronomy, weather and fantasy literature.  Andrew never met a dragon he did not like. His irreverent streak was well known as was his kindness, wit and charm. You never forgot a conversation with him. He was a wonderful brother, uncle, and nephew and a loyal friend with a kind heart. His impact on this world has been enormous and he will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.

If you wish, donations in his honor may be made to either:
Chance At Life Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 4093, River Edge, New Jersey 07661 https://www.chanceatlifecatrescue.com/
Company 5 Fire Department, 5 Lake Drive West, Wayne, New Jersey 07470 http://www.plfc5.com/

Herman Kuiken, 93, the oldest son of Richard “Dick” and Lena (Steen) Kuiken, formerly of Wayne and Montville, New Jersey, was suddenly taken to glory to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, August 9, 2021 while residing comfortably at his home at the Evergreen Court on the grounds of the Christian Health Care Center located at 303 Sicomac Avenue in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

Herm was born on October 1, 1927 in Fair Lawn on Saddle River Road in a $4500.00 house built by Kuiken Brothers. On March 14, 1952, Herm married his sweetheart, Ada Marjorie Houseward, in the home of his Aunt Jessie Steen located at #370 North 10th Street in Prospect Park, NJ.  Their Wedding Ceremony was officiated by Rev. Hessel Bouma of the Summer Street Christian Reformed Church of Passaic, New Jersey. The bride’s sister, Jeannie Vogel, served as Matron of Honor and the groom’s brother, Stan, served as Best Man. The newlyweds initially resided in a room in the home of the bride’s parents, Herbert and Jennie (Kievit) Houseward located at #610 Gregory Ave. in Clifton, New Jersey, situated at the top of the hill. After one year of marriage Herm and Ada moved to Hopper Street in Prospect Park, New Jersey, and in 1955 the couple moved to 29 Woodridge Terrace in Wayne, New Jersey, purchasing a Cape Cod home for $14,000.00 from an elderly couple who “found it too quiet living next to a swamp”!

Herm was a man who worked extremely hard all of his life beginning in his early teen years as he worked on his family’s truck (vegetable) farm on Weinmanns Boulevard in Wayne, New Jersey.  As he got older his work weeks grew to 60 hours per week, 6 days per week, for .10 cents per hour. At the end of the week he turned $5.00 back in to his parents to help supply the needs of the family while he was able to keep just $1.00 for himself. Herm reminisced about driving the old Model A around the family farm with its pedals on the floor when he was just 12 or 13 years old! Herm attended the North 4th Street Christian School in Paterson, New Jersey, but with his father needing him on the farm Herm was never even able to graduate from the 8th Grade or attend Eastern Academy. But with his 8th Grade class graduating in a ceremony held at the 11th Street Christian Reformed Church in Prospect Park, NJ, the school administration kindly awarded him a “PAC Certificate” in lieu of a Diploma: “Preakness Agricultural College”!

With his father “Dick” Kuiken getting Herm a “farm deferment” during World War II, Herm was subsequently drafted to serve in the Korean War and after Basic Training was stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.  Assigned to be shipped to Germany before heading to Korea, a fellow soldier went AWOL and, in God’s providence, Herm was assigned to work in the mailroom where he spent the rest of his service time. Herm said, “I felt like I paid for the New Jersey Turnpike myself with all the tolls going to see Ada as often as he could!” He proudly served in the United States Army from February of 1951 – February of 1953 being promoted to the rank of Corporal two weeks before his discharge.  His superior officers wanted him to stay in the Army, but Herm told them that “he wanted to get back to the farm!”  He served another four years with the Army Reserves and was Honorably Discharged on January 4, 1957. When Herm returned home to Wayne, Henry Van Dyke, who then served as the Chief of Police for Wayne Township, asked him at a funeral for the Chief’s brother-in-law, “Do you want a job?” Chief Van Dyke wanted him to join the 12 member Wayne Police Force … but as he told his Sergeant back at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, “No thanks, I’m heading back to the farm!”

Subsequent to his farm years and after his military service, Herm worked for 9 years at Eelman’s Poultry Farm on Oldham Road in Wayne, New Jersey.  After his 9 years at Eelman’s, Herm began working at Van Steyn’s Nursery on Preakness Ave. in Wayne for $1.75 per hour and worked hard there for 10 years.  When the tree nursery property was being sold, Herm began working at the Fairlawn Memorial Cemetery located on Maple Ave. in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and continued working there for nearly 40 years until he was 70 years old, serving as Foreman for the last two years.

With his parents being Charter Members of the Preakness Christian Reformed Church on Valley Road in Wayne, New Jersey, for most of their married life Herm and Ada were also both active members of the Preakness CRC, now known as the Preakness Valley United Reformed Church.  Along with their faithful worship attendance and Ada’s active participation in numerous ministries as well, Herm served a 3 year term as a Deacon at Preakness and also served as the Secretary of the Evangelism Committee … although Herm would say with his characteristic humor, “I never took any minutes because I am not very good at spelling!” Herm also served for five years as a fireman with Preakness Volunteer Fire Company #4 located on Ratzer Road in Wayne, New Jersey.

After Herm and Ada’s nearly 50 years of living on Woodridge Terrace in Wayne Township, they sold their home to a dearly loved granddaughter and her husband in order to “keep the home in the family” while they moved to a large ground floor apartment in the home of another “Kuiken relative” in Montville, New Jersey.  With Ada’s health failing and her needing to reside at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff, NJ, and after countless faithful, difficult daily trips from Montville to visit and spend time with his wife there, Herm eventually joined her on those same grounds early in 2017, the year in which his dear Ada passed away in November of that same year.

Herman is survived by his daughter, Susan Gaechter, and her husband, Bill, of Bloomingdale, New Jersey; his son Rev. Richard Kuiken, and his wife, Margaret, of East Stroudsburg, PA; and his son Rev. Russell Kuiken, and his wife, Diane, of Beaverton, OR, along with 12 Grandchildren and 34 Great-Grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Lena Kuiken, as well as by his sister Eleanor Spalink of Prospect Park, NJ, and brothers Stanley Kuiken of Coraopolis, PA, and Peter Kuiken of Glen Spey, NY.  He is also survived by his sisters Margaret Pennings of Michigan and Joan Kuiken of West Virginia, along with numerous nephews and nieces scattered around the country.

Herm was an incredibly humble, hard working, loving, kind, generous, humorous, faith-filled and godly man who loved and adored his Lord, his family, and his countless number of friends.  He also loved the New York Yankees and Gaither gospel music, especially the song, “Because He Lives”. Needless to say, Herm will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him, and yet by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, we look forward to a joyous reunion with him in the Holy City where “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Donations in Herm’s memory may be made out to the name of his home church “Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church” and on the memo line please write “PA Church Plant.”  Please mail to: Pocono Reformed Bible Church, c/o Rev. Richard Kuiken, 11 Schoolhouse Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18302.

Willamina Pfeifer, (nee DeVos), 99, of Lincoln Park passed away at home on Friday, August 6, 2021. Her home was just 7 miles from the home she was born and raised, in Clifton New Jersey. She was the only daughter of 8 children. All Willamina’s brothers predeceased her.

Willamina spent her early adult years working for an aircraft manufacturer in Bloomfield NJ during World War ll. Willie as her friends affectionately call her, met Ferdinand Pfeifer while traveling on the transit bus he drove. They soon married and moved to Verona where they had their first daughter Kris. When Ferdinand became disabled, Willie went back to work as a toy manager for Two Guys in Totowa NJ. Her children and grandchildren fondly recall amazing Christmases during that time. Later she worked for Barbizon, a woman’s clothing outlet in Pinebrook NJ, before a much-deserved retirement.

Willie was always seen knitting sweaters, baby blankets, sewing plastic canvas creations, or making her granddaughters’ wedding dresses. There are a multitude of Willie’s tissue box covers and handmade decorations throughout the country!  The grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew her as “Mema” or “Grandma” and fondly remember playing card games, singing songs and spending summers at Jellystone Campground in Mema and Pepa’s (Ferdinand) RV.

Willie had a big, joyous, loving heart. Everyone who knew her was touched by her giving spirit, kindness and love of all people, animals, and Dutch cookies.

Willie was predeceased by her husband Ferdinand and her daughter Susan. She is survived by her daughter Kris, her son Fred and his wife Patti, her son John, and his wife Michele, 7 grandchildren, Lisa, Kristina, Ryan, Robert, Sean, Aaron, and John, 11 great-grandchildren, Michael, Caitlyn, George, Justin, Adam, Maxwell, Benjamin, Henry, Simon, Grant, Arden.

Willie, Mema, Grandma, Mom, has left a profound imprint on her all family and friends, she will be sorely missed by all.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Willie’s memory are asked to consider giving to Pompton Food Recovery, food pantry-530 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470. Donations can also be made through PayPal: pomptonfoodrecovery@gmail.com

Judy Achrem, age 71, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Friday, August 6, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her husband.

Judy was born in Paterson to Patsy and Adeline Orsillo.  She was raised in Paterson and attended Eastside High School.  After high school she attended Roman Beauty Academy in Paterson. Just out of beauty school she worked at Josephine’s Beauty Shop in Paterson before going out on her own.  Through the years Judy established a customer base and as her customers aged she stayed right there with them.  These customers were really friends Judy had made through the years.

Judy met the love of her life on a blind date.  Bob Achrem drove a bus to New York City every day and got to know a lady who said “I’ve got a girl for you.”  Bob agreed to meet this girl and the woman from the bus set it up.  Bob rang Judy’s doorbell and they basically fell in love at first sight. Bob took Judy on a first date to see The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox film at a theatre on Route 4 in Paramus.  The soon fell in love and were married in Paterson on August 1, 1981.  They honeymooned in Hawaii and have had a loving marriage for the past forty years.

Judy will be lovingly remembered as a quiet and shy person who had a great sense of humor. She loved to watch television and would watch shows on the TLC channel over and over again. Most of all she was a caring and giving person who was one of the most loyal friends you could ever meet. She was an all around excellent cook and was especially good at making Italian specialties.

She was dedicated to her Catholic faith and was a long-time parishioner of Saint Marys Church in Pompton Lakes.

Judy was the loving wife of Robert “Bob” Achrem; she was the loving sister of Patsy Orsillo (Maryann) of Wayne and the late Diane Geary and her late husband Thomas; she was the dearly loved aunt of Kim, Jamie, Michael, and Christopher;   she was also the loved great-aunt of Dean and Adeline.